Options are somewhat limited if you’re after flagship hardware in a compact form factor. Although Apple and Samsung offer smaller entry-level models for those who want a phone that will more comfortably fit in their pocket, they’re perhaps not the most unique compact phones. Enter 2022’s Asus Zenfone 9, a little phone with a 5.9-inch display that tries its best not to scrimp on flagship specifications.

Despite a few hardware omissions, we quite liked most of what we found during our Zenfone 9 review testing. Its design, performance, and additional software gestures earned the handset a solid four out of five. But what’s the phone like to use six months after it was first revealed and over four months after it hit the market? Is it still worth buying? Let’s find out.