ZenPhone XS Review: A Credit-Card-Size Phone for $99, With Questions About the Network

Our verdict

Only as a curiosity, and only once the seller confirms it works on your network. ZenPhone XS is a black keypad phone the size of a bank card, with Bluetooth, an MP3 player, FM radio and an anti-lost alert for your main phone. It slips into a wallet and handles calls and texts with no distractions. But the page names no network type, many phones this small are 2G only, which US carriers have switched off, the keys are tiny, and $99 buys a 4G feature phone from a known brand. ZenPhone XS scores 3.3 out of 10, held back by network doubts and price.

The short version

• What it is: a credit-card-size keypad phone with Bluetooth, MP3, FM radio and an anti-lost alert.
• Price: $99 for one on 6 October 2026, with a five-pack for $297 flagged as the best seller.
• Best trait: genuinely pocketable, with no apps to distract.
• Biggest drawback: no stated network support, and many tiny phones are 2G only.
• Our score: 3.3 out of 10.

Pros & cons

A phone this small has real uses: a backup for nights out, a gym phone, a digital detox. The cons are about whether it will connect where you live, and whether its tiny keys are practical for everyday use.

How it works

ZenPhone XS is a classic feature phone shrunk to the size of a bank card. You insert a SIM card, charge it over micro USB, and use a small keypad and screen to call, text and manage contacts. Dedicated keys open an MP3 player for music on a memory card and switch on Bluetooth. Paired with your smartphone, it can alert you if the two move apart, which is the "anti-lost" feature.

1. 01

   Insert a SIM and charge it

   Step 1: Insert a SIM card and charge the phone over micro USB. Check that your carrier supports the network type it uses before relying on it for calls.

2. 02

   Call and text from the keypad

   Step 2: Use the small number keys and menu buttons for calls, texts and contacts. Dedicated keys open the MP3 player and Bluetooth.

3. 03

   Pair it with your smartphone

   Step 3: Over Bluetooth, it can link with your main phone. The anti-lost feature alerts you if the two move too far apart.

The page title calls it a "minimalist cell phone, mini cell phone, small size cell phone, card size cell phone". The six bullets list a credit-card size, a big numbers keyboard, Bluetooth, FM radio, an anti-lost feature and Android and iOS compatibility. The page gives no network type or bands, battery capacity, standby time, screen size, weight or dimensions.

What the photo shows

The main photo shows the phone in a hand. The small monochrome screen displays signal bars, a Vodafone network name, a date and "Unlock". Below are menu, arrow and back keys, green and red call keys, MP3 and BT keys, and a numeric keypad. It is genuinely small, about the width of a palm.

"Android and iOS compatible"

That phrase does not mean it runs Android or iOS apps. It means it can pair with an Android phone or iPhone over Bluetooth, for the anti-lost alert and, on some card phones, to make calls through your smartphone's number. The page does not explain which.

Not an Asus ZenFone

Asus sells ZenFone smartphones, and searches for "ZenPhone XS" mostly return Asus pages. ZenPhone XS is unrelated as far as we could find. If you were looking for an Asus phone, this is not it.

Who it's for

ZenPhone XS could suit someone who wants a tiny backup phone for nights out, running or the gym, an anti-lost alert for their main phone, or a calls-and-texts-only phone for a digital detox, as long as it works on their network. In the US, that last point is the deal-breaker until the seller confirms 4G support.

• People outside the US who want a tiny backup phone for nights out or the gym, where 2G still runs
• Anyone who wants an anti-lost alert for their main phone
• Digital detoxers who want calls and texts only, and do not mind tiny keys

Nights out and festivals

Carrying an expensive smartphone to a crowded event risks loss or damage. A tiny phone with your SIM, or a cheap second SIM, keeps you reachable. It only works if the network is there.

Gym and running

A card phone fits a pocket where a smartphone bounces. Paired with Bluetooth earbuds, the MP3 player gives music without a big phone. Fitness tracking is sold separately and not described.

Digital detox

Calls and texts only, no feeds or notifications, is the appeal of minimalist phones. A larger 4G feature phone does the same job with keys you can press comfortably.

