@@girlsdrinkfeck The battery life on this phone is fantastic. I only charge to 80% and can get 9+ hours of screen time every day since I got it in August
@@girlsdrinkfeckZenfone 9 and 10 are actually recognized for their exceptional battery life. MKBHD frequently jokes about the "black magic" they used to make it last so long.
The mere 2-year SW support wasn't that big a deal to power users until recently. About a year ago Asus removed the option to unlock bootloaders, claiming it would come back soon, giving and missing several deadlines and to this day not fulfiling their promises that the unlock tool will come back. So if you ask why Asus is losing customers, the answer is lack of respect to their customers.
@@rodrigojds while Asus is an enthusiast brand and the proportion of power users will be larger than average, you're right it's probably less than 50%. However even standard users have gotten a whiff of the mistreatment of customers and decided that such behaviour does not warrant giving a company one's money.
@@mrbean2131what else do you need from a durabily test though? Smashing the phone with a sledgehammer? Dropping it from a ten-storey building? Drowning the phone? Yeah nah, that'd be unnecessary.
@@mrbean2131Lighter to the screen shows heat resistance and the way it burns shows the screen type Scratching the back can show what your phone may be up against in your pocket or daily life and it's durable or not (durability test)
Sony Xperia Z3 compact is my favorite phone of all time. Absolutely gorgeous, little monolith. If made today with bezel-less screen and modern components, I would buy it again in a heartbeat.
@@nippohc They're not really aimed at the US market. Missing a lot of bands. Granted, the Zenfone 10 is missing some, but note that he's not reviewing it when it released last year, but now, as "last small flagship" is notable.
@@Morecreativemindif anything, he would be behind EST time. Right now it’s 11:08 AM EST for me on the 24th, and I’m pretty sure Zach lives on mountain time.
I'm also one of those 5 people that bought the Zenfone 10 😅. And I absolutely love it. I'm a fairly small person and with phones constantly getting more and more massive I really need a phone that doesn't feel like I'm carrying an actual brick around in my pocket and requires me to use both hands 100% of the time. Not sure what I'm going to do when I have to eventually replace this, but I'll just gonna cross that bridge when I get there I suppose. I really hope small (good quality) smartphones continue to be in the market because there are a lot of people in the world that aren't the size of Zack or MKBHD, and using all these massive "normal sized" phones is just really difficult for us. Nothing against either of you, you're both some of my absolute favorite tech resources/personalities on the Internet. ♥
I would have 100% bought the ZenFone 9. I was so excited about it when it was announced in summer 2022. But over time I realized that it was far too inconvenient to work around. You could only get it from Taiwan (no US retailers), guaranteed 2 years of software support, and it was $700. It was so much more convenient to just buy the Pixel 7a, which is the closest in size but still a vastly different competitor. If the 7a was smaller, it would have been first on the list. The key here that would have made it a no-brainer was reducing the base specs of the internals and selling at $599 or even $499 USD. In that case, it would have boosted sales considerably and, when more people bought in, they could ramp up software development in step.
I would have bought the Zenfone 10 if it wasn't 950€ for the 512GB version, even the base model 128GB is 800€ and doesn't have anywhere near enough storage. I'm still using a 2017 Huawei Honor 9
My older sister has the Pixel 7a and she loves that phone because of the smaller size, plus her old phone before then was the Pixel 4a which was similar is size. She was never really into massive phone
I love this size phone. Which easily fits in your palm. But I hate these notches, holes on the screen. I don't know what's the problem with under-screen cameras? I'm fed up with self-obsessed people!!
Also I have owned Samsung Galaxy A54 5G for almost a year I want to see it get Durability tested since I don't want to end up in Shelf of shame weak phones
My mum has the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G since her very old Samsung Galaxy S10+ stopped working one day while on vacation and she had to quickly buy a phone. She loves that phone, though she misses the lack of headphone jack.
This is how easy it should be to determine the durability of the phone - test it, tear it down, put it back together - it's all perfect, in a single video. No complications, just amazing engineering and skills to have built it that way. The fact that everything is in a single video shows how good the phone is. I would have bought this phone, but unfortunately Asus doesn't sell it in my country and I can't get it!
I’ve just upgraded from an iPhone XS to the iPhone 13 Mini, and really wish Apple had continued with this ‘Mini’ (same footprint as the iPhone 7) size. I realise it’s not available to buy new in the real or virtual Apple Stores, but the Amazon one still has them, … as long as you like pink. Thanks for the content!
As one of the 5 owners I also love this phone even though it only has 2 years of software support. What disgusts me however is that they don't let you unlock the phone's bootloader which would allow installing community maintained android operating systems. This would hugely extend the phone's longevity.
@@ExaoSS Someone at xda forums is suing them for this for false advertising. If i remember correctly asus sold phones with the opportunity to unlock the phone but it never happened.
It's really worse than that. Unlocking the bootloader was possible, then they shut down the service. Many contacted Asus and they said the service would be put back online in the Q4 of 2023. Never heard anything after that, and the service is still offline. They lied and ghosted their most appasionate costumers, modders, and developers. A very shitty behavior from a company.
It's disappointing to see brands not fully getting behind their products, especially when it comes to software support. However, the Zen phone 10 does have some amazing features. That repairability is truly impressive.
