Phone comparison: ASUS ZenFone 10 vs Google Pixel 7

The ZenFone 10 is the newest compact flagship from ASUS. It’s not something we see often these days, a very compact smartphone that can rival the best deals out there. In this article, we compare ASUS ZenFone 10 well against Google Pixel 7, with Google’s top-end offering. Truth be told, the Pixel 7 Pro is Google’s flagship phone, but the Pixel 7 is also a higher-end device and more compact than the Pixel 7 Pro, hence this comparison.

These two devices are somewhat similar in price range as well. So, it makes all the sense in the world to compare them. We have reviewed both phones at this point and you might be surprised by what we are about to share in this article. Well, first list their specs, then compare the two phones in a number of different categories. With that said, let’s get started, shall we?

Specifications

	ASUS ZenFone 10	Google Pixel 7
Screen size	5.9-inch FullHD+ Super AMOLED display (up to 144Hz refresh rate, 1,100nit max brightness)	6.3-inch fullHD+ flat AMOLED display (90Hz refresh rate, 1,400nit peak brightness)
Screen resolution	2400×1080	2400×1080
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2	Google Tensor G2
RAM	8GB/16GB (LPDDR5X)	8GB (LPDDR5)
Warehousing	128GB/256GB/512GB (UFS 4.0), non-expandable	128GB/256GB (UFS 3.1), non-expandable
Rear cameras	50 MP (f/1.9 aperture, 24mm wide-angle lens, 1.0um pixel size, gimbal OIS, PDAF) 13MP (f/2.2 aperture, FoV 120 degrees, pixel size 1.12um)	50 MP (Samsung ISOCELL GN1 sensor, 1.2um pixel size, f/1.85 aperture, 82 degree FoV, up to 8x Super Res Zoom) 12MP (ultrawide, 1.25um pixel size, f/2.2 aperture, 114 degree FoV, lens correction)
Front cameras	32MP (f/2.5 aperture, 0.7um pixel size)	10.8 MP (1.22um pixel size, f/2.2 aperture, 92.8 degree field of view, fixed focus)
Drums	4,300mAh, non-removable, 30W wired charging Charger included	4,355mAh, non-removable, 21W wired charging, 23W wireless charging, reverse wireless charging Charger not included
Dimensions	146.5 x 68.1 x 9.4mm	155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7mm
Weight	172 grams	197 grams
Connectivity	5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C	5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C
Safety	Side fingerprint scanner	Facial unlock In-display fingerprint scanner (optical)
Operating system	Android 13 ZenUI	Android 13
Price	$799	$599/$699
Acquire	Available Q3 2023	Amazonia

ASUS ZenFone 10 vs Google Pixel 7: Design

These two smartphones are easy to distinguish, as they sport completely different designs. The ZenFone 10 is more rounded and looks different in every way, basically. One thing they have in common is the fact that their frames are made from aluminum, that’s pretty much it. The ZenFone 10 is considerably shorter, narrower and a bit thicker. It’s also lighter on top of everything and you’ll feel the difference.

The ASUS ZenFone 10 features flat sides, all around, and a flat display. It has a hole for the display camera in the upper left corner, while all of its physical buttons are placed on the right side. The bezels are uneven, but they are quite thin. Included on the back are two camera islands, and each of them houses a camera sensor. The back plate of the device is made of soft-touch plastic, somewhat. The feel is somewhere between regular plastic and OnePlus sandstone finish, the phone is quite grippy and very comfortable to hold. That backplate protrudes towards the back and is curved to make the device more comfortable to hold.

The Pixel 7, on the other hand, doesn’t have flat sides, although it does have a flat display as well. It has a centered display camera hole, and its bezels are also thin, but uneven. All the physical buttons are on the right side, while there is a camera visor on the back. That camera visor is covered in metal and attaches to both the left and right sides of the frame. The Pixel 7 has a glass back, which is slightly curved towards the edges.

Both phones feel premium in the hand, albeit completely different. The ZenFone 10 is much easier to use with one hand and is also much more grippy than the Pixel 7. Both phones offer IP68 certification for water and dust resistance.

ASUS ZenFone 10 vs Google Pixel 7: Display

The ZenFone 10 features a 5.9-inch fullHD+ (2400 x 1080) Super AMOLED display. That panel is flat and supports a 144Hz refresh rate, though it will only activate during gameplay. HDR10+ content is supported here, while the panel goes up to 1,100 nits of brightness at its peak. It has a 20:9 aspect ratio, while Gorilla Glass Victus protects this panel.

The Pixel 7, on the other hand, packs a 6.3-inch fullHD+ (2400 x 1080) AMOLED display. That panel is also flat and supports a 90Hz refresh rate. HDR10+ content is also supported here, while the display can reach 1,400 nits of brightness at its peak. It also has a 20:9 aspect ratio, while Gorilla Glass Victus protects it, just like the ZenFone 10s panel does.

