Asus accidentally leaked a promotional video of its seemingly close Zenfone 9 on its YouTube channel, and the phone has some very interesting quirks and features, to catch a phrase (via XDA, TechGoing). Perhaps most interesting (at least for people who might grab or drop a headphone jack) is what Asus has done with the fingerprint sensor mounted next to it, which the video labels as the “smart key.” : shows a creepy CGI hand sliding. through a web page by sliding your finger on the side of the phone.
It’s not exactly uncommon to have some sort of gesture built into your fingerprint reader – phones like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip / Fold 3 allow you to lower the notification shadow with a similar swipe. (And these phones are far from the first to do so; I remember this feature on my Pixel 2.) But using it to really scroll through content seems like a fun throwback to the days when phones had physical dials. or ball wheels to move. Will the Asus version, which he calls “ZenTouch,” be an RSI disaster or a trick you use once before turning it off forever? May be. But will it feel like shit once you try it? I would bet yes.
ASUS Zenfone 9Snapdragon 8+ Gen18 + 128/8 + 256 GB / 16 + 256 GB- 5.9-inch screen at 120 Hz- 4300 mAh dual battery- Sony IMX766 rear main camera – ZenTouch- 3-way audio port 5 mm- Water resistant red and black IP68, blue 800-900 € pic.twitter.com/5mEn8rsKxw
– SnoopyTech (@_snoopytech_) July 7, 2022
Fun side button aside, the Zenfone 9 looks like a very interesting gadget. According to Twitter user SnoopyTech (who has had some accurate leaks before), the phone will have a 5.9-inch screen with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and will be powered by the same Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chip that Asus put to its game-focused ROG. Phone 6. They also say that the phone will cost between 800 and 900 euros, between 850 and 950 US dollars. That’s a little higher than the $ 699 starting price of the previous-generation Zenfone 8, which my colleague Allison Johnson called “fantastic” in her review.
Plus, it comes in fun colors. Image: SnoopyTech
We’ll have to wait for an official and practical announcement to see if this price jump is justified (or even if it’s accurate), but the video indicates at least some improvements that could help justify the added cost. The battery has become a bit larger compared to the Zenphone 8, which had a 4,000 mAh cell that provided a “agree” runtime. The video also says the phone’s two cameras are “massively updated” and shows that the main one includes a “6-axis hybrid gimbal stabilizer.” Then, it shows that this feature is used with a really cheeky accessory called a smart backpack holder, which looks like it’s trying to emulate equipment that professional videographers use to lift heavy cameras all day, but for a phone.
Quick question: what ?? Gif: SnoopyTech
Apart from the accessories (there is also a seemingly modular phone case to which you can connect a stand / wallet), this preview really makes me excited to see the officially revealed Zenfone 9. Of course, it’s not the clone of the iPhone Mini with Android that some people want, but it looks like it will continue the Zenfone tradition of being a compact but high-end Android phone with some fun features built-in to keep things interesting. And a headphone jack: I don’t get enough of the headphone jack.