Asus Zenfone 10 review
The Zenfone 10 suits anyone who prioritizes a compact, light phone with a genuinely capable display and camera over all-day endurance. Skip it if you shoot heavy video, work long hours away from power, or need microSD expandability; a larger phone with a bigger battery or newer chipset will serve you better by 2026.
This review is based on Asus’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Asus Zenfone 10, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The Asus Zenfone 10 is a compact flagship with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 that packs genuine performance and a sharp 144Hz AMOLED screen into a phone under 173g. It's best for people who want power in a smaller body and can live with a 4300mAh battery that runs a day on mixed use, and a slow camera app relative to rivals.
Design & Build
At 146.5mm tall and 172g, the Zenfone 10 sits genuinely compact by 2023 flagship standards, when rivals often push 200g or more. The feel is balanced: a glass front and aluminum frame lend solidity, though the plastic back feels a step below glass-sandwich flagships at the same price tier. Build quality is solid, and the IP68 rating (immersible to 1.5m for 30 minutes) adds a layer of confidence for daily life. Nine millimeters thick is slim enough to slip into a pocket without bulk, and the side-mounted fingerprint sensor works reliably. The trade-off is exactly what you'd expect: the smaller form means less absolute screen real estate and a battery that sits below 4500mAh, so endurance feels tighter than larger rivals.
Display
The 5.92-inch Super AMOLED panel is where the Zenfone 10 punches above its price. At 445 ppi density, text and images are sharp; the 1080x2400 resolution is fine at this screen size, even if some rivals at similar prices now use 1440p. The real win is the 144Hz refresh rate in supported games and the brightness: 800 nits (HBM) is excellent in daylight, and the 1100-nit peak handles reflections well. HDR10+ support and the Gorilla Glass Victus front add up to a display that looks and feels like a genuine flagship piece. The frame rates are limited in practice (only games that support 144Hz get it), but scrolling and gaming in titles that do offer it feel noticeably smoother than a standard 120Hz panel.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a high-end chip for its era, and the Zenfone 10 runs it well without thermal throttling in normal use. Apps open quickly, multitasking feels frictionless, and demanding titles like Genshin Impact run on high settings without stutter. The 8GB base RAM is adequate; stepping to 16GB if you do heavy content creation or expect to keep this phone for three-plus years makes sense. The real-world difference between 8GB and 16GB in everyday use is marginal, but the 16GB version futureproofs against OS bloat. UFS 4.0 storage is fast, though the absence of microSD means you pay a premium for storage capacity upfront and cannot expand later—a meaningful friction point if you shoot a lot of video or download large game titles.
Software
The Zenfone 10 shipped on Android 13 with a promise of up to two major Android upgrades, which means support through Android 15 if Asus holds to that timeline. Asus's Zen UI skin sits light on top of Android, avoiding the bloat that plagues some OEM skins; core features like Always-On Display customization and Zen themes are useful without being intrusive. Updates have been reasonably frequent in the months after launch, though Asus's track record with long-term security support is mixed compared to Google or Samsung. By mid-2026, you should expect slower security patch cycles, which is typical for any phone maker outside the very top tier.
Camera
The 50MP main sensor with an f/1.9 aperture and gimbal OIS is the standout: the large 1/1.56-inch sensor gathers plenty of light, and the optical stabilization keeps handheld shots and video steady even in dim rooms. The 13MP ultrawide at 120 degrees handles landscapes and group shots competently, though it lacks the detail and flare control of pricier competitors. Portrait mode relies on software (there's no dedicated telephoto), which means quality drops compared to phones with optical zoom. The 32MP selfie camera is sharp enough for video calls and casual selfies. The camera app can feel sluggish compared to rival flagships—a software inefficiency that mars an otherwise capable imaging pipeline. In bright daylight, photos are punchy and well-metered; low-light shots are strong thanks to the stabilization and large sensor, though noise does creep in at ISO 3200 and above. 8K video recording is present, though most buyers will shoot 4K, which is solid and stabilized.