Anti-lost alerts

If you often leave your phone behind, a Bluetooth alert can save you. Small Bluetooth trackers do this too, and many smartphones have their own find-my-phone features.

Children

Some parents want a tiny phone for a child to carry. Small keys are fiddly for young fingers, and a phone that may not connect is not a safety phone. Check the network first.

Travellers with a local SIM

A tiny second phone for a local SIM abroad keeps your main phone on your home number. In countries that still run 2G, a card phone can work for this. Check the destination's networks first, as many countries are closing older networks.

Collectors and gadget fans

Credit-card phones have a novelty appeal of their own. If you enjoy small gadgets and accept the limits, it is a fun object. Just do not make it the phone you depend on.

Who should skip it

Skip ZenPhone XS if you are in the US and the seller cannot confirm 4G and VoLTE, if you have large fingers or poor eyesight, or if you need a dependable emergency phone.

• Anyone in the US until the seller confirms 4G and VoLTE support
• People with large fingers, poor eyesight or arthritis
• Anyone who needs a dependable phone for emergencies
• Buyers expecting an Asus ZenFone smartphone

Will ZenPhone XS work on your network?

The page does not say, and that is the most important question for any phone. Many tiny keypad phones are 2G only. In the US, AT&T switched 2G off in 2017, Verizon and Sprint followed, and T-Mobile, the last carrier with 2G, began its shutdown on 9 February 2025, according to GSMArena. A 2G-only phone may find no network at all.

Why network type matters

A phone needs to speak the same network technology as your carrier. 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G are different generations. Carriers have been closing the older ones to reuse the frequencies. A phone that only supports a closed network cannot make calls, send texts or reach emergency services.

What GSMArena reported

GSMArena's report on T-Mobile's 2G shutdown said the shutdown would begin on 9 February 2025 and noted that AT&T, Verizon and Sprint had already discontinued 2G. That leaves 2G-only phones without a home in the US.

What to do: email the seller and ask, in writing, which network generations and bands ZenPhone XS supports, and whether it supports VoLTE calling. Do not buy it for US use without a clear yes on 4G.

Outside the US

The photo shows a Vodafone network name on the screen, which suggests it was photographed on a European network. Some countries still run 2G; others have closed it or plan to. Check your carrier's plans.

Emergency calls

Emergency calls need a network the phone can connect to. A 2G-only phone in an area without 2G may not be able to call for help at all. For a phone you might rely on in an emergency, choose one with confirmed 4G and VoLTE.

Calling through your smartphone

Some card phones can act as a Bluetooth handset for your smartphone, making and receiving calls on your main number without a SIM of their own. If ZenPhone XS does this, the network question moves to your smartphone. The page does not say whether it does.

Is ZenPhone XS practical to use every day?

For short calls and texts, yes, but the tiny keys and screen make it fiddly. The page calls it a big numbers keyboard, yet the photo shows keys on a card-sized phone that are smaller than a typical feature phone's. Texting on a tiny keypad is slow. For music and radio, it works as a simple player, and the anti-lost alert is a useful extra.

Keys and screen

Small keys are hard for large fingers, gloves or stiff joints. The screen is a small monochrome display, which is readable but cramped. If you want a phone that is easy to use, a larger feature phone with bigger keys suits more people.

Battery

The page gives no battery capacity or standby time. A tiny body means a small battery. Feature phones use little power, but expect to charge it more often than a full-size one.

Micro USB

The cable add-on is a micro USB cable, which suggests the phone charges over micro USB. Most current phones use USB-C, so you will need a separate cable.

Music and radio

The MP3 key plays music stored on a memory card, and FM radio is listed as a feature. FM radios in phones usually need wired headphones as an aerial; the page does not say.

Durability

A card-thin plastic phone in a wallet or back pocket gets bent and pressed. The page gives no drop or water rating. Keep it in a front pocket or a bag compartment, away from keys.

Anti-lost range

Bluetooth range is limited, typically several metres indoors. An alert means you have already walked away; it does not tell you where the phone is.

