This was posted 7 months 29 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

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Asus Zenfone 9 5G 8GB RAM 128GB $599 ($579 Perks), 256GB $699 ($679 Perks, Expired) + Delivery ($0 C&C/in-Store) @ JB Hi-Fi

1810

All time low on the Zenfone 9, save an extra $20 with Perks. RRP $999 for the 128GB model. Flagship model for those who prefer a smaller form factor device

Update: New price drop for 256GB: $599 ($579 with Perks)

Key Specs:

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
  • 5.9" FHD 120Hz AMOLED screen with HDR10+
  • 50 MP main (OIS) + 12 MP ultrawide + 12 MP selfie. Supports 8K video @ 24FPS
  • 4300mAh battery with 30W wired charging
  • Ships with Android 12, upgradable to 13
  • Dual-sim (both nano)
  • 30W charger included in box (very rare) and a case as well
  • NFC and Headphone Jack
  • IP68

TLDR: Very powerful phone in terms of performance with good battery life and a stable camera.

[Perks] $20 off $200 Minimum Spend (Some Exclusions Apply) @ JB Hi-Fi

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closed Comments

    • +6

      That was a rumour and has been shut down by ASUS.

    • That have the 10 coming out.

  • +1

    Great deal. Got the 8 when it was this price last year. Hopefully rumours aren't true about ZenFone getting discontinued.

  • +3

    Insane price! Sucks if you purchased the Pixel 7 from the recent Telstra deal.

    • Is this better?

      • Certainly well worth the extra $100 (or $80 with Perks) https://nanoreview.net/en/phone-compare/google-pixel-7-vs-as…

        • +3

          Isn't that just a generic specs comparison?

          • @linkii: Yes, that demonstrates the pros and cons of each phone with a scoring system that evaluates which phone they believe is better. Take it as you will, some people think RTINGS have an arbitrary scoring system but it’s a guide for people to use when considering what product to purchase.

      • I have a pixel 7 256GB on back order and I'd like to know this as well

        • Refer to the above link.

          • @[Deactivated]: How is the camera on this phone, the review says the pixel 7 is better but not sure how much

            • +1

              @melbstheburn: DxOMark haven’t tested the 9 yet but if you look at the 8, ZenFone’s have very good camera quality: https://www.dxomark.com/smartphones/#sort-camera/segments-%5…

              • +1

                @[Deactivated]: On par with the second-tier iPhone from 2019

                Btw DxOMark only tests static subjects, throw in any moving kid/pet and every single phone falls apart except iPhones and Pixels

                • +2
                  • -5

                    @[Deactivated]: Nothing on moving subjects :/

                    Confirmation bias is one hell of a drug..

                    Do you own a Zenfone 9 by any chance? Your comments in this thread are bordering on sockpuppeting

                    • +6

                      @dogsryummy: But these are still credible sources, right? Not just baseless comments without evidence. Currently an iPhone 14 Pro Max but I used to own a ZenFone 8 and it was a great phone. I’m merely educating people that Pixel’s and Galaxy’s aren’t the be all and end all of Androids. I definitely don’t work for JB or ASUS :)

                      • +2

                        @[Deactivated]: Credible sources they may be, but I can dig up 50 sources for why any phone is the best by going to its subreddit like you have. The Zenfone 9 looks amazing on paper but while it may not even receive Android 14, the Pixel 7 is guaranteed to get Android 16 and security updates until 2027. No point of having amazing specs if they're being crippled back by underwhelming software. It's easy to brag about performance in your product announcement, but harder to stand behind your product for the next 5 years. Lack of creature comforts like wireless charging and numerous software bugs will also sway one's purchasing decision.

                        I maintain that Pixels and Galaxys remain the far better choice for the vast majority of users. I'd sooner recommend my mum a Pixel or Galaxy than a Zenfone for a stress-free experience.

                        • +1

                          @dogsryummy: You’re absolutely right and it’s hard to disagree with you regarding the software support. You’re also correct about finding a subreddit but mine has a video of MKBHD’s blind camera test which again, is not just a random opinion. Whether it was flame-bait or not, I still stand by my comment in that it would suck if you purchased the recent Pixel 7 deal from Telstra :)

                    • @dogsryummy: Moving subjects is a broad term though?
                      distance, lighting or speed of movement in those different conditions can change.

                      What is a moving subject? Sunset at golden hour, table tennis or blowing out birthday candles?

                      For fast moving subjects I would just film and digitally fix a particular frame for printing.

              • @[Deactivated]: I want to know if you can install Gcam on this then you get best of both worlds and I would ditch pixel

      • +1

        I bought my wife the Pixel 7 but gave it a miss , This has a headphone jack for the win .

      • For gaming and media consumption. Not for taking photos and smarts of Pixel

      • +1

        Depends on what you want. For me personally, it is better as the physical size of the Zenfone 9 is smaller than the Pixel 7, has a side mounted fingerprint reader and has a 3.5mm jack. (I am presently using a Zenfone 8).

