Asus ZenFone 8 Review: Compact Contender

The Asus ZenFone 8 used to be launched along the ZenFone 8 Turn and went on sale globally only a few months in the past. This handset boasts flagship options, however is a fragment of the cost of telephones from main producers comparable to Samsung and Apple – and it is smaller too.

However does the cheaper price imply that there’s some large compromises? I’ve spent a while with the ZenFone 8 to look if it is a phone price making an investment in. 

Design and construct

As Goldilocks would say, this phone isn’t too large, nor too small – it is excellent. It may be used one-handed simply and can slip inside of maximum wallet very easily, however the display screen remains to be sufficiently big to revel in movies on and you’ll play video games with out feeling such as you’re quick on area.

Measuring 148 x 68.5 x 8.9 mm and weighing 169g, it is a handset at the chunkier aspect. Alternatively, it’s a powerful design that feels protected. The addition of a tricky matching case will probably be a welcome aid to the man clumsy other folks available in the market. It additionally comes with an IP68 ranking, which means that it is safe in opposition to some splashes and dirt. 

When you’re taking a look to choose from the ZenFone 8 and 8 Turn, then one deal breaker might be the inclusion of a headphone jack in this phone – a characteristic that many flagships forgo this present day.

The ZenFone 8 is available in two color choices: black and silver. I examined the black model, which comes with a matt sheen end at the rear. It isn’t as flashy as different telephones on this worth vary, nevertheless it’s subtle and complicated and feels high-end to touch. 

The facility button and quantity controls sit down at the right-hand aspect of the tool, while the fingerprint sensor is underneath the show. This labored slightly smartly – I best had problems after simply washing my fingers, however total it is higher than what I have noticed on different telephones such because the Oppo In finding X2. There may be additionally facial popularity device, must you favor that. 

At the backside, you get a USB-C charging port and a SIM slot. Connectivity smart, there may be Bluetooth 5.2, built-in WiFi 6/6E and NFC.

The dirac audio system produce moderately punchy sound for a smaller phone. I will be able to fortuitously pay attention to podcasts or track within the background and will obviously listen all main points. There’s additionally toughen for aptX Bluetooth gadgets.

Show

Probably the most greatest attracts of the ZenFone 8 is its display screen, which is a 5.9in Complete HD+ AMOLED show. The phone has a frame ratio of 84.2%, with a small punch hollow selfie digital camera at the best left. The bezels are reasonably at the thicker aspect, however do not remove an excessive amount of from the transparent display screen. 

The standout characteristic in this show is the 120Hz refresh price with 1ms contact reaction and a 240Hz contact sampling price. The display screen is brilliant, transparent, vibrant and very good for staring at movies or enjoying video games on. It’s additionally brilliant sufficient to make use of in direct daylight with out too many problems.

You don’t have to make use of the 120Hz always, with the choice to make a choice certainly one of 4 machine efficiency modes: excessive efficiency, dynamic, sturdy and extremely sturdy.

Having the phone on upper refresh charges drains the battery a lot more temporarily. If battery conservation is vital to you, then I like to recommend losing down the standard for daily use and saving that 120Hz for whilst you in point of fact need it.

Specifications and function

The specifications of this phone are simply as spectacular as that 120Hz show, as it’s full of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 5G chip. The handset I examined is paired with 8GB RAM and 256GB garage, although there are other RAM and garage variations to be had each in the United Kingdom and the world over, with as much as 16GB RAM to be had.

Those specifications don’t simply provoke on paper – it is mirrored in our benchmarking exams, with the phone reaching figures on the subject of the iPhone 12 Professional and the Samsung Galaxy S21.

Those figures additionally make it a super phone to make use of daily. I will be able to simply multitask with none lag (comparable to staring at a floating Twitch window while surfing Twitter). The first rate RAM and garage choices give lots enough space for apps and video games – particularly making an allowance for Google Pictures shops photographs and movies within the cloud.

Unfortunately, in contrast to at the 8 Turn, there is not any microSD card slot if you wish to lengthen your room to any extent further.

Digital camera

There are 3 primary digital camera lenses at the Asus ZenFone 8. First, there’s the principle 64Mp digital camera with Sony’s IMX686 sensor, f/1.8 aperture and optical symbol stabilisation (OIS). The pictures that this digital camera produces are vibrant, transparent and detailed.

The dynamic sensor on this digital camera optimises the lighting fixtures for the most efficient shot – robotically losing to nighttime mode if you happen to’re taking a shot in the dead of night. As with maximum smartphones, probably the most spectacular photographs are out of doors in sunlight. 

It may well’t moderately compete with the likes of the Samsung S21 Extremely or iPhone 12 Professional Max, however at a number of masses kilos much less, it is exhausting to whinge. 

The 12Mp ultra-wide attitude lens comes with Sony’s IMX363 sensor and Twin PD autofocus. There’s a drop in high quality between this and the principle sensor in terms of textures and main points. Alternatively, colors are most commonly the similar – wider lens on less expensive telephones on occasion glance much less brilliant.

