The Asus ZenFone 8 launched alongside the ZenFone 8 Flip and went on sale worldwide just a few months ago. This phone has some flagship features, but it’s priced at a fraction of phones from major manufacturers like Samsung and Apple, and it’s smaller too.
But does lower cost mean there are big tradeoffs? I spent some time with the ZenFone 8 to see if it’s a phone worth investing in.
Design and build
As Goldilocks would say, this phone is neither too big nor too small, that’s exactly what you need. It can be easily operated with one hand and fits comfortably in most pockets, but the screen is still large enough to enjoy videos and you can play games without running out of space.
With dimensions of 148 x 68.5 x 8.9 mm and a weight of 169 g, it is a bulkier phone. However, it is a sturdy design that gives a sense of security.
Adding a sturdy matching sleeve will be a relief for the clumsy. It also has an IP68 rating, which means it is protected against certain splashes and dust.
If you want to choose between the ZenFone 8 and the 8 Flip, one factor that could break the deal is the inclusion of a headphone jack on this phone, a feature many flagships are forgoing these days.
ZenFone 8 is available in two colors: black and silver. I tried the black version, which comes with a matte gloss finish on the back. It’s not as flashy as other phones in this price range, but it’s sleek and sophisticated and feels premium to the touch.
The power button and volume controls are located on the right side of the device, while the fingerprint sensor is located below the display.
It worked pretty well – I only had issues after washing my hands, but overall it’s better than what I’ve seen on other phones like the Oppo Find X2. There is facial recognition software as well, if you prefer.
At the bottom you have a USB-C charging port and a SIM slot. On the connectivity side, we find Bluetooth 5.2, integrated WiFi 6 / 6E and NFC.
The dirac speakers produce sound powerful enough for a small phone. I can happily listen to podcasts or music in the background and hear all the details clearly. It is also compatible with aptX Bluetooth devices.
Filter
One of the biggest draws of the ZenFone 8 is its display, which is a 5.9-inch Full HD + AMOLED display. The phone has an 84.2% body ratio, with a small punch-hole selfie camera on the top left. The bezels are slightly thicker, but they don’t take too much away from the screen.
The standout feature of this display is the 120Hz refresh rate with a 1ms touch response and 240Hz touch sample rate. The screen is bright, clear, colorful and ideal for watching videos or playing games. games. It is also bright enough to be used in direct sunlight without too much trouble.
It is not necessary to use 120 Hz all the time, as one of the four performance modes of the system can be selected: High Performance, Dynamic, Durable and Ultra Durable.
Having the phone at higher refresh rates drains the battery much faster. If battery conservation is important to you, I recommend lowering the quality for daily use and saving 120Hz for when you really want it.
Specifications and performance
The specs of this phone are just as impressive as this 120Hz display, as it sports Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 5G chip. The phone I tested comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, although there are different versions of RAM and storage available in the UK and overseas, with up to 16GB of storage. RAM available.
These specs are not only impressive on paper, but are reflected in our benchmarking tests, in which the phone hits numbers close to the iPhone 12 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S21.
These numbers also make it a great everyday phone. I can multitask without any lag (like seeing a floating Twitch window when browsing Twitter).
RAM and decent storage options provide plenty of space for apps and games, especially since Google Photos stores images and videos in the cloud.
Unfortunately, unlike the 8 Flip, there’s no microSD card slot if you want to expand the space.
Camera
There are three main camera lenses on the Asus ZenFone 8. First, there is the 64 Mp main camera with Sony’s IMX686 sensor, f / 1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization (OIS). The images produced by this camera are vivid, clear and detailed.
This camera’s dynamic sensor optimizes lighting for the best shot, automatically switching to night mode if a photo is taken in the dark. As with most smartphones, the most impressive shots are those taken in the light of day.
It can’t compete with the Samsung S21 Ultra or iPhone 12 Pro Max, but for several hundred pounds lighter it’s hard to complain.
The 12 MP ultra wide angle lens comes with Sony’s IMX363 sensor and Dual PD autofocus. The quality of textures and details decreases compared to the main sensor. Colors are generally the same, as the larger lenses on cheaper phones sometimes seem less bright.
