The first thing you notice on the XDA forums is the obsession with feel . The Zenfone 9 is dense. At 169 grams, it isn't the lightest phone, but that’s because Asus used a polycarbonate back with a glass-reinforced chassis and a matte aluminum frame.
It’s a 120Hz Samsung AMOLED, 1080 x 2400 pixels. On the surface, gorgeous. But deep in the XDA threads, users have debated the dimming . The Zenfone 9 peaks at ~800 nits (real-world), not the 1100 nits advertised. In direct sunlight, it’s usable but not best-in-class. However, the flat display is a win for tempered glass protectors—no curved edges to ruin your touch response.
The 5.9-inch display is the star. On the XDA forums, countless threads praise the return to one-handed usability. Unlike the Sony Xperia 5 IV or the Galaxy S22, the Zenfone 9 doesn't force you to perform acrobatics with your thumb. The physical, side-mounted fingerprint sensor (which doubles as a smart key) has been widely tested and approved by the community for its speed and reliability. asus zenfone 9 xda
While the Zenfone 8 was ASUS’s first real foray into the compact flagship space, it was the that truly solidified the company’s dominance. For tech enthusiasts, developers, and power users, there is no better barometer of a device's success than the community at XDA Developers.
Use Asus camera for video. Use GCam for everything else. The only complaint? Switching between apps is slow because GCam has a 1.5-second launch delay compared to stock. The first thing you notice on the XDA
30W is slow by 2025 standards (0-100% in 75 minutes). The XDA community has accepted this as a compromise for the small size. No wireless charging. Use the included charger; third-party PD chargers often negotiate only 18W.
petefoth January 30, 2023, 9:54am 4. It can't / won't be supported by /e/Os until there is a build of LineageOS for it. There isn' e/OS community It’s a 120Hz Samsung AMOLED, 1080 x 2400 pixels
, recognized as one of the few compact flagships available in the modern Android market. Released on September 15, 2022, the device gained significant traction among enthusiasts for its one-handed design and powerful internal hardware. XDA Community & Development Highlights ASUS Zenfone 9 - AI2202-1A006EU - Request a Device 8 Sept 2022 —
Used prices have dropped to $350–$450. At that price, it’s an absolute steal. At the original $700 MSRP? Hard to recommend against the Samsung Galaxy S23.
Long live the small flagship.