Google Pixel 7 vs. Asus Zenfone 9: How Do They Compare?
Flagship Android phones have gotten pretty pricey in the last few years, so it should come as no surprise why a lot of people are leaning towards the $599 Pixel 7.
And while the device is indeed very well priced, it’s not the only value-focused flagship out in the market right now. The slightly more expensive $699 Asus Zenfone 9 could give the Pixel a run for its money. Let’s compare the two devices and see which is a better deal for you.
Dimensions and Build Quality
The Pixel 7 is taller, wider, slimmer, and heavier than the Zenfone 9. For people with smaller hands, the latter will allow easier one-handed use and feel more comfortable. Both devices have an aluminum frame, IP68 rating, and Gorilla Glass Victus at the front, but only the Pixel 7 uses it at the back too; the Zenfone 9 has a soft touch plastic back for extra grip.
The Zenfone 9 doubles the power button as a capacitive fingerprint sensor which unlocks the screen faster than the in-display optical fingerprint scanner on the Pixel 7.
The Zenfone 9 has a 3.5mm headphone jack which is very rare to see on a 2022 flagship. Now, you might not care about that, butwired headphones are a better dealfor audiophiles, gamers, and those who hate charging their earbuds.
The Pixel 7 is available in three colors: Obsidian, Snow, and Lemongrass. The Zenfone 9 is available in four colors: Sunset Red, Starry Blue, Midnight Black, and Moonlight White.
Both devices have a 50MP f/1.9 main camera and a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera on the back, but the laser autofocus on the Pixel helps it better maintain focus on moving objects. However, the gimbal OIS on the Zenfone does a better job at reducing camera shakes and can thus produce more stable videos.
On the front, the Pixel 7 has a 10.8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide selfie camera to fit more people in group shots, and its wider aperture gets you more blur in portrait shot backgrounds. Both phones support 4K video at 60fps, although the 8K video on the Zenfone 9 is likely to be asmartphone feature you don’t need.
If you want the best photos, the Pixel is the obvious pick, but you’d be surprised to see how well and how often the Zenfone 9 manages to replicate the color profile and contrast of the Pixel. It’s not perfect, though, as it can sometimes overdo HDR and sharpness in challenging environments.
It’s likely that somePixel camera featuressuch as Photo Unblur, Magic Eraser, and more will eventually be available to all Android users via the Google Photos app.
There are two main differences between the screens of the Pixel 7 and Zenfone 9. Firstly, the Pixel 7 has a bigger but slower 6.3-inch 90Hz display whereas the Zenfone has a smaller but faster 5.9-inch 120Hz display. Secondly, the Pixel 7 has a brighter display at 1400 nits peak brightness while the Zenfone 9 caps at 1100 nits.
Both devices have a noticeable bottom bezel and almost identical screen-to-body ratio, but the Pixel 7 looks more modern thanks to its boxy design. The Zenfone 9 might appear a bit sharper due to having more pixels per inch. Sadly, you don’t get LTPO tech on either phone.
The Zenfone 9 has the latest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor which is praised among creators for its power efficiency, slightly better performance, and better heat management compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 found on phones like the Galaxy S22. The Pixel 7 has the new Google Tensor G2 processor which is designed to be useful for more than just power and efficiency.
Being a custom chip, the Tensor G2 enables the Pixel 7 to be exceptional at features like live translation, speech detection, call assistance, and more. The Zenfone 9 is more powerful than the Pixel 7, but frankly,benchmark scores are not that important.
What’s actually important is how well your phone sustains performance over time, and the Zenfone 9 looks the clear winner in that category thanks to its built-in vapor chamber cooling system that helps to reduce overheating.
RAM and Storage
Both devices start at 8GB RAM and 128GB storage and can be upgraded to 256GB storage. But only the Zenfone 9 has a 16GB RAM variant as well for people who can benefit from it such as gamers, content creators, and power users.
Neither phone offers a microSD slot for expandable storage, so it’s a good idea to check our guide onhow much storage you needbefore you make the purchase.
Although the Zenfone 9 has a slightly smaller 4300mAh battery than the 4355mAh cell on the Pixel 7, it will give you significantly more battery life thanks to its smaller display and more efficient processor that help reduce power consumption.
The Zenfone supports faster 30W wired charging, but only the Pixel has 20W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging as well.Wireless charging sucksfor a variety of reasons, but not having the option in a 2022 flagship like the Zenfone 9 is disappointing. Unlike the Pixel, the Zenfone does come with a charger in the box.
Pixel 7 Is Smarter, Zenfone 9 Offers More Value
You should pick the Pixel 7 if you want a bigger and brighter display, a better camera system, more software features, wireless charging capability, and the Tensor G2 processor.
You should pick the Zenfone 9 if you want a smoother display, a faster fingerprint scanner, more battery life, a headphone jack, gimbal stabilization, a built-in cooling system, a faster and more efficient processor, and a charger and a case inside the box.
What makes the Zenfone 9 less recommendable is its availability. Carriers in the US often don’t have Asus phones, but if it’s available in your region, it’s a bargain—just like the Pixel 7.
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