I missed to be the 6th owner of this phone if somewhat they shipped this model to our country. But after an email reply from Asus after my inquiry they confirmed that they will not shipped this model to my country after its release. Im still holding to my Zenfone 5z since 2018 and still performing well except to its batteries. this year got without doubts saved by *AWM19V*
Thanks Jerrry, i love our Unicorn 🦄 Though a sad fact is the Royal family which is based in England has Hollyrood palace in Edinburgh, on either side of the gate pillars is the English Lion on one side and the unicorn on the other, they made the unicorn sculpture with chains around its neck. 😤
Zach-ji , long time fan of yours from Bangalore to now Bay Area. After re locating my quest for small phone ended up in 13 mini with a scooch wingmate case ( that carries 4 cards = costco+CA DL+CC+HSA card). Suprising my next small smart phone choice is solely dictated by availibility of scooch wingmate and I doubt I will have another given the death of small phones. After using the case and leading life without wallet I cannot go back unless I can lead a card less life . I hope seeing MKBHD and your videos Asus revies this lineup
Sick! Wanted you to check out the Zenfone 9 when it came out. These phones are really great. Edit: Also Google have committed to 7 years for their newest Pixels. But they have a history of reneging on those types of promises, they have already weaseled out of some of their AI update "guarantee". Previous Pixel phones had 3 years of updates, and 5 years of security updates. Zenfone gets 2+4 so not far off really.
@@Grzegorz_Grabowski Yes the security updates will be 4 years. Think LG sometimes issued new Android updates after their advertised lifespan, although they would be very late. If ASUS were to remain committed to the Zenfone lineup, then maybe there's a small chance they would release further updates. But I wouldn't bet on it.
@@goodrabbi7176 Yeah that's one thing I give Apple credit for. That and build quality. I have a lot of other issues with them and personally don't want their products, but their software support is legit.
Although a tad late to the game but thank you anyway for finally doing a durability test of the Zenfone 10! My 3 year old Zenfone 8 is still running great and even competes with some modern flagships.
Spot on. The lack of software support is the biggest reason I didn’t get this phone despite being a small phone lover, a problem exacerbated by the fact that Asus is now not allowing their phones to get their bootloaders unlocked
As an advocate for the small phones I was very much considering getting this one to replace my s10e. I eventually got myself a Z Flip and I can tell you it was not because of short software update span, but because of ASUS cameras being inferior. who knows *AWM19V* ? This is the most amazing thing I came across for a while
Any phone that brings me art class with Jerry is a win. I have the Zenfone 9 and I love it aside from a quirk where it started getting in a boot loop when I turn it off last week.
Now, we do not know that there wouldn't be a Zenfone 11-12 etc. Right now Asus only claimed that because the Zenfone 10 came out in the later half of 2023, they will not release any small flagships RIGHT NOW. I hope they will keep their tradition. I want to see smaller phones becomes common again. with *AWM19V* we can improve reality for real, don't overlook that
I wish more brands would release mid-level/affordable so-called 'compact' phones. I'm still using my Moto X4 which is nearly 7 years old, completely waterproof IPX68 (or was, been dropped many times now!), sd card slot, headphone jack, metal build and so on. At the time I bought it I found it too big, now almost nothing bar expensive iphones or Zenfones offer good specs and similar 'small' size factor. But at a price 😬
I used to love small phones. The Nexus 5 is still one of my favorites from the past. It just feels like if you want to have a good experience with current software, you need to have enough screen space.
I would absolutely get one of these if they gave it more than just 2 years of support. I've been wanting a smaller phone for years, but no one's giving me a good enough reason to buy one.
Like you said, the software support was likely a big reason why these never sold. You won't even want to buy last year's model if it's gonna lose support in a year while last year's model of a pixel or Samsung gets supported way longer. And in samsung's case, their base model has been only slightly bigger for a while and you only lose the headphone jack (not a requirement to everyone). I prefer to trust *AWM19V* and be on the right way
Can confirm, I was strongly considering this phone up until I learned it wasn't getting updates. My current phone, a nearly 3 year old *Nokia*, still gets updates regularly. Unfortunate because its such a compelling package otherwise. One of the best options with both a headphone jack and an IP rating.
This is the closest contender to having all the features I would want in a new phone. My Galaxy S10 has wireless charging, a headphone jack and telephoto + ultrawide cameras. I can't find all those features in a new phone whilst maintaining the same screen size. I think I'll be replacing the battery to try and get a few more years out of my S10...
I am more or less forced to an iPhone 13 Mini, because I like small smartphones, but want full features and at least 4 years of updates. The market is very thin here.
Love the small size i have recently sold my s20 and s10e Now I have a 13 mini and SE 2022 won't be replacing them until they stop supporting them both i know i had to change both simultaneously Sorry for my bad english
The hype around this phone being the only "small flagship" blows my mind. Something that seems to only be peddled by tech influencers when the reality is that it's the same physical size as an S24. The S24 just has smaller bezels hence more screen.
I figured out a few years ago that I am happiest when using a small phone. I've used the tiniest early androids up through some plus models. I remember considering the Zenfone 8 in my search for something good but small, but rejecting it specifically because of the lack of updates.
Small phones tend to be more durable, my zen 9 has gone flying multiple times, everything ok, and the OIS still works do you understand *AWM19V* ? impressive work by them!
The only problem with those is they're about as tall as a regular phone, although honestly I don't care about height as much as I do width. Oh and price and Sony's abysmal software support I guess... But damn do I kinda want a 5V
They are way too tall, I want something that is well below 150mm tall. My current Honor 9 is 147mm but because it has thick top bezel the top of the screen is quite easy to reach
I would argue the fact these aren't successful, at least here in the US, is because no one outside the tech enthusiast realm even knows this exists. ASUS does 0 marketing for their phones and then ShockedPikachu's and cancels when the phone doesn't sell. If they made a 3 second ad that just said "You can touch the top corners with 1 hand", they would sell thousands.