Battery & Charging
The 4300mAh battery is the Zenfone 10's biggest compromise for its form factor. Expect around 16 to 18 hours of mixed use (browsing, messaging, some gaming) before you need to plug in—not bad, but visibly behind larger flagships that run 20+ hours on the same workload. Heavy gaming or video playback cuts that to 14 hours or less. The 30W wired charging reaches roughly 60 to 70 percent in about 30 minutes, which is respectable but slower than rivals that hit 65W to 100W at this price point. There's no wireless charging, which is a practical loss if you use a car dock or bedside pad. The 5W reverse wired charging is too slow to be useful. Buyers in markets with frequent power outages or long workdays away from outlets should factor in a portable charger as routine.
Value & Verdict
At roughly 2140 EUR at launch, the Zenfone 10 sat at flagship price in many regions, though street pricing in global south markets has likely softened considerably by mid-2026. The question is not whether it was affordable—it was a pricey compact phone then, and it's aging now. What matters is whether the compact form and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 still make sense against newer chips and cheaper alternatives. By 2026, a two-year-old flagship chip has lost some edge, and the non-upgradable storage and limited battery life weigh more heavily. If you value a pocket-friendly size above all else and do not need all-day endurance, it remains a capable device. But there are now phones with newer chips, larger batteries, and faster charging at similar or lower prices; the Zenfone 10's compactness is its strongest case, not its raw power or value.
Verdict
The Zenfone 10 suits anyone who prioritizes a compact, light phone with a genuinely capable display and camera over all-day endurance. Skip it if you shoot heavy video, work long hours away from power, or need microSD expandability; a larger phone with a bigger battery or newer chipset will serve you better by 2026.
- Genuinely compact form factor (146.5mm, 172g) with solid build and IP68 durability—a flagship that fits a pocket
- 144Hz Super AMOLED with 1100-nit peak brightness and sharp color; standout screen for its class
- 50MP main camera with gimbal OIS and large 1/1.56-inch sensor delivers reliable low-light handheld shots and video
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 runs demanding games and apps without throttle; no-fuss performance
- 4300mAh battery runs about 16-18 hours on mixed use and lags rivals by 4-6 hours; heavy users need a charger by evening
- 30W wired charging is slow by 2023 mid-flagship standards; rivals at this price hit 60W-100W
- No microSD slot forces upfront storage commitment; buying 512GB to future-proof adds significant cost
Asus Zenfone 10 Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2023, June 29 |
|---|---|
| Display | 5.92 inches, 84.6 cm2 (~84.8% screen-to-body ratio), Super AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (HBM), 1100 nits (peak) |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~445 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, gimbal OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 120° (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm |
| Selfie camera | 32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.2", 0.7µm |
| Battery | 4300 mAh |
| Charging | 30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, QC415W wireless5W reverse wired |
| Software | Android 13, up to 2 major Android upgrades |
| Dimensions | 146.5 x 68.1 x 9.4 mm (5.77 x 2.68 x 0.37 in) |
| Weight | 172 g (6.07 oz) |
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Durability | IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Asus Zenfone 10 FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the Zenfone 10 support 5G?
Yes. The Zenfone 10 supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the Zenfone 10 use?
The Zenfone 10 runs on the Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm).
What display does the Zenfone 10 have?
A 5.92 inches, 84.6 cm2 (~84.8% screen-to-body ratio) Super AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (HBM), 1100 nits (peak), 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~445 ppi density).
How big is the Zenfone 10 battery?
The Zenfone 10 has a 4300 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, QC415W wireless5W reverse wired.
Does the Zenfone 10 have NFC?
Yes, the Zenfone 10 has NFC.
Is the Zenfone 10 water resistant?
The Zenfone 10 carries a IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) rating.
Does the Zenfone 10 support a microSD card?
No, the Zenfone 10 does not support expandable storage.
Does the Zenfone 10 have a headphone jack?
Yes, the Zenfone 10 has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the Zenfone 10 isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
Zenfone 11 Ultra
ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
ROG Phone 8
Zenfone 9
Galaxy S23 Ultra
