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Asus Zenfone 9 cameras: steady on
Small phone, big camera – literally; we’ve already highlighted the Zenfone 9’s massive camera bump, and the reason for its size is the gimbal system living within.

The main camera uses a 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor with an f/1.9 lens. This is the same sensor found in the Realme 9 Pro+ and the Oppo Find X5 Pro, so our hopes are high. It’s flanked by a 12MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide, which also doubles up as a macro camera. Both of these pack phase detection autofocus, which is great out of the gate.

Surprisingly, we were more impressed by the ultra-wide and 12MP selfie camera than the main snapper. It has everything needed to be excellent (a decent sensor and advanced stabilisation), but Asus seems to drop the ball a bit on photo processing. Pictures are reliably fine, and occasionally very good, but they are never excellent – though the same can’t be said for its video capture, which is generally brilliant.

Challenging, high-contrast scenes are handled well, but sharpening and contrast are overly aggressive. Shoot in RAW and you can work wonders with it, but the out-of-the-camera photos taken in automatic mode don’t do the Zenfone 9’s hardware justice. Shadow detail and overall nuance are lacking.

That aside, Motorola’s camera app is just as simple as ever, with most modes just a swipe away. Dual capture is the standout, letting you use the front and rear cameras simultaneously, and the Pro mode is welcome for a bit of manual control. It’s a little lacking on the video front, though: there’s no 4K shooting, and only one speed for slow-motion capture, but at least you get 1080p recording at 60fps.