        The Pixel 7 is better if you want to flash Graphene OS, or you prefer the slightly bigger screen.

    • For some, the 2.5x longer software support and way better camera is more than worth it

      Unless of course you're the type to only look at the spec sheet

      • you mean Pixel has longer support? what practical implications des it have? Ty

    • +2

      Pixel has more software updates then the Zenfone tho

      • +7

        Pixel is owned by Google reptilians

  • +10

    Love the feel of this phone in the hand. Absolutely perfect size and great quality feel.

  • +3

    Great phone. Feels so comfortable and compact.

    BTW Asus have come out denying that the rumours that the line will be discontinued

    • -1

      That has been debunked by Asus just today

  • +3

    Love this phone, had it since April and found no problems. Moving to a smaller phone is jarring the first week especially if you watch a lot of netflix/youtube, but the weight and feel in the hand (not to mention pocket) is so welcome. The inbuilt gimbal and camera stabilization works really well too

    • Amazing that a 5.9" phone is considered a smaller phone now.

  • Pixel 7 or this for camera quality?
    Keen to choose one or the other, but definitely need good photos as a main priority.

    • The Pixel 7 is slightly better for camera quality according to NR but the score can be considered arbitrary as we don’t know how it was measured considering there is no data for the ZenFone 9: https://nanoreview.net/en/phone-compare/google-pixel-7-vs-as…

    • Pixel is better for photos, have a zenfone 9 and the camera is a weak point (although improved a bit with gcam). It's not awful but just average. I miss my X5 Pro's camera

  • +1

    Expandable memory?

    • +2

      no

    • +1

      Negative. Dual sim tray no microsd.

      • Extremely sad 256 gb will be gone in a flash with the size of apps, video and photo this days.

  • After the some odd camera decisions with the Zenfone 10, this is very tempting.

  • How many gift cards can you use if you pay online?

    • If you’re referring to JB gift cards, then it’s unlimited

      • Ah I was referring to the ultimate gift cards from Woolies that are on x20 rewards points promotion at the moment.
        The $100 cards on on special so if you buy 1 of those you get 2000 points which converts to $10.

        I made a mistake and impulsively picked up a $500 one thinking I'd get mega bonus points. No bueno.
        Additionally the ultimate gift cards can't be used with online vendors as gift cards they are used as credit cards and they cannot be used if they can't cover the total cost of the transaction. So no splitty shennanigans.

        So now I've got to go in person in the morning to the store and I can't use the perks code I had.
        Sob.

  • +1

    I've been signed up to perks for ages and only ever received an email for a birthday voucher. am I missing something on the "save an extra $20 with perks" thing or should i have gotten an email?.

    • email. Check spam

      • nothing in my inbox since end of last year, must be targeted?

        • You can use my code. PM me if you want.

    • It's not an email. it's a site-wide promotion for any purchases over $200

  • +1

    Does this sale mean the zenfone 10 is coming to JB Hifi?

    • +1

      Most likely, as Asus seems to favour JB Hi-Fi (ie. ASUS ROG Ally, is exclusive to JB Hi-Fi)

  • +1

    Don't Asus only provide 2yrs software updates so there's only 1 year left?

  • +2

    Best phone I've had since the first Pixel. Compact, beast of a CPU, battery goes on for days if you're a lite user, video stabilization is next level, OS is clean af. I am tempted to buy either this phone again or the zenfone 10 as a doomsday backup (since there's rumour they're merging zenfone team with ROG).

  • Does this do esim?

  • Do I get this or wait for the 10? Have also been considering the Xperia 1 V (SD Card + Headphone Jack) - Coming from a Galaxy S10.

    • +4

      Xperia is a much better phone but you'll be spending double ona grey import so ……

  • +3

    I have the Zenfone 8 and love it. Though I read that ASUS is no longer allowing the bootloader to be unlocked, which is disappointing.

    • +2

      I was planning to get the Zenfone 9 with a sale like this one, but I changed my mind after this move by ASUS. They don't allow the bootloader to be unlocked for Zenfone 9 and 10 now. Allegedly the unlock tool will come back and the server which manages the unlock keys is just on maintenance.

  • Can someone please let me know if it comes with a case and screen protector?

  • Says this can record 8k video. That's amazing considering an iphone 14 pro max that is close to $2000 can't.

    • +4

      What's the point when that 8k video will look worse than the 4k on the iPhone..

      This reminds me of the megapixel days where it was all about bigger = better

      It's not even close: https://youtu.be/q6D7p4QCUe0?t=776

  • +2

    Got this earlier this year don't regret it all. It's a battery monster, all day charge no issues, hyper charging with the included charger is great

    Biggest annoyance is the proximity sensor on a call,it should shut off the screen but doesn't always do it, I really hope that gets fixed in updates but I'm sceptical.

    • Supposedly it's a hardware issue, you'll need a third party software to fix it iirc.

    • +2

      I had this with earlier androids and have it again with the pixel 7 pro :\

      I wish I had bought this Asus instead.