The S23 and S24 are about the same size (slightly wider and slightly shorter) while having larger screens due to the non-existence bezels so this isn't exactly the last, I'm pretty sure Asus aimed for exactly 5.9 inches for marketing purposes though when in reality, it's the same as 6.1 inches phones but with thicker bezels
As somebody who's biggest priority with a phone is it being a manageable (small) size this phone looks amazing I'm using the pixel 5 because it is the best combo of small/useful and I love it
Worth noting that while it only gets 2 years of software updates, it does get 4 years of security updates, which in my opinion is more important. I may be proven wrong in a few years if Android 16 brings some game-changing features but I feel like these days Android is already petty powerful and most upgrades are fairly minor. Also, on the selfie camera placement: if you have to have a cut-out for it, the top left corner is 100% where it should be! When you switch to landscape mode (say, for example, I wanted to watch this video full-screen on my Zenfone 10, me being another one of the 5 owners of this device), it's way more out of the way than it is on phones that center it.
The likes of Asus and Sony will be forced to adapt or die when the EU implements new laws stating that an electronic item will have to get updates for as long as it's expected to work. If they then say they expect the flagship to die or be obsolete after 2-3 years while their biggest competitors get by on 7, they are out of the game.
The EU is really fucking over the entire electronics industry huh. edit: I just mean that its ruffling some feathers, not that they're ruining anything
@@kooldudeno-lastname I don't get how requiring companies selling $700 (zenfone 10) and $1000+ (Xperia 5 V and the ROG phones) phones at msrp to support their phones for longer than a few years is "fucking over the entire electronics industry"
I LOVE this phone, such a heartbrake they have discontinued it 😔, they never released it in India and thus I could not purchase it. I was planning to buy the Zenfone 11 had they still continued with the compact design, ALAS, my dream of buying a Zenfone would just remain that - a dream.
i think small phone's are gonna have a legendary comeback over the next battery's revolutionary discovery(graphite batteries hopefully?) what about the *AWM19V* thing you in it?
Nah it won't. People love to talk about small phones yet sales record says otherwise. S24 ultra is most bought not s24. Studies have shown people like big phones
It won't. Phone nowadays more than just calling tools. You need space for huge camera sensors and lenses. Huge screen is actually needed for pleasant viewing (nowadays people spend more time watching content on phone screen)
@@trym2121Thats right. People are overhyping smaller phones but in the end nobody buys them. I also switched from a big to a small phone thinking it would be nice to have a compact phone but the drawbacks are just to big. Switched to a larger phone recently (S24U) and its a much better experience especially in battery life and heat distribution
The S24 isn't even bigger than this, it just has smaller bezels and bigger screen... And it's not even more than 6.5, it's 6.2", it's lighter and thinner, just 0.5mm wider and 2mm taller.
@@xapientiae2268 Yeah yeah, I'm reacting to Zack more than you maybe. MKBHD said the same thing a while ago too, that the Zenfone 10 was the last small flagship.
@@Strix_editz all of them are probably bots. They copy users' comments and then just add a phrase at the end. In this case being, "how long is AWM19V there for us?". The entire comment section is filled with comments like this
The hardware is well manufacturered, as Zack said, lack of software support is lead to a short sell is true. By being the another half of the Zenfone 9 users, it still holds up most of the needs.
As another owner of this mobile for 3 months (512gb, 16gb RAM) here's a heads up, if you have like to have 5/6/7 apps open at the same time *it will forcibly close them* - no matter what you do with the setting, they will be closed down. You can't have several apps openly running at the same time, now selling this and getting a S23
I had the same phone for 7 years not because it was running well after all that time, but because even when it was just barely functioning, I just wasn't interested in buying a "tablet phone" when I wanted a "mobile phone". I find it hard to believe no one else is interested in normal sized phones anymore.
Hello Zack, something makes me curious as long as you upload videos of new phones to be tested for durability throughout the year, do you ever test your hand grip strength the whole time you test each phone? changes in grip strength can affect each test. with *AWM19V* stepping in the best is yet to come, you could live with that!
Still searching for my Sony Xperia XZ2 COMPACT replacement .Although it is as close as it can be with this one, it doesn t make the cut because of small details: only 2 years update, no SD card slot. Maybe next Sony VI series will resurect those amazing compact phones but i highly doubt it
Powerful SOC+headphone jack+ stock android+ small screen, this phone has everything I would love on a phone, I wanted it so much, but I didn't buy it because it is on the overpriced side, for half of it's price I could buy a Xiaomi as powerful, and it is what I did hope more join and understand *AWM19V* at these times
I have been waiting so long for a small phone again. I'm using a OnePlus 8T right now, and if you're willing to learn and do custom roms, 2 years of support doesn't matter. I tried to switch back to my Google pixel 4A but the battery life is just too poor on something so small. I will definitely be getting this phone
I bought the pixel 4a after watching your video. Still functions well. My next target is a Zenfone 10. Although it's not available in my country yet. 🇱🇰
I love this phone so much. I've had mine for 8 months or so now. I upgrade phones every two years regardless, so the software updates (or lack thereof) aren't an issue for me.
I loved the iPhone 13 Mini and wish companies kept that size going! Currently rocking the Oppo Find N2 with the same screen size but larger screen on the inside 😊
As the owner of a ZenFone 9 which I repaired successfully, I can confirm it's very easy. Sadly, the lack of software updates from Asus is a true deal-breaker, especially since it is now impossible to unlock the bootloader of any Asus phone in order to benefit from community updates...
Хобби
![Megan Thee Stallion - BOA [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/TKQY2ZlIEjY/mqdefault.jpg)
The fact they manage to fit in a dual sim tray + headphone jack while the big phones claim there is no space is the true joke.
Even a lot of 10+ inch tablets nowadays lack those features. It’s never been about space, it’s always been about money.
Only europian union can save us on this things
@@souravghosh7398 Even tought i'm a heavy Headphone jack advocate, that would be a super weird law, forcing phones to have that port.
@@souravghosh7398they won't do anything about a headphone jack or sdcard slot. because that's still optional features a company can decide.
