GIF source: SnoopyTech
If the leaked videos from ASUS are anything to go by, it looks like there are fun, quirky features on its upcoming Zenfone 9 smartphone. The most eye-catching one is turning the side-mounted fingerprint sensor into a sort of touchpad to scroll through content. As The Verge pointed out, ASUS isn't the first to try this method. Some phones use the fingerprint sensor to bring down the notification shade. But we haven't seen one that does this for content. It should come in handy for scrolling through apps like TikTok and Instagram, but we don't know yet where ASUS'll apply it.
The teaser video also shows an unusual backpack mount you can use with the phone. Cameras are supposedly two features that have been "massively upgraded" on the Zenfone 9, with the primary camera featuring a "6-axis hybrid gimbal stabilizer." And to take advantage of it when you're on the move, the leaked video shows a "Smart Backpack Mount" that looks similar to what professional videographers use to carry heavy cameras all day. It's weird, but we're curious to see it.
GIF source: SnoopyTech
Previous leaks about the phone claim this handset will run on the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor with up to 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The Zenfone 9 will reportedly have a 5.9-inch 120Hz display, a 4,300mAh dual battery, and an IP68 rating.
Its primary rear camera will reportedly have a Sony IMX766 sensor. And the headphone jack is still present. It'll reportedly come in red, black and blue, with a price range between €800-900 (around CA$1,053-1,185). It's on that pricey flagship side, but we're intrigued to see it.