Asus Zenfone 9 (2022)

[Rockbox]

I've been looking for a compact phone. The Zenfone 8 is under 6 inches, but notoriously hard to find for a good price in the UK. Before pulling the trigger, I discovered the Zenfone 9 trailer had been leaked, and they're sticking with the same size. I quite like the look of the large camera rings, flat surface, and the power button fingerprint sensors should perform better than an in-screen one. I just hope availability isn't a problem, and the price isn't insane. If it really is €900, I probably won't get it for a year.

Another compact phone I was considering was the Pixel 6a. At 6.2" it's a little bigger. But at £400, when the Pixel 6 with better specs goes for £435, you'd really have to value the slightly smaller size. I'm not sure I can classify it as truly compact, when the Pixel 5/4a exist. I considered a Pixel for Graphene OS, but I realised that only the Pixel 6 and beyond get 5 years of updates. I could've got a 5/4a, but they would be obsolete by next year. What other compact phones should I be looking at?

 

[Rockbox]

I like a small phone as much as the next guy, but £684 is too much. £400 max new with warranty, £250 used without.

The Pixel 6A really stepped up the small phone game. The 7A might actually get a purchase from me.

 

[Rockbox]

Asus just quashed a rumour that they were discontinuing the Zenfone. Between hearing the rumour and their rebuttal, I gave a thought as to why they were doing so. Even since, I've wondered whether it's on shaky ground. Reminds me of Intel cancelling Arc, although way more plausible. As much as I like the small form factor, price and OS stopped me. It's just way too expensive, even second hand. I get that it's smaller, so using non-standard parts, but I'm using a 5 year old phone, and my upgrade budget is £2-300.

Then there's the OS. I could justify it if it stayed in my pocket for several years, but we're talking 2 years of updates. The further you go back, the cheaper the phone, but the fewer upgrades you get. Currently I'm eyeing a Pixel, since they're cheap, relatively small (with the A series) and the call screening and hold for me features seem like must-haves. Honestly, phones are so standardised, I can't think of any feature in an Android update that could attract me. Phones have gotten boring, which is good, I guess.

For some reason, small phones seem to struggle in ways that other gimmicks like gaming phones don't. I'll put my hands up and say I haven't supported a phone company by buying their product new since the Oneplus 1, so admittedly size is one of the first things I'm willing to compromise on. It's not a big enough priority to shell out £800 for.