Asus' new Zenfone 9 is the Android equivalent of the iPhone mini. It's small and runs Android, but it also has top-of-the-line components like a Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor and a one-of-a-kind image stabilization system on its main camera. It will cost you $799 when it launches directly from Asus in the US this September, but you'll be able to find it on sale for a little less than that right now.
The 5.9in AMOLED display is far smaller than many flagship phones' now-standard 7in screens, and the 120Hz refresh rate keeps scrolling smooth. It's not short on power either - the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 is overclocked to provide plenty of grunt for most tasks, and Asus has added a unique 6-Axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer to the 12-megapixel Ultra-wide and selfie cameras on the back. Asus has even managed to squeeze in a 3.5mm audio jack and support for high-quality wired and wireless audio, as well as a 4,300mAh battery cell.
In benchmarks the phone lags a bit behind Asus' ROG Phone 6 Pro and last year's Zenfone 8, but in day-to-day use it feels fast and responsive. It's got a good camera too, although it lacks a telephoto lens and has a bit of shutter lag. It's also running a beta version of Android 13 and Asus will probably deliver updates to it at a quicker pace than the similarly sized Galaxy S22. That said, Asus is only committing to two years of OS upgrades and security patches for the Zenfone 9, which is far too short when you're paying this much money.
