What is the best compressed?

a Xiaomi 13 and the Zenfone 9 They are two of the few best phones in the world with screens that are small by today’s standards. It’s compact, very powerful, and resource worthy of the segment it’s inserted into. But between the two, which one is better?

I know the two premium phones are from different generations, but after testing both models for Canaltech, I’ve been able to gather their key similarities and differences to help you choose the best compact cell phone.

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🛒 Compare Zenfone 9 prices on Zoom

🛒 Xiaomi 13 is on offer on AliExpress

& Ampere ; nbsp;

Construction and design

• Xiaomi 13: 152.8 x 71.5 x 8.0mm, 185g;
• Zenfone 9: 146.5 x 68.1 x 9.1mm, 169g.

The Xiaomi 13 and Zenfone 9 are both premium smartphones, but only one of them seems to be in the category it’s slotted into, at least visually. model Xiaomi It is stronger, with glass and metal in the body, and IP68 certification for water and dust resistance.

Now the cell phone ASUS Bets on a simpler look divide opinions. In particular, I liked the appearance of the back cover, despite the fact that it is made of plastic, and mainly the fact that it is more compact, second only to iPhone 13 mini in this aspect. But I understand those who didn’t like it, because the feeling of using it on a daily basis doesn’t feel as premium as its price.

If you don’t care too much about the build aspects – after all, most people prefer a case – then what’s left is the design and ergonomics. The Xiaomi 13 is nicer, but slightly larger, while the Zenfone 9 is less keen on looks, but earns points for being more comfortable in the hand.

screen and sound

• Xiaomi 13: 6.36 inches, Full HD resolution, 120 Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10 +, OLED, 1900 nits;
• Zenfone 9: 5.9 inches, Full HD, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10 +, Super AMOLED, 1100 nits.

Both use great screens to the highest standards. However, the Xiaomi 13 panel has a more complete range than its competitor and, in addition to supporting multiple HDR formats, including Dolby Vision, has a peak brightness of 1900 nits. That is, it is much brighter than the Zenfone 9, at only 1100 nits.

The Zenfone 9 can only please with a 5.9-inch display, which is quite small by today’s standards and amazing to handle with just one hand.

If Xiaomi 13 wins in terms of screen, Zenfone 9 wins in terms of sound quality. It brings definition and presence in the bass, which are features of little use in the Xiaomi 13. Another plus of the Zenfone is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

& Ampere ; nbsp;

settings and performance

• Xiaomi 13: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 12 GB RAM, 512 GB ROM, Android 13;
• Zenfone 9: Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, up to 16GB RAM, 512GB ROM, Android 13.

Despite being from different generations, the two smartphones are among the fastest I’ve ever tested. In theory, the Xiaomi 13 is more powerful than the Zenfone 9 thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, but to be honest, the edge in practice is almost non-existent for any average user to notice the difference.

If you like big numbers, both devices are well presented: the Zenfone 9 has versions with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage, while the Xiaomi 13 has 12GB of RAM and 256GB of ROM. reading only. Honestly, there is no practical winner here.

system and interface

Regarding the interface, we have two extremes. Zenfone 9 has a ZenUI interface, very clean, without extra features and customization capabilities. The advantage here is the speed in opening anything without worrying about choking and breaking.

If you prefer something more complete, Xiaomi 13 should please you with MIUI 14, full of custom options and software features that improve day-to-day usability. In general, we are talking about a more mature interface.

cameras

• Xiaomi 13: 50 MP, f/1.8 aperture; 10 MP telephoto, f/2.0; 12 MP ultra-wide, f/2.2, front 32 MP, f/2.0.
• Zenfone 9: 50 MP, f/1.9, 12 MP ultra-wide, f/2.2; 12 MP, f/2.5 aperture.

Xiaomi and Asus aren’t photo reviewers, but the Xiaomi 13 and Zenfone 9 both offer solid photographic performance. The Chinese are still aggressive in image processing after that on the three cameras, which may seem a bit artificial to many users, while the competitor is more balanced.

The portrait mode of the two devices isn’t quite as professional as that of the iPhone and the Galaxy S line, but the Xiaomi 13 does feature a fair amount of camouflage poses. In addition, the Chinese top of the line offers movie-in-picture effects, a professional mode in photos and recordings, an AI feature that reproduces people in a single image, and even the ability to photograph the moon.

The Zenfone 9, on the other hand, only benefits from the video stabilization in the camera assembly — in fact, it was the cell phone with the most stable recording I’ve ever used. My only criticism is the main sensor in terms of resources, as it can’t record with a blurred background, or use all the cameras at once.

Xiaomi Photo Gallery 13

Zenfone 9 photo gallery

battery and charging

• Xiaomi 13: 4500 mAh, up to 67W wired, up to 50W wireless, up to 10W reverse;
• Zenfone 9: 4300 mAh, 30W wired charging, 5W reverse.

Although they are relatively compact, the two cell phones perform quite well in terms of battery life. In my tests, it was able to last more than a day and a half of moderate use without any worries.

As for charging capabilities, the Xiaomi 13 is an example: it supports up to 67W wired, up to 50W wireless, and reverse charging (equal to Apple’s PowerShare). Samsung) up to 10 watts.

Xiaomi 13 vs Zenfone 9: which one is the winner?

If we consider only the specifications, Xiaomi 13 is clearly the winner. It has better build, screen, performance, and cameras, not to mention 67W wired and 50W wireless fast charging.

But it is very difficult to recommend the Xiaomi phone to those who live in Brazil, because it does not have a good cost ratio. And perhaps this is where the Zenfone 9 can stand out.

Even with all the drawbacks, such as the simpler build, basic interface, and lack of wireless charging, the Asus device is one of the best compact devices with excellent performance, and all this can cost around R$3,000 in Brazil.

That is, if you came here looking for a good top-of-the-line without spending a lot, Zenfone 9 is one of the best options in the Brazilian market. Now, if you are a fan of Xiaomi, and money is not an obstacle, then Xiaomi 13 is the brand’s gateway to the new generation of smartphones.

🛒 See Zenfone 9 deals on Magalu

🛒 Compare Zenfone 9 prices on Zoom

🛒 Xiaomi 13 is on offer on AliExpress

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