Asus Zenfone 9vsNothing Phone (2a)

We compare these two popular phones to help you decide which one fits your needs and budget better.

Asus
Asus Zenfone 9
Zenfone 9
Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen1
RAM:8GB
Storage:128GB

Quick Stats

The Asus Zenfone 9 boasts exceptional battery life, lasting over a full day with moderate use easily.
The Asus Zenfone 9's exceptional display is its standout feature, offering vibrant colors and immersive viewing experience.
The Asus Zenfone 9's camera is solid, but lacks features compared to other high-end smartphones despite its quality.
The Asus Zenfone 9 offers exceptional performance, delivering seamless experiences with its top-of-the-line processor and efficient design capabilities.
Nothing
Nothing Phone (2a)
Phone (2a)
Processor:MediaTek Dimensity 7200
RAM:8GB
Storage:128GB

Quick Stats

The Nothing Phone (2a)'s impressive battery life and charging speed are its standout features.
The Nothing Phone (2a)'s display boasts improved brightness, resolution, and durability, with a modern slimmed-down design.
The Nothing Phone (2a)'s camera is serviceable, but lacks sharpness and impressive dynamic range.
The Nothing Phone (2a)'s smooth performance belies its price tag, making it a great budget phone option overall.
Key Differences

Processor Speed

Winner
Asus Zenfone 9
3.20 GHz
Nothing Phone (2a)
2.80 GHz

RAM

Tie
Asus Zenfone 9
8GB
Nothing Phone (2a)
8GB

Storage

Tie
Asus Zenfone 9
128GB
Nothing Phone (2a)
128GB

Weight

Winner
Asus Zenfone 9
165g
Nothing Phone (2a)
190g
Rank
Asus Zenfone 9
Winner
#135
Nothing Phone (2a)
#265
Scores by Category
Rankings
Connectivity
Asus Zenfone 9
#48
Winner
Nothing Phone (2a)
#302
Design
Asus Zenfone 9
#35
Winner
Nothing Phone (2a)
#315
Display
Asus Zenfone 9
#222
Winner
Nothing Phone (2a)
#226
Performance
Asus Zenfone 9
#158
Winner
Nothing Phone (2a)
#360
Battery
Asus Zenfone 9
#398
Nothing Phone (2a)
#175
Winner
Camera
Asus Zenfone 9
#520
Nothing Phone (2a)
#318
Winner
item_phones_categoryId
Asus Zenfone 9
#1
Tie
Nothing Phone (2a)
#1
Tie

Note: Lower rank number indicates a better position in category.

Specifications Comparison
Specification
Asus Asus Zenfone 9
Nothing Nothing Phone (2a)
Model
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen1
MediaTek Dimensity 7200
CPU
1x3.2 GHz Cortex, X2 +3x2.8 GHz Cortex, A710 + 4x2.0 GHz Cortex, A510
2x2.8 GHz ARM Cortex, A715 + 6x 2.0 GHz ARM Cortex, A510
Type
Octa-Core
Octa-Core
Nanometer
4
4
Frequency
3.20
2.80
64 Bits
Yes
Yes
GPU
Qualcomm Adreno 730 875 MHz
ARM Mali-G610 MC4
RAM
8
8
Type
RAM LPDDR5
LPDDR4X RAM
Capacity
128
128
Type
UFS Storage 3.1
UFS Storage 2.2
SD slot
No
No
Fingerprint security
Yes, on the side
Yes, in screen
Fingerprint sensor
Yes
Yes
Proximity sensor
Yes
Yes
Light sensor
Yes
Yes
Accelerometer sensor
Yes
Yes
Compass sensor
Yes
Yes
Gyroscope sensor
Yes
Yes
Gravity sensor
Yes
Yes
Hall sensor
Yes
N/A
Audio
Hi-Res Audio, Noise cancellation microphone, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones
Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones
Antutu Score
1232500
688952
Antutu Version
Antutu v10
Antutu v10
Antutu Standing
Overall performance better than 91% of devices
Overall performance better than 80% of devices
Cooling system
No
Yes
Gaming buttons
No
No
Extras
N/A
N/A

Note: Highlighted specifications show differences between the two devices.

Pros and Cons

Asus Zenfone 9

Strengths

The phone has a solid but lacking camera system, which is not bad for a compact phone.
The software on the phone looks better than what Samsung would offer on the s22 and just makes sense.
We get the large Android material U toggles which you can turn on or off.
Double tapped awake and sleep features are included.
The fingerprint scanner is super fast.
Speakers sound good, although not as loud as the iPhone 14 pro speakers
Battery life makes daily usage a breeze

Weaknesses

We lack some things like Android 13 which was launched right before this review.
The phone does not have wireless charging, instead it has a headset jack.
It is priced higher than the Samsung s22, with new prices ranging from $500-$600
Some add-ons for the phone are expensive, such as a kickstand or backpack mount costing over $100 and $200 respectively
The face unlock feature isn't entirely slow but not the fastest either.
Top speaker is not as loud as the bottom one in stereo setup
It lacks some of the features that I personally prefer, such as gimmicks like 4K video with gimbal stabilization

Nothing Phone (2a)

Strengths

The phone has a bigger, brighter screen with thinner bezels
It has a larger battery with faster charging
The processor clock speed is higher
The front camera resolution is higher
There's a wider variety of refresh rates
The phone offers serviceable cameras that can capture moments and document scanning
The software features are still present, including advanced settings and experimental features
Nothing promises three years of Android updates with this phone

Weaknesses

No wireless charging option
Only IP54 rating instead of IP68
Body material is plastic instead of glass and aluminum
Macro mode is not available
Camera quality is not sharp, even in great lighting
Dynamic range and depth of field are not amazing
Photos may not be the best for artistic purposes or capturing moments
Some features might feel like gimmicks to users
Read Full Reviews

Asus Zenfone 9

The Asus Zenfone 9 is a compact flagship Android phone that stands out in a world where large screens are the norm. With a processor that rivals its bigger siblings, this device packs a punch despite its modest size. The camera, although solid, lacks some of the flair found on other phones. However, with its sleek design and snappy performance, it's easy to see why some might consider it a hidden gem. As I delve into the details of this phone, I'll weigh its pros and cons, exploring whether its compact size is enough to make it worth the investment.

Nothing Phone (2a)

The Nothing Phone (2a) is a budget smartphone that surprises with its feature-packed software and decent camera performance. Despite being a more affordable option, the phone retains many features from its pricier counterparts, including advanced settings in its camera app and a wide range of refresh rates. With a larger battery, faster charging, and a higher-resolution front camera, this budget phone offers impressive value for its price. In this review, we'll explore whether the Nothing Phone (2a) delivers on its promise as an all-around solid budget device.

Need help choosing?

Read our detailed reviews to understand which device is better for your specific needs and budget.

Read Asus Zenfone 9 ReviewRead Nothing Phone (2a) Review

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