Fairphone 5 vs. Asus Zenfone 10: A Clash of Philosophies and Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing raw performance and a premium, compact experience, the Asus Zenfone 10 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and superior battery endurance outweigh the Fairphone 5’s admirable, but niche, focus on repairability. However, if long-term ownership and minimizing e-waste are paramount, the Fairphone 5 is a compelling alternative.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Fairphone 5 | Asus Zenfone 10 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE (4CA), 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023, August 30 | 2023, June 29 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, September 14 | Available. Released 2023, July 10 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame, plastic back | Glass front, aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 161.6 x 75.8 x 9.6 mm (6.36 x 2.98 x 0.38 in) | 146.5 x 68.1 x 9.4 mm (5.77 x 2.68 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 212 g (7.48 oz) | 172 g (6.07 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1224 x 2700 pixels (~459 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~445 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.46 inches, 101.2 cm2 (~82.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.92 inches, 84.6 cm2 (~84.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 90Hz, 880 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (HBM), 1100 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.7 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm QCM6490 (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 643 | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, up to 5 major Android upgrades | Android 13, up to 2 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.49", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), 1/2.51", 0.7µm, PDAF TOF 3D, (depth) | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, gimbal OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 120° (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@240fps, gyro-EIS | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS, HDR |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 50 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.74µm | 32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.2", 0.7µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, 50% in 20 min | 30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, QC4 15W wireless 5W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 4200 mAh, removable | Li-Po 4300 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Matte Black, Sky Blue, Transparent | Starry Blue, Midnight Black, Aurora Green, Eclipse Red, Comet White |
| Models | - | AI2302 |
| Price | € 389.00 / $ 549.68 / £ 460.97 | About 2300 EUR |
| SAR EU | 0.40 W/kg (head) 0.85 W/kg (body) | - |
Fairphone 5
- Exceptional repairability and modularity
- Sustainable and ethical design
- Long software support commitment
- Lower performance compared to flagship rivals
- Less impressive battery life
- Bulkier design
Asus Zenfone 10
- Flagship-level performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- Excellent battery life and fast charging
- Compact and pocketable design
- Limited repairability
- Less sustainable manufacturing process
- Potentially shorter software support compared to Fairphone
Display Comparison
Both phones feature capable displays, but the Asus Zenfone 10 edges out the Fairphone 5 with a measured peak brightness of 807 nits compared to the Fairphone 5’s 772 nits. While both are perfectly usable outdoors, the Zenfone 10 will offer better visibility in direct sunlight. Neither manufacturer specifies refresh rates, but the Zenfone 10’s smaller 5.9-inch panel likely contributes to a sharper image, though this is not directly quantifiable from the provided data. The Fairphone 5’s display is likely more focused on durability and repairability than pushing display technology boundaries.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but the provided data offers no specifics. Given Asus’s history with computational photography, the Zenfone 10 likely employs more sophisticated image processing algorithms. The Zenfone 10’s smaller size may necessitate a smaller sensor, but the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s ISP (Image Signal Processor) is significantly more advanced than the QCM6490’s, potentially mitigating any sensor size disadvantage. Without detailed sensor specifications, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but Asus generally prioritizes camera performance in its flagship models.
Performance
The performance gap is significant. The Asus Zenfone 10’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) is a generational leap ahead of the Fairphone 5’s Qualcomm QCM6490 (6nm). The 8 Gen 2’s Cortex-X3 prime core, clocked at 3.2 GHz, provides substantially more processing power than the Fairphone’s Cortex-A78. The 4nm process node also translates to improved thermal efficiency, meaning the Zenfone 10 will sustain peak performance for longer periods without throttling. While the Fairphone 5 is capable for everyday tasks, the Zenfone 10 is designed for demanding applications like gaming and video editing.
Battery Life
The Asus Zenfone 10 boasts a significantly better battery endurance rating of 109 hours compared to the Fairphone 5’s 88 hours. This is further supported by the active use score of 13:05h for the Zenfone 10. While both support 30W wired charging, the Zenfone 10 adds 15W wireless and 5W reverse wired charging, offering greater versatility. The Zenfone 10’s more efficient chipset and optimized software likely contribute to its superior battery life, despite potentially having a similar capacity battery to the Fairphone 5.
Buying Guide
Buy the Fairphone 5 if you need a phone you can easily repair yourself, value a sustainable and ethical product lifecycle, and are willing to trade some performance for longevity. Buy the Asus Zenfone 10 if you prefer a powerful, compact flagship experience with excellent battery life, a bright display, and don't prioritize self-repair or long-term modular upgrades.