@@StarfoxHUN not weird they have already forced apple for type c btw
As one of the 5 owners of this phone - I love it. Wouldn't trade it for any other flagship.
Wanted to like but don't want to spoil the picture)
small phones have terrible battery life though, but would u have a mini phone wit ha 5000 mah battery if it was 50% thicker than the avg phone ?
@@girlsdrinkfeck The battery life on this phone is fantastic. I only charge to 80% and can get 9+ hours of screen time every day since I got it in August
@@girlsdrinkfeckZenfone 9 and 10 are actually recognized for their exceptional battery life. MKBHD frequently jokes about the "black magic" they used to make it last so long.
As another one of the 5 owners, I agree.
As a Zenfone 10 owner, I held my breath for the bend test. Glad it survived 😌
is it good for games like pubg and cod?
@@juhbenward18 I prefer gaming on bigger screens, but these games do perform well on the Zenfone 10.
We found one, there is 4 remaining @jerry 😅
The mere 2-year SW support wasn't that big a deal to power users until recently. About a year ago Asus removed the option to unlock bootloaders, claiming it would come back soon, giving and missing several deadlines and to this day not fulfiling their promises that the unlock tool will come back. So if you ask why Asus is losing customers, the answer is lack of respect to their customers.
Bruh they shot themselves in the foot with that one
No unlock bootloader = no fandom custom roms or tweaks = no thank you
I unlock the bootloader of any phone as soon as I get it, so this phone is a no go for me
i dont think the majority of their users would care about that. the powerusers might
@@rodrigojds while Asus is an enthusiast brand and the proportion of power users will be larger than average, you're right it's probably less than 50%. However even standard users have gotten a whiff of the mistreatment of customers and decided that such behaviour does not warrant giving a company one's money.
I’m glad that durability test and Teardown are combined in a single video.
Yeah, I like it, too. Mostly we only get it, when the phone fails.
Small video for a small phone
explain how scratching the back of a phone with a knife and putting a flame to the screen a durability test?
@@mrbean2131what else do you need from a durabily test though? Smashing the phone with a sledgehammer? Dropping it from a ten-storey building? Drowning the phone? Yeah nah, that'd be unnecessary.
@@mrbean2131Lighter to the screen shows heat resistance and the way it burns shows the screen type
Scratching the back can show what your phone may be up against in your pocket or daily life and it's durable or not (durability test)
Commenting from my Amazing Zenfone 9
I hope ASUS keep making Small Flagships
🔥 Commenting from my full screen flagship Asus zenfone 6
are you that 5th person😂😂
The next zenfone will not be small
@@Bruhify1377 how's your battery bro , mine is dead forever
I gladly pay $50 more for 2 more years of updates
Sony Xperia Z3 compact is my favorite phone of all time. Absolutely gorgeous, little monolith. If made today with bezel-less screen and modern components, I would buy it again in a heartbeat.
I wish Zack would start testing the Xperia lineup
@@nippohc They're not really aimed at the US market. Missing a lot of bands. Granted, the Zenfone 10 is missing some, but note that he's not reviewing it when it released last year, but now, as "last small flagship" is notable.
there are rumors about a sony xperia 3 releasing this year. Maybe that will be what you are looking for 🤔🤷♂️
Z5 compact the best compact phone ever
Z3 compact did have bezzles
I just noticed I watch you videos when im stressed... the cool calm voice combined with controlled destruction is kinda soothing... cheers
I thought I was the only one - thanks for sharing this!
Being from Scotland, the unicorn 🦄 is always a funny fact to tell people!
Oh Scotland? Do you happen to know who is Skandar? Kudos if u know without googleing for him...
A book is it no
Still looking for loch ness?
@@dominicharvey6048nah we know where Loch Ness is 😉 I think yer confused there buddy.
They usually don't believe me at first either!
The date on the phone is March 25. Interestingly, today is only March 24.
I think bro in japan😂
time travel agent 47 confirmed
time zones But Idk
@@Morecreativemindif anything, he would be behind EST time. Right now it’s 11:08 AM EST for me on the 24th, and I’m pretty sure Zach lives on mountain time.
he is future proof.
I'm also one of those 5 people that bought the Zenfone 10 😅. And I absolutely love it. I'm a fairly small person and with phones constantly getting more and more massive I really need a phone that doesn't feel like I'm carrying an actual brick around in my pocket and requires me to use both hands 100% of the time. Not sure what I'm going to do when I have to eventually replace this, but I'll just gonna cross that bridge when I get there I suppose.
I really hope small (good quality) smartphones continue to be in the market because there are a lot of people in the world that aren't the size of Zack or MKBHD, and using all these massive "normal sized" phones is just really difficult for us. Nothing against either of you, you're both some of my absolute favorite tech resources/personalities on the Internet. ♥
You have the most soothing voice I've ever heard. ❤
2:54 dude that impromptu unicorn is art
@@aldenfarias4873kinda like the impromptu unusual use of the word, "cringe"............
@@guadalupe8589 and kinda like the impromptu unusual amount of dots at the end. around here on the internet we usually just do three...
@@aldenfarias4873you didn’t need to type this cringe comment either; totally unnecessary, but here we are
@@aldenfarias4873you cringe for calling them cringe boi
I would have 100% bought the ZenFone 9. I was so excited about it when it was announced in summer 2022. But over time I realized that it was far too inconvenient to work around. You could only get it from Taiwan (no US retailers), guaranteed 2 years of software support, and it was $700. It was so much more convenient to just buy the Pixel 7a, which is the closest in size but still a vastly different competitor. If the 7a was smaller, it would have been first on the list.
The key here that would have made it a no-brainer was reducing the base specs of the internals and selling at $599 or even $499 USD. In that case, it would have boosted sales considerably and, when more people bought in, they could ramp up software development in step.