On the front of the phone there is a 12 MP camera. It’s the first phone on the market to feature Sony’s IMX663 sensor, and it also features Dual PD autofocus. The quality of photos varies with lighting conditions – the best photos are taken in natural light or in light from behind the camera.
The portrait mode, again, is really consistent. Even small details, such as stray hairs, aren’t lost in the blurry background – the camera is able to distinguish differences and create more natural contrast.
There’s no dedicated telephoto lens on this phone, so it’s not the best if you like to use the zoom feature.
For videophiles, the Asus ZenFone 8 can record up to [email protected] with OIS. There are also three microphones on the phone, which means that if you switch to professional editing mode, you can choose which sound to focus on if you want. The videos are clear, detailed and stable, and the sound is just as good.
Battery life
One of the worst aspects of the ZenFone 8 is the 4000mAh battery.
When testing the internal battery, it only managed to survive for five hours and 25 minutes. Of course, that was with that 120Hz max refresh rate enabled. You can extend the battery life by changing the performance mode – sustainable mode is the best option if you want to use it all day.
This can be annoying for those who want to use dynamic mode to take full advantage of that 120Hz refresh rate without having to change it manually.
Fortunately, the charge is relatively quick. The phone went from 64% discharge in 30 minutes using the 30W hypercharger, and it usually takes just under an hour to get full. Unfortunately, it cannot be charged wirelessly.
I also noticed that while charging the phone gets quite hot. It doesn’t seem to affect performance, but it’s something to keep in mind.
Software
The Asus ZenFone comes with Android 11 which runs on Asus’ ZenUI. Apps are organized in a neat and tidy manner, with a minimal clutter of preinstalled apps.
Honestly, it’s hard to say that this is a pure Android skin: the user interface is extremely similar and in any case the differences only improve what the Software can make.
First of all, there is the one-handed mode. It can be easily activated from the quick menu at the top of the phone, and once activated, just swipe down from the second half of the phone screen.
This allows all apps to be positioned lower on the screen for easier access.
You can customize the gesture sensitivity and screen size for both. While a phone this size doesn’t necessarily need it, it’s still useful for accessibility.
System Performance Manager also allows you to customize thermal limit, processor performance, GPU performance, and RAM performance among others based on advanced preferences instead of the four standard settings that come with it with the phone. This will be especially useful for any enthusiastic mobile gamer.
Pricing and availability
Prices for the Asus ZenFone 8 start at $ 699.99 for the 8GB and 128GB options, which increases the cost if you go for higher storage / RAM options. That price puts it at about the same price as Google’s Pixel 5.
You can also buy it on Amazon Europe for 649 $.
This phone costs £ 200 less than the Asus ZenFone 8 Flip. Unless you’re desperate to get your hands on the rotating camera mechanism, it’s probably not worth the extra money for the Flip, especially considering that this phone comes without an IP rating, with a lower refresh rate and no connector. listeners.
It’s also worth noting that while the ZenFone 8 doesn’t feature a flashy design like some flagships, the performance is on par with some reputable phones that cost a lot more than this one.
Verdict
The Asus ZenFone 8 offers a crisp screen, flagship performance, and an excellent camera setup, all for a hugely competitive price tag, managing to outperform its sibling phone, the ZenFone 8 Flip. The smaller design is a solid option for those who don’t want to settle for a big phone.
Battery life isn’t that great, but as long as you’re ready to use it in durable mode and can savor that 120Hz display, you can make it last all day. Overall, it is a contender in the smartphone market for 2021.
Technical specifications
- 148 x 68.5 x 8.9 mm
- 169 grams
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
- 8 GB / 16 GB LPDDR5 RAM
- 128/256 GB storage
- 5.9-inch AMOLED display (120Hz, 1ms response time)
- Sony IMX686 64 MP main camera with OIS, Sony IMX363 12 MP ultra wide camera, Sony IMX663 12 MP front camera
- 4000mAh battery with 30W HyperCharge support
- Dual stereo speaker with Dirac HD sound
- Usb-c
- Headphone socket
- 6/6 Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth 5.2
- 5G connectivity
- IP68 rating
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