Asus Zenfone 6 vs Samsung Galaxy S23: A Clash of Generations

The Asus Zenfone 6 ZS630KL, a 2019 flagship, still holds a surprising amount of appeal. Now, it faces off against the modern powerhouse, the Samsung Galaxy S23. Can the older phone compete with Samsung's latest technology, or is the S23 simply too advanced?
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S23 is the clear winner overall, boasting a significantly faster processor, brighter display, and faster charging. However, the Zenfone 6 offers incredible value for its age, with a surprisingly long-lasting battery and a compelling price point for those on a budget.

PHONES
Phone Names Asus Zenfone 6 ZS630KL Samsung Galaxy S23
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - A versionHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - A version1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 MbpsHSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 28, 38, 39, 41, 46 - C version1, 7, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2019, May 16. Released 2019, May2023, February 01
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, February 17
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions159.1 x 75.4 x 9.2 mm (6.26 x 2.97 x 0.36 in)146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm (5.76 x 2.79 x 0.30 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight190 g (6.70 oz)168 g (5.93 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~425 ppi density)
Size6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~83.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.1 cm2 (~86.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, HDR10Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 640Adreno 740
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, ZenUIAndroid 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)No
Internal64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS 3.1 - 128GB only UFS 4.0
Main Camera
Dual48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm (ultrawide)-
FeaturesLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, auto panorama (motorized rotation)LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single-12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF
Triple-50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS (except @240/480fps)8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
DualMotorized flip-up main camera module-
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, auto panorama (motorized rotation)HDR, HDR10+
Single-12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS (except @240/480fps)4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
Battery
Charging18W wired 10W reverse wired, QC425W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
Stand-byUp to 624 h (3G)-
Talk timeUp to 33 h (3G)-
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 3900 mAh
Misc
ColorsMidnight Black, Twilight SilverPhantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender, Graphite, Lime
ModelsASUS_I01WD, ZS630KL, I01WDSM-S911B, SM-S911B/DS, SM-S911U, SM-S911U1, SM-S911W, SM-S911N, SM-S9110, SM-S911E, SM-S911E/DS
PriceAbout 500 EUR$ 237.95 / C$ 336.75 / £ 255.00 / € 322.41 / ₹ 49,990
SAR-0.95 W/kg (head)     0.88 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.96 W/kg (head)     1.30 W/kg (body)
Tests
Audio quality Noise -85.8dB / Crosstalk -76.2dB-
Battery life Endurance rating 112h Endurance rating 101h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 1201:1 (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -25.7 LUFS (Very good) -27.0 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 361679 (v7), 447774 (v8) GeekBench: 10721 (v4.4), 2609 (v5.1) GFXBench: 36fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 1231075 (v9) GeekBench: 4950 (v5.1) GFXBench: 110fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Asus Zenfone 6 ZS630KL

  • Excellent battery life
  • Affordable price
  • Decent performance for its age
  • Reverse wired charging

  • Outdated processor
  • Lower display brightness
  • Slower charging
  • Older software support

Samsung Galaxy S23

  • Top-tier performance
  • Bright and vibrant display
  • Excellent camera system
  • Fast charging (wired & wireless)
  • Modern design

  • Higher price
  • Battery life slightly less than Zenfone 6
  • No charger included in the box

Display Comparison

The Galaxy S23's display is a major upgrade. Its 1198 nits peak brightness blows the Zenfone 6's 455 nits out of the water, making it far more visible in sunlight. The 'Infinite' contrast ratio on the S23 is also a significant advantage over the Zenfone 6's 1201:1. While both offer good color accuracy, the S23's AMOLED technology provides richer colors and deeper blacks.

Camera Comparison

While the Zenfone 6's camera is capable, the Galaxy S23's camera system is far more advanced. The S23 benefits from improved image processing, better low-light performance, and more versatile shooting options. Samsung's software optimizations also contribute to a more polished camera experience.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Galaxy S23 is a generational leap over the Snapdragon 855 in the Zenfone 6. Expect significantly faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better performance in demanding games. The S23's newer CPU architecture and 4nm process also contribute to improved power efficiency.

Battery Life

Both phones offer impressive battery life, with the Zenfone 6 boasting an endurance rating of 112h and the S23 at 101h. However, the S23's faster 25W charging and wireless charging capabilities provide a significant advantage in terms of convenience.

Buying Guide

The Asus Zenfone 6 is ideal for budget-conscious users who prioritize battery life and don't need the absolute latest features. The Samsung Galaxy S23 is perfect for those who demand top-tier performance, a stunning display, and a premium camera experience, and are willing to pay for it.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Zenfone 6 still worth buying in 2024?
If you're on a tight budget and prioritize battery life, the Zenfone 6 can still be a decent option. However, be aware of its limitations in performance and software support.
❓ How does the Galaxy S23 compare to other flagship phones?
The Galaxy S23 is a strong contender in the flagship market, offering a balanced combination of performance, camera quality, and design. It competes well with other top-tier phones like the iPhone 14 and Google Pixel 7.