Same reason why i still use pixel 4a 5G , don't feel it in my pocket, great size and weight
I would have bought the Zenfone 10 if it wasn't 950€ for the 512GB version, even the base model 128GB is 800€ and doesn't have anywhere near enough storage. I'm still using a 2017 Huawei Honor 9
My older sister has the Pixel 7a and she loves that phone because of the smaller size, plus her old phone before then was the Pixel 4a which was similar is size. She was never really into massive phone
The base samsungs are pretty much the same dimensions as the zenfone.
@@steveguy3 The base S23 was very similar yes. It was also the same price with slightly worse specs
Broo this is unreal!!! I just googled Scotland prior to watching ur video and learnt about its national animal. Here you telling same thing 😭😭😭
I love this size phone. Which easily fits in your palm. But I hate these notches, holes on the screen. I don't know what's the problem with under-screen cameras? I'm fed up with self-obsessed people!!
There are tears rolling down my cheeks; RIP.
Bruh the s24 is lighter and thinner, and same size as this phone. Stop your drama
Yeah me too. I'm peeling onions as we speak.
Also I have owned Samsung Galaxy A54 5G for almost a year I want to see it get Durability tested since I don't want to end up in Shelf of shame weak phones
Sure can u do one for us
I got the A53 as my backup phone, but i highly doubt Zack would do a year old phone tear down!
My mum has the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G since her very old Samsung Galaxy S10+ stopped working one day while on vacation and she had to quickly buy a phone. She loves that phone, though she misses the lack of headphone jack.
@@MERCHIODOS i miss the sd slot more than i miss earphone jack! Thrres too many wireless earbuds under $20 on amazon for ya mom to miss thaf🤣
I am also an user of samsung A54, its a popular phone with a good reputation. Zach has liked the comment so maybe 😅.
This is how easy it should be to determine the durability of the phone - test it, tear it down, put it back together - it's all perfect, in a single video. No complications, just amazing engineering and skills to have built it that way. The fact that everything is in a single video shows how good the phone is. I would have bought this phone, but unfortunately Asus doesn't sell it in my country and I can't get it!
The battery life, performance, screen size just perfect ❤
I’ve just upgraded from an iPhone XS to the iPhone 13 Mini, and really wish Apple had continued with this ‘Mini’ (same footprint as the iPhone 7) size. I realise it’s not available to buy new in the real or virtual Apple Stores, but the Amazon one still has them, … as long as you like pink.
Thanks for the content!
As one of the 5 owners I also love this phone even though it only has 2 years of software support. What disgusts me however is that they don't let you unlock the phone's bootloader which would allow installing community maintained android operating systems. This would hugely extend the phone's longevity.
what a shame.. was planning to own one and slam a custom rom on it.
@@ExaoSS Someone at xda forums is suing them for this for false advertising. If i remember correctly asus sold phones with the opportunity to unlock the phone but it never happened.
@@kozakalex222222 though i am thankful for asus for being the only company produces high end compact phones but this a scumbag move and uncalled for.
It's really worse than that. Unlocking the bootloader was possible, then they shut down the service. Many contacted Asus and they said the service would be put back online in the Q4 of 2023. Never heard anything after that, and the service is still offline. They lied and ghosted their most appasionate costumers, modders, and developers. A very shitty behavior from a company.
It's disappointing to see brands not fully getting behind their products, especially when it comes to software support. However, the Zen phone 10 does have some amazing features. That repairability is truly impressive.
I love these teardown and test combo videos
I missed to be the 6th owner of this phone if somewhat they shipped this model to our country. But after an email reply from Asus after my inquiry they confirmed that they will not shipped this model to my country after its release. Im still holding to my Zenfone 5z since 2018 and still performing well except to its batteries. this year got without doubts saved by *AWM19V*
𝔤𝔬𝔬𝔤𝔩𝔢 that guys
Wow, bots are ai now?
Very impressive, it must be a nightmare for who ever software engineer tasked with stopping bots and scam comments.
AliExpress
Considering the main board is the motherboard, the KB board has to be the Kidboard
Makes sense to me, smaller boards used to be called daughterboards but I guess we can't assume gender now 😂
@@adamwebexactly, they have to be gender neutral 😅
I hereby DEMAND the bigger one be called "birth-giver board" from here on out!
@@markinipannini parentboard would be easier, but your birth-giver board is more impressive
Ancestorboard
Thanks Jerrry, i love our Unicorn 🦄 Though a sad fact is the Royal family which is based in England has Hollyrood palace in Edinburgh, on either side of the gate pillars is the English Lion on one side and the unicorn on the other, they made the unicorn sculpture with chains around its neck. 😤
Zach-ji , long time fan of yours from Bangalore to now Bay Area. After re locating my quest for small phone ended up in 13 mini with a scooch wingmate case ( that carries 4 cards = costco+CA DL+CC+HSA card). Suprising my next small smart phone choice is solely dictated by availibility of scooch wingmate and I doubt I will have another given the death of small phones. After using the case and leading life without wallet I cannot go back unless I can lead a card less life . I hope seeing MKBHD and your videos Asus revies this lineup
Rip my favorite phone🕊️
Sick! Wanted you to check out the Zenfone 9 when it came out. These phones are really great.
Edit: Also Google have committed to 7 years for their newest Pixels. But they have a history of reneging on those types of promises, they have already weaseled out of some of their AI update "guarantee". Previous Pixel phones had 3 years of updates, and 5 years of security updates. Zenfone gets 2+4 so not far off really.
Was here to say this…
Plus apple phones support for up to 7 years…
He just loves throwing shade at apple.
Wait. It's 2+4? Then it's not that bad, after all who cares about updates others than the safety ones. At least not me.
