Achim Maier
The Asus Zenfone 10 is official and brings some important improvements over its predecessor to the party. It all starts with the currently fastest Android processor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Together with up to 16 GB RAM, this should enable 15% more computing power, 20% faster gaming performance and 15% better efficiency compared to the Zenfone 9.
As a result of the optimizations, the Asus Zenfone 10 should offer almost 13% better endurance, although the battery capacity has remained the same at 4,300 mAh. One of the main criticisms of the Zenfone 9, the lack of wireless charging, has also been addressed. The new Asus smartphone offers 15 watt Qi charging support. But nothing seems to have changed with the 30 watt HyperCharge via cable.
The 5.9-inch AMOLED display still has a resolution of 1,080 x 2,400 pixels. But the refresh rate has increased to 144 Hz. However, the highest refresh rate only applies to games, so you’re mostly running at 120 Hz. The display is DCI-P3 calibrated, has a Delta-E color accuracy of less than 1 and achieves a peak brightness of 1,100 nits. It is also protected by Gorilla Glass Victus.
Asus has also revised the camera setup of the Zenfone 10. The 50-megapixel main camera still has a 1/1.56-inch sensor, 24mm focal length and a f/1.9 lens. But Asus updated the stabilization with the second-generation 6-axis hybrid gimbal system. You also get a 13-megapixel ultra wide camera and a 32-megapixel selfie camera. Unfortunately, both cameras lost their autofocus for unknown reasons. However, Asus promises that the image quality in night mode has been improved enormously.
The gimbal system uses the gyroscope to detect camera shake. It then activates electronic image stabilization together with OIS to shift the image slightly. Adaptive EIS selects the optimal field of view based on the scene. It can then further crop the image if necessary to increase stability. Even long-term exposures should be possible without a tripod.
Prices
The Asus Zenfone 10 comes in an eco-friendly box made without glue from recycled paper and soy ink. Inside, in addition to the smartphone, you will also find a USB-C cable, a 30 watt charger and a protective cover.
Sales start immediately at an RRP of €799/$868 for the basic version with 8/128 GB. Double memory increases the price to 849 euros, while 16/256 GB cost 929 euros. A 16/512 GB model is also on the way, but the price is not yet known.
