Zenfone 10 Trial Review] Comfortable gaming smartphone that can handle high-end smartphone games and live streaming at the same time!

ASUS released the Zenfone 10, a high-end smartphone with Android OS, on Friday, September 8, 2023.

The device is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC and features a 5.9-inch AMOLED (OLED) display. Five body colors are available: blue, green, red, black, and white, and there are three specification types to choose from: 8GB CPU + 125GB storage, 8GB CPU + 256GB storage, and 16GB CPU + 512GB storage.

We had the opportunity to use a prototype before its release, and we would like to share our impressions of this high-end smartphone.

Specs in excess of 100,000 are no joke!

This time, we were able to use the black "16GB CPU + 512GB storage" type. When we opened the package, we found the main unit, a cover, and a USB Type-C adapter for quick charging. The back of the device feels luxurious and has a comfortable, non-slippery feel. The included cover also has the same feel and simple design as the main unit, and does not detract from the high-end image of the device. The camera lens protrudes when the device is naked, but the included cover eliminates this problem, so it is recommended that the camera lens be covered as soon as possible.

The price of the Zenfone 10 is 99,800 yen (including tax) for the lowest class "8GB CPU + 125GB storage. The top-end model with 16GB CPU and 512GB storage is priced at 134,800 yen (including tax).

With the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and high-speed UFS 4.0 storage, it is no wonder the price is so high, but as a poor person, I would normally just keep my fingers crossed. However, after playing around with the sample for a few hours for the purpose of this review, I am seriously considering whether or not to purchase it. After all, high specs are justice.

This device measures approximately 146.5 mm (H) x 68.1 mm (W) x 9.4 mm (D) and weighs 172 g. Compared to the "iPhone SE2" that I usually use, the width is about the same and the height is rather small. The size and lightness of the device are comfortable even for small Japanese hands, and it is very easy to hold. It also starts up quickly, so operation will be stress-free. The ability to connect wired earphones and headphones, which are often discontinued in recent smartphones, is also a plus for users who are particular about their devices.

As for the cameras, the device is equipped with a 50-megapixel wide-angle camera and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera on the back, and a 32-megapixel camera on the front. The camera starts up very quickly, so it can be used to take pictures on a moment's notice.

I took a test shot with a figure in my room, and I did not notice any deterioration in image quality even when zoomed in. This is a great way to capture vivid memories of your travels.

↑The same standing position, zoomed in at the maximum 8x zoom

Processing performance that can handle high-end games with ease

To check the processing performance of this device, we tried a benchmark application called "3DMark." While the author's personal "iPhone SE2" was at the 30FPS level from start to finish, the "Zenfone 10" was able to exceed 60FPS as a matter of course. The "Zenfone 10" showed off its overwhelming specs, hitting a maximum of 90 FPS. I am suddenly looking forward to the review from here on.

↑upScore of "Zenfone10

↑Score of the "iPhone SE2" used by the author. I want to buy this one already!

First, as a test, I played "Genshin Impact," a 3D open world game, and "NIKKE," a gun-shooting action game. As expected, "NIKKE" does not use a lot of 3D graphics, so I could not feel any difference compared to the "iPhone SE2," but "Genshin Impact," which uses a lot of rich graphics, gave me an outstanding game experience. The game was a stress-free experience, with the image quality being moderate and the frame rate maintaining a steady 30 FPS at the "medium" game spec setting.


The screen also has vivid colors from the OLED AMOLED, making it easy to look at the game screen. Once again, I wanted to reinstall the smartphone games I had played in the past and review the movies, etc.

I also tried out PS Remote Play, an app for remote play that competes with Sony's recently announced PlayStation Portal, and was able to play comfortably without delays or frame drops. This is especially difficult with sports games that require good reflexes, such as "Power Pro," but I was able to play this game without any difficulty.

In remote play, it is important to be able to receive and display video from the host console without delay, and in this sense, the video processing performance of this device is very high. Of course, this video processing capability can also be fully demonstrated with streaming services such as "Netflix" and "Amazon Prime Video.

In addition, a feature called "GAME GENIE" is installed on this model. This application includes functions to improve the device's performance for comfortable game play and a macro function to memorize operations. These macro functions are very useful for daily laps of the app game.

Not just for games. It also has high specs as a distributor!


Today's smartphones are not only used to play games, but are also often used as tools for live-streaming from smartphone apps.

A decade ago, people used to stream live using a notebook PC and pocket Wi-Fi, but that was a long time ago. In the case of this high-end smartphone, many people are likely to use it for such distribution.

We therefore conducted a distribution test using this device. As one would expect, there was no way to wander around outside with a pre-release sample, so we conducted a one-hour test delivery in a room with no air conditioning at 30ºC. This would be hot enough to be assumed to be the outside temperature for outdoor distribution in the summer. How long can this phone withstand the heat?

This time, we used "YouTube Live" to conduct a fixed-point distribution while power was supplied. The temperature of the device was 30°C, the same as the room temperature, before the streaming began, but after 15 minutes, the temperature reached 44.4°C. It eventually rose to 46°C. Although the temperature eventually rose to 46°C, the distribution was able to survive without interruption until the end.

