Updated | Asus ZenFone 10 could be the last of its kind

Update 29/8/2023: Asus has reached out to Android veteran Mishaal Rahaman with a statement that refutes the below speculation. The ZenFone lineup is here to stay, at least for now.

Original article:

Despite not selling nearly as well as similarly-specced counterparts, Asus' ZenFone line of smartphones has carved a niche in the market. They are among the few smartphones with the rapidly dying 3.5 mm audio jack. However, those looking to buy one may have to do so soon, as the Asus ZenFone 10 could be the last of its kind.

A Taiwanese news outlet reports that Asus plans to consolidate its smartphone division into one unit. Currently, Asus sells smartphones under the ROG and ZenFone brands. An initial restructuring is in the works, combining the two teams under the ROG umbrella. It effectively spells doom for future ZenFone devices. In retrospect, the Asus bootloader tool being shut down indefinitely was probably one of the first signs signalling their eventual demise.

Small form factor phone enthusiasts will be hit the hardest with the demise of ZenFones. With Apple abandoning the iPhone mini models altogether, there are now even fewer options for those looking for a compact smartphone. Even the 2025-bound iPhone SE 4 is slated to ditch its predecessor's 4.7-inch screen for a 6.1-inch panel. Besides, it's not like anyone else is rushing in to fill the void, although some enterprising OEMs could take advantage of the situation.

Buy the Asus ZenFone 10 (while you still can) on Amazon