Both of these displays are good, even if they aren’t top of the line. They’re more than sharp enough and offer vivid colors, with deep blacks and great viewing angles. Touch response is also very good. The ZenFone 10s panel offers a higher refresh rate, and with regular use, you may notice the difference between 120Hz and 90Hz, although most people probably won’t. Both displays may be brighter outdoors, as you’ll notice in direct sunlight, if you’ve been using a noticeably brighter display. For all intents and purposes, they are more than bright enough.

ASUS ZenFone 10 vs Google Pixel 7: performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 powers the ASUS ZenFone 10. ASUS also included up to 16GB LPDDR5X RAM inside this phone and UFS 4.0 flash storage. Pixel 7, on the other hand, comes with Google Tensor G2 processor, 8GB LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 flash storage. Does the ZenFone 10 have better hardware in terms of performance, no doubt, it reflects actual usage, though?

Well, yes, you can see the difference. The ZenFone 10 is snappier than the Pixel 7 and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 plays a big part in that. Don’t get me wrong, the Pixel 7 isn’t a slow phone, by any means, but when you use it next to the ZenFone 10, it’s noticeably slower. However, both phones handle normal day-to-day tasks smoothly. However, the ZenFone 10 is more prominent when it comes to gaming.

You can play the most demanding games on the ZenFone 10 without any problems, although keep in mind that the phone does get warm after a while. The Pixel 7 does a good job with games, but more demanding titles will perform worse than the ZenFone 10. However, the Pixel 7 wasn’t exactly built for gaming, and Google has never claimed that it was.

ASUS ZenFone 10 vs Google Pixel 7: battery

ASUS ZenFone 10 comes with a 4,300mAh battery inside. The Pixel 7, on the other hand, has a 4,355mAh unit. These battery sizes might not seem huge, but keep in mind that both of these phones are smaller than your regular flagships these days. Indeed, the ZenFone 10 in particular offers outstanding battery life. The Pixel 7 isn’t bad in this regard, but it can’t compete with the ASUS offering.

During our usage, we were able to exceed the 10-hour screen-on-time limit several times. In fact, the phone managed to get through 11 hours of screen-on-time and keep going. It’s amazing for a phone that size, that’s for sure. The Pixel 7, on the other hand, will fly closer to 7-7.5 hours of screen-on-time, as it struggles to hit that 8-hour mark. Keep in mind that your mileage may vary, of course. You will use different apps, in different ways and with different signal strengths. One thing is for sure, however, the ZenFone 10 outperforms the Pixel 7 in terms of battery life, by quite a margin.

ZenFone 10 supports 30W wired, 15W wireless and 5W reverse wired charging. Pixel 7, on the other hand, supports 20W wired, 20W wireless and reverse wireless charging. Unlike Google’s offering, the ZenFone 10 includes a charger in the box. For the Pixel 7, you’ll need to purchase one separately if you don’t already have one.

ASUS ZenFone 10 vs Google Pixel 7: cameras

ASUS ZenFone 10 has a 50-megapixel primary camera and a 13-megapixel ultrawide unit (120-degree FoV) on the back. The Pixel 7, on the other hand, packs a 50-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera (114-degree FoV). Pixels are famous for their photographic prowess, while the ZenFone 10 did a good job in our tests too. They’re quite different in terms of the end products, though.

The ZenFone 10 delivers noticeably brighter images than its predecessor, while it also has toned down sharpness, which was an issue on the ZenFone 9. It delivers good-looking photos, with ample detail, and performs well in HDR conditions. Thing is, autofocus can be a hit, but ASUS should fix that via a software update. The Pixel 7 offers contrasting photos, which end up looking a little unrealistic, but overall great. It is rarely missed and is one of the most reliable smartphones for taking pictures.

The ultrawide cameras on both smartphones do a good job, although we’d give the Pixel 7 the last shot here. The ZenFone 10 has a wider field of view on that camera, but photos end up looking a bit different than what the camera delivers principal. Also, ASUS has removed autofocus support for that camera, which destroys its macro ability. We weren’t sure why this happened, but that’s it.

Video shooting ends up looking good on both phones, but stabilization is the ZenFone 10s strong. ASUS has improved OIS gimbal stabilization and it really works wonders on ZenFone 10. If you have a tendency to film while running, cycling or something like that, ZenFone 10 is the way to go.

Audio

Both of these phones have stereo speakers and offer good audio output. They’re nowhere near the loudest speakers on the market, but they do a good job. The Pixel 7s speakers are slightly louder, while both sets are well-optimized across the spectrum.

If you need a headphone jack, however, the ZenFone 10 is your only choice here. ASUS included an audio jack at the top, while you’ll have to use the Type-C port on the Pixel 7 to connect headphones via a cable. If you decide to go wireless, the ZenFone 10 offers Bluetooth 5.3, up from the Pixel 7’s Bluetooth 5.2.

04 July 2023