Due　to　their　excellent　reliability,　low　cost,　and　environmental　friendliness,　aqueous　Zn-ion　batteries　(AZIBs)　present　a　promising　prospect　for　both　mobile　and　stationary　energy　storage　for　smart　devices　and　cities.　However,　current　challenges,　such　as　anode　dendrite　growth,　cathode　dissolution,　and　parasitic　side　reactions,　hinder　the　practical　application　of　AZIBs.　This　review　first　provides　an　in-depth　explanation　of　the　energy　storage　mechanisms　of　anodes　and　cathodes.　A　comprehensive　discussion　of　typical　issues　with　the　anode,　cathode,　and　electrolyte　of　AZIBs　is　then　presented.　Furthermore,　the　practical　considerations　and　potential　applications　in　the　development　of　smart　flexible　electronics　are　illustrated.　Finally,　the　challenges　and　perspectives　for　the　future　development　of　practical　AZIBs　are　highlighted.　This　review　is　expected　to　serve　as　a　guidepost　for　the　practical　applications　of　AZIBs　for　clean,　sustainable,　and　efficient　energy　storage　and　management　in　new　urban　forms.　©　2024　Wiley-VCH　GmbH.