In my experience, when I have distributed from outdoors using a smartphone terminal, the application itself has been down for 40 to 50 minutes at a high probability. Considering this, I honestly thought it was amazing that the app was able to withstand one hour of delivery this time.

Even so, the heat generated was so great that it was difficult to distribute while holding the device with bare hands. If you are going to distribute outdoors, it would be better to use a grip or an arm.

I also tried speaking through the built-in microphone, but the noise canceling function did not allow ambient noise to enter, so I was able to deliver a clear voice. However, the sound was a bit muffled compared to other devices, so it would be a good idea to have a wireless or wired microphone available if necessary.

Finally, let's try the crazy idea of "delivery + high-end gameplay.

Recently, it is possible to distribute videos of smartphone game play from the Tsuikas distribution application. So this time, we tested how comfortably we could play "Genshin Impact" on a medium spec setting for about 45 minutes while streaming via Tweikas.

As a result, the game could be played comfortably until the end, and the delivery was completed without any complaints from the audience. The video streaming was smooth without any stuttering, and the audio was well delivered even with the speakers turned up without headphones, thanks in part to the microphone's noise canceling function.

Incidentally, the heat generated by this device was about 38°C when just playing a game, but it rose to 44°C when I simultaneously streamed a video. As expected, my fingers got hot during distribution, so it would be better to prepare a separate controller for those who distribute games, or to play on a desk.

Well, I have written about how I felt when I lightly touched the device, but I was impressed by the fact that I could do everything I wanted to do with the Zenfone 10 without any stress.

The only thing that bothered me was the lack of a microSD card slot. The presence of a card slot is quite important, and we hope that this will be considered when the next model is developed.

To be honest, before touching this device, I was thinking that I did not need to buy a smartphone with such high specifications yet, but after touching it, I am seriously considering purchasing it, so much so that I look at the sales website every day. Especially for those who do live-streaming, the high specs will lead to a wider range of streaming, so this machine is highly recommended for gamer-type streamers.



Product Information

Zenfone 10 (AI2302)
Body color: Midnight Black, Comet White, Eclipse Red, Aurora Green, Starry Blue
Size and weight: Approx. 146.5 mm (H) x 68.1 mm (W) x 9.4 mm (D), approx. 172 g
Platform: Android™ 13 (ZenUI)
Processor: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 8 Gen 2 (octa-core CPU), Adreno 740
Main memory: 8GB LPDDR5X, 16GB LPDDR5X
Storage: 128GB (UFS4.0), 256GB (UFS4.0), 512GB (UFS4.0)
Display: 5.9-inch wide AMOLED display, Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus™ 2,400 x 1,080 pixels (Full HD+) (144Hz)
Refresh rate can be selected from "Settings": Auto/120Hz/90Hz/60Hz. Refresh rate 144Hz can only be set from Game Genie while playing games. Some applications may not support high refresh rate.
Out camera: 50-megapixel wide-angle camera (35mm equivalent: 23.8mm / F value 1.9), 13-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera (35mm equivalent: 12.5mm / F value 2.2), LED flash
In-camera: 32-megapixel wide-angle camera (35mm equivalent: 29.4mm / F value 2.4)
Sound: Hi-Res, Hi-Res Wireless, Dirac HD Sound, Dirac Virtuo™, dual built-in speakers, dual built-in microphones
Communication function: NFC, IEEE802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax (frequency bands: 2.4GHz/5GHz/6GHz)
Supports 5/6GHz band. According to the Radio Law, the 5.2/5.3/6GHz band is for indoor use only (except when permitted by law, such as when communicating with a 5.2GHz band high-power data communication system base station or land mobile relay station).
Bluetooth® 5.3
SIM card slot: nanoSIM slot x 2
Communication method: 5G NR: n1/n2/n3/n5/n7/n8/n12/n20/n28/n38/n41/n77/n78
Even if the handset is compatible with the frequency band provided by the telecommunication carrier, there may be cases where communication is not possible depending on the carrier.
In areas where 5G communication is possible, "5G" is displayed during standby, but "4G" may be displayed during data communication.
　FDD-LTE: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B17/B18/B19/B20/B26/B28
　TD-LTE:B34/B38/B39/B40/B41/B42
　Carrier aggregation: 7CA(DL)/2CA(UL) supported
In countries, regions, and areas outside of carrier aggregation areas, communication will be normal LTE.
　W-CDMA: B1/B2/B4/B5/B6/B8/B19
　GSM/EDGE: 850/900/1,800/1,900MHz
Sensors: GPS (GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS, NavIC support), acceleration sensor, electronic compass, light sensor, magnetic sensor, fingerprint sensor (built into power button), proximity sensor, gyroscope
Battery capacity: 4,300mAh
Power consumption: max. 30W (Quick Charge 4.0/USB Power Delivery 3.0 compatible)
Quick Charge 4.0/USB Power Delivery 3.0 is supported. Quick charging requires the use of the supplied AC adapter.
Main accessories: USB AC adapter set*, SIM eject pin, dedicated case, user manual (and product warranty card)
USB AC adapter set includes USB charger and USB Type-C cable.

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