Fitness features for $9

The checkout offers "Upgrade to Fitness Features" with a pedometer and sedentary reminders for $9. Its image is a generic smartwatch icon. A step counter in a phone in your pocket is a basic feature, and the page does not say how it is added.

How much does ZenPhone XS cost, and what are the add-ons?

On 6 October 2026, one ZenPhone XS cost $99, with the five-pack at $297 flagged as the best seller. The checkout offered fitness features for $9, a gold-plated flat micro USB cable for $14, a car charger for $7 and a 3-year warranty for $14. The cable add-on image is branded Amzdeal, another company.

ZenPhone XS price and bundles

Prices are in US dollars as listed on 6 October 2026. Confirm the network before buying even one. You can check today's packages on the ZenPhone XS order page (opens G Com Pte Ltd in a new tab).

The gold-plated cable

For $14, the add-on promises "extreme power transfer with no energy loss". Its image shows a white flat micro USB cable with gold-plated plugs and the Amzdeal name. Gold plating resists corrosion; it does not make a phone charge faster. Any working micro USB cable will do.

Car charger and warranty

The $7 car charger is a USB car adapter; skip it if you have one. The 3-year warranty costs $14. The seller's terms already cover defective goods for two years once you have a returns number.

The "regular price"

Add-ons are shown against crossed-out prices, and a countdown timer runs on the page. We found no evidence that ZenPhone XS sells at a higher regular price. Credit-card phones of this design are sold under many names.

Who sells it

The order page names G Com Pte Ltd at 137 Market Street in Singapore, with the email support@g63com.com and a phone number. The footer gives the country as Hong Kong. The page code says charges appear on your card statement as panameedia.

Is ZenPhone XS better than a 4G feature phone or other phones from this seller?

A basic 4G feature phone from a known brand is the safer buy: it works on current networks, costs similar or less and has keys you can press comfortably. ZenPhone XS wins only on size. Compared with the seller's other phones, it is smaller than the TacticPhoneX and far simpler than the Xone Phone, and shares their network questions.

ZenPhone XS vs a 4G feature phone

4G feature phones with VoLTE calling are sold by carriers and large retailers. They are a little larger but still pocketable, have proper keys and connect to current networks. That is the clearest case where a rival wins.

ZenPhone XS vs TacticPhoneX

Our TacticPhoneX review covers a rugged 2G phone from the same checkout. It is tougher and has bigger keys; ZenPhone XS is much smaller. Both share the network problem in the US.

ZenPhone XS vs Xone Phone

Our Xone Phone review covers a $199 Android smartphone from the same seller, running Android 8.1. It has apps and 4G, but old software. ZenPhone XS is a different kind of phone for a different buyer.

ZenPhone XS vs a Bluetooth tracker

If the anti-lost alert is what you want, a small Bluetooth tracker on your keys, plus your smartphone's own find-my-phone service, does it for less. Our KeySmart review covers a key organiser for people who like a minimal pocket.

Old Android, old networks

Our AndroidTV review found another device from this checkout built on old technology. Browse our tech gadget reviews for more.

If your carrier still runs the network it needs, you can see today's bundles on the ZenPhone XS offer page (opens G Com Pte Ltd in a new tab).

Is ZenPhone XS legit, and what should you check before buying?

ZenPhone XS is a real product from a named seller, and a phone should arrive if you order. Before buying, confirm the network type and bands, ask whether it can act as a Bluetooth handset for your smartphone, switch from the five-pack, skip the cable add-on and note the card statement name.

Confirm the network in writing

What to do: email support@g63com.com and ask which network generations and bands it supports, and whether it supports VoLTE. Keep the reply. Without 4G, do not buy it for US use.

Check the selected bundle

The five-pack for $297 is flagged as the best seller in the page code. What to do: change the order to one phone before you enter your details.

Card statement name and memberships

The charge appears as panameedia. Pages on this checkout have also carried text for a "Gadget Discount Club" membership that is free for 30 days and then billed. What to do: note the statement name, and read every checkbox and post-payment page.

Refunds and returns

The page code offers a 30-day guarantee for a full refund or replacement, less shipping and handling. The terms we recorded on 4 October 2026 focus on defective goods, which can be returned within two years once you have a returns number, with return postage at your cost. A phone that works but finds no network where you live may not count as defective.