@@Grzegorz_Grabowski Yes the security updates will be 4 years. Think LG sometimes issued new Android updates after their advertised lifespan, although they would be very late. If ASUS were to remain committed to the Zenfone lineup, then maybe there's a small chance they would release further updates. But I wouldn't bet on it.
@@goodrabbi7176 Yeah that's one thing I give Apple credit for. That and build quality. I have a lot of other issues with them and personally don't want their products, but their software support is legit.
Although a tad late to the game but thank you anyway for finally doing a durability test of the Zenfone 10!
My 3 year old Zenfone 8 is still running great and even competes with some modern flagships.
Spot on. The lack of software support is the biggest reason I didn’t get this phone despite being a small phone lover, a problem exacerbated by the fact that Asus is now not allowing their phones to get their bootloaders unlocked
As an advocate for the small phones I was very much considering getting this one to replace my s10e. I eventually got myself a Z Flip and I can tell you it was not because of short software update span, but because of ASUS cameras being inferior. who knows *AWM19V* ? This is the most amazing thing I came across for a while
𝔤𝔬𝔬𝔤𝔩𝔢 that guys
𝔤𝔬𝔬𝔤𝔩𝔢 it
why didn't you consider a 23/24 they are the same size...
@@alexandruciordas4941 its a dam bot
You should get Pixel 7a its same size and its only $599 USD.
With Scotland's Unicorn, and Wales' Dragon everyone else is quite boring with their birds and gazelles.
England has lions no birds for us :)
@@TonyandHorse it's still not as "wild" as a unicorn and a dragon, like we could have picked a yeti or phoenix or something, you know?
@@seannyyx A hippogryph be a cool one for England.
@@seannyyxthere are plenty of more interesting ones across England too, like the Enfield
bruh it's so cool how you can dismember it COMPLETELY and still be able to put it back together to make it work flawlessly
Any phone that brings me art class with Jerry is a win.
I have the Zenfone 9 and I love it aside from a quirk where it started getting in a boot loop when I turn it off last week.
Now, we do not know that there wouldn't be a Zenfone 11-12 etc. Right now Asus only claimed that because the Zenfone 10 came out in the later half of 2023, they will not release any small flagships RIGHT NOW. I hope they will keep their tradition. I want to see smaller phones becomes common again. with *AWM19V* we can improve reality for real, don't overlook that
Zenfone 11 already announced, it's a big ugly phone. They're not going to do small phones again, thanks consumers.
That's a bot you're replying to.@@zxbc1
𝔤𝔬𝔬𝔤𝔩𝔢 that guys
@@zxbc1Zenfone 11 *Ultra*, which implies a standard edition's in the pipeline.
The regular Zenfone usually releases in July anyways
I wish more brands would release mid-level/affordable so-called 'compact' phones. I'm still using my Moto X4 which is nearly 7 years old, completely waterproof IPX68 (or was, been dropped many times now!), sd card slot, headphone jack, metal build and so on. At the time I bought it I found it too big, now almost nothing bar expensive iphones or Zenfones offer good specs and similar 'small' size factor. But at a price 😬
Your phone is not waterproof, much less completely
@@nickmotsarsky4382 I've tested it in the past, completely waterproof 😀
I used to love small phones. The Nexus 5 is still one of my favorites from the past. It just feels like if you want to have a good experience with current software, you need to have enough screen space.
I would absolutely get one of these if they gave it more than just 2 years of support. I've been wanting a smaller phone for years, but no one's giving me a good enough reason to buy one.
Small size + small support = small sales got me dead 💀 RIP small phones
💀💀💀
RIP Zenfone
😵😵😵
The upcoming Pixel 9 is said to have mostly the same hardware features as the bigger 9 Pro (except screen size obv)
Then what about iphone mini 12/13? 5yrs support
Like you said, the software support was likely a big reason why these never sold. You won't even want to buy last year's model if it's gonna lose support in a year while last year's model of a pixel or Samsung gets supported way longer. And in samsung's case, their base model has been only slightly bigger for a while and you only lose the headphone jack (not a requirement to everyone). I prefer to trust *AWM19V* and be on the right way
𝔤𝔬𝔬𝔤𝔩𝔢 that guys
bot
stupid spam
Can confirm, I was strongly considering this phone up until I learned it wasn't getting updates. My current phone, a nearly 3 year old *Nokia*, still gets updates regularly. Unfortunate because its such a compelling package otherwise. One of the best options with both a headphone jack and an IP rating.
This is the closest contender to having all the features I would want in a new phone. My Galaxy S10 has wireless charging, a headphone jack and telephoto + ultrawide cameras. I can't find all those features in a new phone whilst maintaining the same screen size. I think I'll be replacing the battery to try and get a few more years out of my S10...
Jerry recording this vid at 1:00 shows his dedication to his job working late night
I am more or less forced to an iPhone 13 Mini, because I like small smartphones, but want full features and at least 4 years of updates. The market is very thin here.
Same. Literally bought it a couple of days ago because I had no other choice
Same with me , my daily device always with me is my iPhone 13mini , besides i use a Samsung S23 Ultra and an iPhone 15 pro max
Love the small size i have recently sold my s20 and s10e
Now I have a 13 mini and SE 2022 won't be replacing them until they stop supporting them both i know i had to change both simultaneously
Sorry for my bad english
Same here. I love my 12 mini.
The hype around this phone being the only "small flagship" blows my mind. Something that seems to only be peddled by tech influencers when the reality is that it's the same physical size as an S24. The S24 just has smaller bezels hence more screen.
I figured out a few years ago that I am happiest when using a small phone. I've used the tiniest early androids up through some plus models.
I remember considering the Zenfone 8 in my search for something good but small, but rejecting it specifically because of the lack of updates.
Small phones tend to be more durable, my zen 9 has gone flying multiple times, everything ok, and the OIS still works do you understand *AWM19V* ? impressive work by them!
what is AWM19V ?