      Edit: Actually my issue is the reverse - screen goes black when I want to use my phone while on a call, or if I play audio clips.

    • how do you find the camera quality?

      • I came from a Galaxy S10e and the cameras on that were better.

        The photos you get out of the Asus aren't bad, more that things like close up focus is laggier and general performance is slower

        You're not going to see much difference on your regular happy snap but if Selfies are your life you should probably look elsewhere.

    • +3

      I have a ZenFone 9, download this app to fix it going haywire when you're on a call. Select the top option on the app, the app does not need admin controls.

      https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ml.proximi…

      • If this does it you're a legend

        • Did you try it ?

  • Im looking for a small phone and it seems like its this versus an iphone mini 13.

    Someone tell me why this would be a bad purchase?

    It does feel a bit strange trusting Asus to make a good phone

    • +1

      Plenty of rave reviews on YouTube. It's the android compact phone of the year by pretty much every tech reviewer.

    • +2

      The only downside is the potential lack of software updates if it bothers you. I thought my Oppo find X3 pro was being EOL'd last year for software updates but then I just got a whole bunch of software updates last month. From my experiences with Google and Samsung devices recently, I preferred my Oppo and was looking forward to the Find X6 Pro, but it's a shame it's not being released globally.

      It's up to you whether or not the updates are important to you. Some features that get added in android updates have been available in skinned versions from various companies for a while so it may not be as noteworthy to you. Security updates, while important, aren't as big of an issue if you don't go on dodgy sites or use dodgy apps or connect to public wifi. My home and work wifi have their own protections so it doesn't bug me as much. I'm still running a galaxy tab S4 for streaming at home occasionally despite the software updates being EOL'd for a while.

      • Thanks, I have come across this point since posting and trying to understand more.

        I dont care too much about new flashy features in updates, however the security point makes me a wee bit nervous especially given I tend to keep phones for quite a long time (still on iphone 8)

    • Pros: this will have better battery life, better specs, less overheating, cheaper, Google Pay myki, fingerprint sensor
      Cons: no iOS, shorter software support, slightly heavier (169g vs 141g), no wireless charge, no iPhone mirror selfie

      Jokes aside, if I had the choice then I'd probably go for a 13 mini, but at this price point you're looking at second hand (iPhone) vs New from JB (this). Zenfone 9 is on display at any bigger JB stores so go try it out. For me, the UI felt too cramped.

      If you're an android user get this. If not get 13 mini. Simple as that.

      • Cheers, appreciate it. I'm a small phone user so never really used the larger ones which I call tablets haha.

        I've always preferred iOS UI but deteste its ecosystem. Android UI tends to feel more complicated and less intuitive, yet I would sooner use pen and paper over a mac. It's weird.

        My concern about getting second hand is the battery life capacity, especially on the mini 13 which apparently doesnt have the greatest life to start with.

  • +1

    WHOA that's a good price. The only thing stopping me is that this doesn't wireless charging, and I've recently learned how super important that is to a longevity to a phone as the usb port can just die on you.

    But I'm still tempted, this is a fantastic price for a fantastic phone.

    • +1

      How do you treat your phone's usb port? The worst I've had was just some lint blocking the port with my ASUS budget phone over the past 5 years.

      They added wireless charging in Zenfone 10, guess you could wait and see if there's a similar sale next year for the 10.

      • +1

        Bro your guess is as good as mine. Funny thing is that my current phone (lgv50) is the phone I've abused the usb port the least, I don't have time to play phone games anymore lol, yet it's the only one with the issue.

        Yeah, that's the plan, but damn this price is incredible. I'm relying on wireless charging on my current phone and the battery is just barely enough for my 14 hours day out. So I feel justified to get it

      • Yeah but they dropped the SD Card in the 10

        Edit: 9 doesn't have one either anyway

  • -8

    ASUS Reportedly Shuts Down Zenfone Division, No More Compact Flagships

    According to a report from Technews Taiwan, ASUS has shut down its Zenfone division responsible for making some of the best compact Android flagships on the market.

    The reason is due to "internal restructuring." Employees in the Zenfone division are being moved over to the ROG Phone team and other parts of the business.

    More @ https://slashdot.org/story/418442

    • +1

      Seems like there's plenty of articles that debunk that claim.

      https://www.techradar.com/phones/asus-isnt-killing-off-the-z…

    • +1

      asus already responded to this rumour

    • +1

      Literally addressed in the first comment. It was a rumour.

      • Thanks.
        I checked the comments, before posting :-)

        My last phone was a Zenfone (which I sold earlier this year to a buyer in the UK!),
        and it was an awesome phone too.

        Anyway, it's good to know Zenfones will still be released.

  • MKHBD rated the 9 & 10 models, great battery, camera and software, almost a pixel’s pixel …

  • How good is this compared to ROG phone?

    • +1

      Completely different design for different users.Not comparable IMO.

    • Depends on whether you play a lot of games or take a lot of photos? Personally I would go for this because I find that the rog phones sacrifice on camera too much whereas the ZenFone has better cameras and you can still game on them.

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