Delivery and support

The seller ships from overseas and gives no delivery estimate. What to do: save your order email, and if nothing arrives within three weeks, ask support for tracking.

How to buy ZenPhone XS the smart way

1. Confirm 4G and VoLTE support in writing before ordering.
2. Open the ZenPhone XS order page (opens G Com Pte Ltd in a new tab) and select your country.
3. Change the five-pack to a single phone.
4. Skip the cable and car charger; ask what the fitness upgrade adds.
5. Note the card statement name, panameedia, and save your order email.
6. Test calls and texts with your SIM the day it arrives.

How did we score ZenPhone XS?

ZenPhone XS scores 3.3 out of 10: claim accuracy 0.6, build durability 0.9, price competitiveness 0.5, usability 0.8 and owner satisfaction 0.5, each out of 2. The tiny size and anti-lost alert are genuine draws. The score falls on missing network details for a phone, keys too small for the "big numbers" claim, an undescribed fitness add-on, a price above 4G feature phones and no independent ratings.

How the score breaks down

We use the five criteria on our how we test page, each out of 2.

What owners say

We found no Trustpilot profile for the gadgetxaura.com store and no reviews of ZenPhone XS by that name. Searches return Asus ZenFone pages. Owners of credit-card phones on large retail sites commonly praise the size and novelty and complain about tiny keys, short battery life and, increasingly, loss of service as 2G networks close.

What we did, and did not, do

Nobody on our team has used ZenPhone XS. We read the offer page our link opens and its page code on 6 October 2026, along with GSMArena's report on the US 2G shutdown and the search results for the product name. The refund and returns terms are as we recorded them from the site's terms page on 4 October 2026.

How to use ZenPhone XS for the best results

Confirm it connects on day one, charge it every few days, save key contacts, and keep it as a backup rather than your only phone. Pair it with your smartphone for the anti-lost alert, load music onto a memory card for the gym, and keep a micro USB cable in your bag.

1. Test the network first. Make a call and send a text from home and work.
2. Save emergency contacts. Typing on tiny keys is slow; set them up calmly at home.
3. Charge regularly. A small battery runs down faster than you expect.
4. Pair the anti-lost alert. Test how far you can walk before it triggers.
5. Load music onto a memory card. Use the MP3 key at the gym.
6. Keep it with your keys or wallet. It is easy to misplace something this small.
7. Do not rely on it alone. Keep a full-size phone for emergencies.

Swapping your SIM

If you use your main SIM, switch the phone off, move the SIM carefully and check it reads. Some card phones take a nano SIM, others a micro SIM; you may need an adapter.

Texting on a tiny keypad

Save common replies as templates and use predictive text if it has it. Short texts work; long ones are a chore.

If it shows no signal

Check the SIM is active, move to a different spot and ask your carrier which networks are available. If the phone only supports a closed network, it cannot connect.

Using Bluetooth earbuds

Pair earbuds through the Bluetooth key for music and calls. Small phones often have weak speakers, so earbuds make calls easier to hear.

Care and storage

Keep it away from keys and coins that could scratch the screen. Charge it every few weeks even when unused.

What else do people ask about mini phones?

Most questions are about whether they work with current networks, whether they replace a smartphone and whether they are good for kids. Only if they support 4G with VoLTE, only for people who need calls and texts alone, and only with care, because tiny keys and network gaps make them weak safety phones. Check every mini phone's network support first.

Can a mini phone replace my smartphone?

For calls and texts, yes. For maps, banking, messaging apps and photos, no. Most people use mini phones as a second device.

Do mini phones have cameras?

Some do, with very low resolution. The ZenPhone XS page does not mention a camera, and the photo shows none.

Are mini phones allowed in schools?

Rules vary. Some schools allow basic phones for safety. A phone that may not connect is not much help for safety.

What is VoLTE?

Voice over LTE lets a phone make calls over the 4G network. With 2G and 3G closing, phones need VoLTE to make calls on many carriers.

Frequently asked questions