𝔤𝔬𝔬𝔤𝔩𝔢 that guys
@@monikayadav2161 spam bots
@@Anthony-stama But how the bots can make comments that corresponding to the videos topic?? It's terrifying
@@user-fs4ws1if4f AI
As anyone heard of the Sony Xperia 5 series of smartphones ? Cuz they're mini, and they aren't dead
AND it is a flagship phone
for what it is, it's very unreasonably priced
@@pleasantivan Got myself a 5 II for less than 200€, still holds up very well
The only problem with those is they're about as tall as a regular phone, although honestly I don't care about height as much as I do width. Oh and price and Sony's abysmal software support I guess... But damn do I kinda want a 5V
They are way too tall, I want something that is well below 150mm tall. My current Honor 9 is 147mm but because it has thick top bezel the top of the screen is quite easy to reach
Can we just have a moment of silence for the final tiny brave warrior? This is honestly pretty sad.
I would argue the fact these aren't successful, at least here in the US, is because no one outside the tech enthusiast realm even knows this exists. ASUS does 0 marketing for their phones and then ShockedPikachu's and cancels when the phone doesn't sell. If they made a 3 second ad that just said "You can touch the top corners with 1 hand", they would sell thousands.
Oh wow a Members only Durability test I love this
Thank you for subscribing! New wheelchair factory tour coming soon.
@@JerryRigEverything 😱Can't wait
Membership has its privileges. 🎉
Sike, it's public now
Imagine having enough disposable income to pay for membership
The S23 and S24 are about the same size (slightly wider and slightly shorter) while having larger screens due to the non-existence bezels
so this isn't exactly the last, I'm pretty sure Asus aimed for exactly 5.9 inches for marketing purposes though when in reality, it's the same as 6.1 inches phones but with thicker bezels
key word, flagship
As somebody who's biggest priority with a phone is it being a manageable (small) size this phone looks amazing
I'm using the pixel 5 because it is the best combo of small/useful and I love it
Worth noting that while it only gets 2 years of software updates, it does get 4 years of security updates, which in my opinion is more important. I may be proven wrong in a few years if Android 16 brings some game-changing features but I feel like these days Android is already petty powerful and most upgrades are fairly minor.
Also, on the selfie camera placement: if you have to have a cut-out for it, the top left corner is 100% where it should be! When you switch to landscape mode (say, for example, I wanted to watch this video full-screen on my Zenfone 10, me being another one of the 5 owners of this device), it's way more out of the way than it is on phones that center it.
As a honor X7 user I agree this is the "members only" phone
The likes of Asus and Sony will be forced to adapt or die when the EU implements new laws stating that an electronic item will have to get updates for as long as it's expected to work. If they then say they expect the flagship to die or be obsolete after 2-3 years while their biggest competitors get by on 7, they are out of the game.
The EU is really fucking over the entire electronics industry huh.
edit: I just mean that its ruffling some feathers, not that they're ruining anything
@@kooldudeno-lastname I don't get how requiring companies selling $700 (zenfone 10) and $1000+ (Xperia 5 V and the ROG phones) phones at msrp to support their phones for longer than a few years is "fucking over the entire electronics industry"
@@kooldudeno-lastnameYou mean trying to fix the massive mess of disposable devices? I wish it was not needed, but it is
Yes, and we EU Consumers really enjoy it@@kooldudeno-lastname
No one cares about eu kid, the real market is Asia.
I LOVE this phone, such a heartbrake they have discontinued it 😔, they never released it in India and thus I could not purchase it. I was planning to buy the Zenfone 11 had they still continued with the compact design, ALAS, my dream of buying a Zenfone would just remain that - a dream.
Hai Jerry, Im Uncle Shu from Borneo Island, Malaysia. Like the way how you do your presentation inside the Video during do the gadget review. 🙋🏻♂️
Always wanted it, but never got it since it was never released in India.
same here bro🥲
Does india get rog phones? If so the lower tier version of those should be just about the same
+1
@@JeremyTryit2oh trust me, all them kids care about is pubg pubg pubg pubg. nothing else on their minds so safe to say they got rog.
@@JeremyTryit2Pretty much the only country apart from China that's huge on mobile gaming. Yeah they got ROG. I wish we got ROG Ally instead -_-
I loved the impact zenphone 9 who knows *AWM19V* ? This is the most impressive thing I came across for a while
𝔤𝔬𝔬𝔤𝔩𝔢 that guys
𝔤𝔬𝔬𝔤𝔩𝔢 it
bot
Winnie the Pooh. Winnie the Pooh. Winnie the Pooh.
KB is Konnector Board. Sometimes in electronics schematics I'd use K instead of C...
Love the content as always 😊 btw when can we expect Nothing Phone 2a durability test?
i think small phone's are gonna have a legendary comeback over the next battery's revolutionary discovery(graphite batteries hopefully?) what about the *AWM19V* thing you in it?
what is AWM19V ?
𝔤𝔬𝔬𝔤𝔩𝔢 that guys
Nah it won't. People love to talk about small phones yet sales record says otherwise. S24 ultra is most bought not s24. Studies have shown people like big phones
It won't. Phone nowadays more than just calling tools. You need space for huge camera sensors and lenses. Huge screen is actually needed for pleasant viewing (nowadays people spend more time watching content on phone screen)
@@trym2121Thats right. People are overhyping smaller phones but in the end nobody buys them. I also switched from a big to a small phone thinking it would be nice to have a compact phone but the drawbacks are just to big. Switched to a larger phone recently (S24U) and its a much better experience especially in battery life and heat distribution
4:38 it's really sad to hear that this phone doesn't have balls... rest in peace
it does have a hole
thank you for making this
today i learnt from you that unsymmetrical is a synonym for asymmetrical. thank you.