At the entrance of the phone, you get a 12Mp digital camera. That is the primary handset in the marketplace to characteristic Sony’s IMX663 sensor, and also you additionally get Twin PD autofocus. The standard of those photographs varies relying for your lighting fixtures stipulations – with the most efficient photographs coming both in herbal gentle, or with gentle from in the back of the digital camera.

The portrait mode as soon as once more is in point of fact constant. Even little main points comparable to stray hairs aren’t misplaced within the blurred background – the digital camera is in a position to inform the diversities and create a distinction that feels extra herbal.

There isn’t any devoted telephoto lens in this phone, so it isn’t the most efficient if you happen to like to use the zoom characteristic.  

For videophiles, the Asus ZenFone 8 can file as much as [email protected] with OIS. There’s additionally triple microphones at the phone, this means that that if you happen to cross into the professional modifying mode you’ll make a selection what audio to concentrate on must you would like. Movies are transparent, detailed and strong, and the audio is simply as just right.

Battery lifestyles

The 4,000mAh battery is likely one of the worst issues in regards to the ZenFone 8.

All over the interior battery take a look at, it best controlled to continue to exist 5 hours and 25 mins. In fact, this used to be with that 120Hz max refresh price grew to become on. You’ll be able to lengthen the battery lifestyles by means of switching the efficiency mode – sturdy mode is the most suitable choice if you need all-day use. 

This can be worrying to people who need to use dynamic mode to make complete use of that 120Hz refresh price with no need to manually trade it.

(*8*)

Thankfully, charging is quite fast. The phone went from flat to 64% in half-hour the usage of the 30W HyperCharger, and total takes just below an hour to get to complete. Unfortunately, it can’t be charged wirelessly.

I additionally spotted that after charging, the handset will get moderately sizzling. It doesn’t appear to have an effect on efficiency however is one thing to bear in mind.

Tool

The Asus ZenFone comes with Android 11 operating on Asus’ ZenUI. Apps are laid out smartly and cleanly, with minimum pre-installed app litter. In all honesty, it is exhausting to inform that it is a pores and skin of natural Android – the UI is terribly shut and if the rest, the diversities best toughen what the device can do.

At the start, there’s the one-handed mode. You’ll be able to turn on this simply from the short menu on the best of the phone, and as soon as enabled you easy swipe downward from the second one part of the phone display screen. This permits all of the apps to take a seat decrease at the show for more uncomplicated get right of entry to.

You’ll be able to customize the gesture sensitivity and display screen measurement for each of this stuff. While a phone of this measurement doesn’t essentially want this, it’s nonetheless helpful for accessibility.

The machine efficiency supervisor additionally permits you to customize the thermal restrict, CPU efficiency, GPU efficiency, RAM efficiency and extra to fit complicated personal tastes moderately than the usual 4 settings that include the phone. This will probably be particularly helpful for any willing cell avid gamers.

Worth and availability

Costs for the Asus ZenFone 8 get started from £599.99/$629.99 for the 8GB and 128GB possibility, with the fee expanding if you happen to opt for upper garage/RAM choices. This worth places it round the similar price as Google’s Pixel 5.

The phone is typically to be had at the Asus web page in the United Kingdom, however inventory is these days out of inventory this present day. You’ll be able to additionally get your fingers on it from Amazon in the United Kingdom. In the United States, best the Asus web page has the phone to be had, which is once more ready on inventory on the time of writing. 

This phone is £200 not up to the Asus ZenFone 8 Turn. Until you might be determined to get the turning digital camera mechanism, then it’s most definitely now not price forking the additional for the Turn – particularly whilst you imagine that this handset comes with out a IP ranking, a decrease refresh price and no headphone jack.

It’s additionally price noting that while the ZenFone 8 doesn’t boast a flashy design like some flagships, the efficiency does stack up in opposition to one of the large title telephones which price much more than this. 

To peer how the Asus ZenFone 8 compares in opposition to different telephones available in the market, take a look at our listing of the most efficient smartphones for 2021. You’ll be able to additionally take a look at the controversy between the ZenFone 8 and 8 Turn on our weekly podcast, Rapid Fee. 

Verdict

The Asus ZenFone 8 provides a crisp show, flagship efficiency and a super digital camera set-up, inquisitive about a particularly aggressive worth – managing to outpace its sister phone, the ZenFone 8 Turn. The smaller design is a cast possibility for many who don’t need to accept a large phone.

The battery lifestyles is not nice, however offering you’re satisfied to make use of it in sturdy mode and will savour that 120Hz show, you’ll make it ultimate throughout the day. Total, it is a contender within the smartphone marketplace for 2021.

Specifications

Asus ZenFone 8: Specifications

• 148 x 68.5 x 8.9 mm
• 169g
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
• 8GB/16GB LPDDR5 RAM
• 128/256GB garage
• 5.9in AMOLED show (120Hz, 1ms reaction time)
• 64Mp Sony IMX686 primary digital camera with OIS, 12Mp Sony IMX363 ultra-wide, 12Mp Sony IMX663 front-facing digital camera
• 4,000mAh battery with 30W HyperCharge toughen
• Twin stereo audio system with Dirac HD Sound
• USB-C
• Headphone jack
• Wi-Fi 6/6e
• Bluetooth 5.2
• 5G connectivity
• IP68 ranking