Asus is taking an unusual but interesting path with the new Zenfone 8. The top-equipped Android smartphone measures just 68.5 × 148 × 8.9 mm, making it significantly smaller than most other devices. The price is also comparatively low at 669 euros.
The Zenfone 8 is a fundamentally different smartphone than the Zenfone 7 was a year ago. Asus has saved the camera's flip mechanism this time and has instead outsourced it to a stand-alone smartphone called the Zenfone 8 Flip, which was presented at the same time today. There is no successor to the Zenfone 7 Pro, which had a slightly more powerful processor, more memory and an image stabilizer for the camera. Asus will launch Zenfone 8 and Zenfone 8 Flip in 2021.
Almost as small as a Google Pixel 5
Not only is the division into two smartphones new for this year, the Zenfone 8 itself is in no way comparable to its predecessor. While it was 77.2 × 165.0 × 9.90 mm in size and weighed 235 g, the Zenfone 8 only measures 68.5 × 148.0 × 8.90 mm at 169 g. Asus moves into the area of a compact Pixel 5 (test), but offers high-end hardware in a similarly large case, while Google tends to use the upper middle class. With the iPhone 12 mini (test), which measures only 64.2 × 131.5 × 7.40 mm and 133 g, the Zenfone 8 cannot keep up with the case.
Asus has determined that many users still want small smartphones. Although the target group is not the largest in absolute terms, it is one that no other manufacturer in the Android segment serves with high-end equipment.
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OLED display with 5.92 inches and 120 Hz
Asus has installed a 5.92-inch AMOLED display with 120 Hz in the Zenfone 8. The settings can optionally be set to 90 or 60 Hz. The display is flat and has an integrated selfie camera with 12 megapixels at the top left, which has an autofocus feature that many other smartphones lack at the front. The screen has an optional one-handed mode which, by swiping down briefly in the lower area of the display, brings the area of an app shown above down. How far up or down the one-handed mode should start can be set individually in the settings depending on the size of your hand or finger length – the standard is 50/50. Asus has also integrated an optical fingerprint sensor in the lower third of the screen.
Status LED and 3.5 mm jack
Although the screen has an always-on option, which is deactivated at the factory, Asus has also installed a status LED, which is also rarely found on current smartphones. This sits at the bottom right in the frame next to the USB Type-C socket. One of the two stereo speakers is also located at the bottom, while the second is located above the display in the frame. Their coordination for playback can be regulated via Dirac depending on the room acoustics determined by the microphones. The Swedish-based Dirac is also used in some AV pre-amps and receivers. At the head end of the frame, the 3.5 mm jack is another now exotic feature.
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Snapdragon 888, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB storage
The current Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 works under the hood, with which the smartphone fundamentally sets itself apart from the similarly sized Google Pixel 5, which is only offered with Snapdragon 765G. Asus provides the 5 nm SoC with up to 16 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of non-expandable memory, whereby three configurations from 8 GB/128 GB are provided for Germany. Asus put a lot of effort into the design of the logic board, because the manufacturer claims that the compact dimensions required a new approach. Instead of a PCB that would have been too small, or two PCBs that are connected with ribbon cables, an interposer is used that connects the individual layers directly.
Only wireless charging is missing
Power is supplied by a 4,000 mAh battery that can be quickly charged with a maximum of 30 watts. The Zenfone 8 does not support wireless charging, which can be seen as a drawback compared to similarly sized smartphones such as the Pixel 5 or iPhone 12 mini. When charging the battery, users again have the option to only charge it up to a certain capacity or to forego rapid charging overnight. In addition, it can be set again so that the last percent is only loaded when the alarm clock is set, instead of keeping the smartphone at 100 percent throughout the night. These measures are intended to protect the battery and ensure longevity. In general, the three operating modes “Optimized”, “Performance” and “Eco” are again available ex works, whereby an individual battery profile can be created again, which accordingly discharges the energy storage device faster or slower.