I mean base galaxy S-series still do exist, but yeah we are seeing the death of less-than-6,5 inch flagship phones
The Google pixel 8 is pretty small too
The S24 isn't even bigger than this, it just has smaller bezels and bigger screen... And it's not even more than 6.5, it's 6.2", it's lighter and thinner, just 0.5mm wider and 2mm taller.
@@jondasek I know, and I meant that Samsung produces the last small android flagship
@@xapientiae2268 Yeah yeah, I'm reacting to Zack more than you maybe. MKBHD said the same thing a while ago too, that the Zenfone 10 was the last small flagship.
And rumors say, the S25 is going to be bigger. So as small phone lovers, we are fucked.
I wish Pixel launches more small phones. how long is *AWM19V* there for us?
what is AWM19V ??
Yes what is AWM19V?
𝔤𝔬𝔬𝔤𝔩𝔢 that guys
@@Strix_editz all of them are probably bots. They copy users' comments and then just add a phrase at the end. In this case being, "how long is AWM19V there for us?". The entire comment section is filled with comments like this
I really hope ASUS continue this line of devices, it is amazing!
The fact that after a stress test the phone is still functional is pretty glowing. :P
I miss my zenfone 6. That was the best phone I've ever had. I prefer to understand *AWM19V* and be strong
what is AWM19V ?
@@monikayadav2161it's how you know it's a bot. I think there's a glitch today
missed the full screen without cutout and headphone jack and sd card but man the system stability really sucks even running crdroid or lineage
@@monikayadav2161a scam. those are all bots.
That 2 year old support i just an insult really
The hardware is well manufacturered, as Zack said, lack of software support is lead to a short sell is true.
By being the another half of the Zenfone 9 users, it still holds up most of the needs.
love to see a review on what you think is the best thermal capable phone
Zack: tf is *AWM19V* ? that is everywhere thank god
Spam bots. More annoying than herpes.
headphone jack you will always be remembered I prefer to pick up the *AWM19V* and be part of that move
what is AWM19V ?
@@monikayadav2161 bots i think
As another owner of this mobile for 3 months (512gb, 16gb RAM) here's a heads up, if you have like to have 5/6/7 apps open at the same time *it will forcibly close them* - no matter what you do with the setting, they will be closed down. You can't have several apps openly running at the same time, now selling this and getting a S23
I had the same phone for 7 years not because it was running well after all that time, but because even when it was just barely functioning, I just wasn't interested in buying a "tablet phone" when I wanted a "mobile phone". I find it hard to believe no one else is interested in normal sized phones anymore.
That 2 year old support i just an insult really greatest move today was *AWM19V* as you said
stuf you bot
Hello Zack, something makes me curious as long as you upload videos of new phones to be tested for durability throughout the year, do you ever test your hand grip strength the whole time you test each phone? changes in grip strength can affect each test. with *AWM19V* stepping in the best is yet to come, you could live with that!
bot
Still searching for my Sony Xperia XZ2 COMPACT replacement .Although it is as close as it can be with this one, it doesn t make the cut because of small details: only 2 years update, no SD card slot. Maybe next Sony VI series will resurect those amazing compact phones but i highly doubt it
As someone who loves small phones and wants this one so bad but cannot afford it (cost and availability in my country)... This breaks my heart 💔💔💔
Powerful SOC+headphone jack+ stock android+ small screen, this phone has everything I would love on a phone, I wanted it so much, but I didn't buy it because it is on the overpriced side, for half of it's price I could buy a Xiaomi as powerful, and it is what I did hope more join and understand *AWM19V* at these times
𝔤𝔬𝔬𝔤𝔩𝔢 that guys
𝔤𝔬𝔬𝔤𝔩𝔢 it
It’s not overpriced, you’re not getting anything that good for half the price, and if you are…only one thing, good luck with ads
isn't s24 and iphone 25 almost the same size?
@@alexandruciordas4941 the few extra width (I think it's around 2mm) actually made the experience holding the phone way worse for me personally.
I want the small Zenfone series to be revived. this *AWM19V* is well done, thanks for the headsup
bot
scam
just woke up and this video was so gd soothing.
Brilliant video,im thinking of getting this phone,this really helps,thanks 👍
Hi, I love your videos! what about the *AWM19V* project you in it?
bot scam
I love flagship phones. figured *AWM19V* is worth to know now
𝔤𝔬𝔬𝔤𝔩𝔢 that guys
bot
I have been waiting so long for a small phone again. I'm using a OnePlus 8T right now, and if you're willing to learn and do custom roms, 2 years of support doesn't matter. I tried to switch back to my Google pixel 4A but the battery life is just too poor on something so small. I will definitely be getting this phone
I bought the pixel 4a after watching your video. Still functions well.
My next target is a Zenfone 10. Although it's not available in my country yet. 🇱🇰
3:00 Another masterpiece from the Bob Ross of tech.
Fr
Please include drop test on your durability tests.😊
I love this phone so much. I've had mine for 8 months or so now. I upgrade phones every two years regardless, so the software updates (or lack thereof) aren't an issue for me.
I loved the iPhone 13 Mini and wish companies kept that size going! Currently rocking the Oppo Find N2 with the same screen size but larger screen on the inside 😊
Watching this from my Zenfone 10. Best phone I've ever used or owned. RIP.
Love small screen phones and at the moment my S23...Nice one Jerry 🙂
Same, its amazing. Samsung still has small phones, so it's not an extinct species
As the owner of a ZenFone 9 which I repaired successfully, I can confirm it's very easy. Sadly, the lack of software updates from Asus is a true deal-breaker, especially since it is now impossible to unlock the bootloader of any Asus phone in order to benefit from community updates...
The S24 is only 1mm taller and 2mm wider than this.
Small phones aren't really dead, just the marketing is.