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Camera and design are cautious
The Zenfone 8 is a rather restrained smartphone that only has two cameras on the back for wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle. The main camera with 64 megapixels this time comes directly with an OIS, which was reserved for the Zenfone 7 Pro last year. Regarding the software, a spirit level in the viewfinder and several pictures with different exposure compensation are new. In automatic mode, in addition to the primary recording, two photos with one EV +1 and one EV -1 are optionally created so that you can choose a favorite afterwards. Also on board is the Pro mode, which also supports RAW, so that you can develop the photos yourself afterwards. In video mode, the main camera supports up to 8K resolution, but with HDR10 a maximum of 4K. The second camera with ultra wide angle offers an autofocus as a special feature and should therefore also be suitable for macro shots.
The entire design is at least as inconspicuous. The back is always made of matt glass and is available in the colors “Obsidian Black” and “Horizon Silver”. The all-round aluminum frame is also always matt. The technology protects an IP68 certification, but the smartphone is not waterproof. Jumps into water or a jet of water, for example, can overwhelm the specification, according to Asus, because too much pressure is exerted. The Zenfone 8 is also unsuitable for salt water.
At least two Android updates
Asus wants to bring the Zenfone 8 onto the market with immediate effect at a price of 669 euros in the 8 GB/128 GB variant. In Asus' own online shop, there should be an early bird special for 599 euros. With 8 GB/256 GB the smartphone costs 729 euros and with 16 GB/256 GB it is 799 euros. The scope of delivery includes a smartphone, power supply unit, charging cable and a thin bumper case that offers light protection against scratches. The software installed is Android 11 with an almost stock design. Asus plans to provide at least two updates to Android 12 and Android 13 for the Zenfone 8.
Asus Zenfone 8 Apple iPhone 12 mini Google Pixel 5 software:
(when released) Android 11.0 iOS 14 Android 11.0 Display: 5.92 inches, 1,080 × 2,400
445 ppi, 120 Hz
AMOLED, HDR, Gorilla Glass Victus 5.40 inches, 1,080 × 2,340
477 ppi, 60 Hz
OLED, HDR, Ceramic Shield 6.00 inches, 1,080 × 2,340
430 ppi, 90 Hz
OLED, HDR, Gorilla Glass 6 Operation: touch, fingerprint sensor, status LED touch, face scanner touch, fingerprint sensor SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
1 × Kryo 680 Prime, 2.84 GHz
3 × Kryo 680 Gold, 2 , 42 GHz
4 × Kryo 680 Silver, 1.80 GHz
5 nm, 64-bit Apple A14 Bionic
2 × Firestorm, 3.00 GHz
4 × Icestorm, 1.82 GHz
5 nm, 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
1 × Kryo 475 Gold, 2.40 GHz
1 × Kryo 475 Gold, 2.20 GHz
6 × Kryo 475 Silver, 1.80 GHz
7 nm, 64-Bit GPU: Adreno 660
840 MHz Apple Quad-Core Adreno 620 RAM: 8,192 MB
LPDDR5Variante16,384 MB
LPDDR5 4,096 MB
LPDDR4X 8.192 MB
LPDDR4X memory: 128/256 GB 64/128/256 GB 128 GB 1st camera: 64.0 MP, 4320p
LED, f/1.7, AF, OIS 12.0 MP, 2160p
Quad-LED, f/1.6, AF, OIS 12.2 MP, 2160p
Dual-LED, f/1.7, AF, OIS 2nd camera: 12.0 MP, f/2.2, AF 12.0 MP, f/2.4, AF 16.0 MP, f/2.2 3rd camera: No 4th camera: No 5th camera: No 1st front camera: 12.0 MP , 2160p
display flash, f/2.4, AF 12.0 MP, 2160p
display flash, f/2.2 8.0 MP, 1080p
Display flash, f/2.0 2nd front camera: No GSM: GPRS + EDGE UMTS: HSPA +
↓ 42.2 ↑ 5.76 Mbit/s DC-HSPA
↓ 42.2 ↑ 5.76 Mbit/s HSPA +
↓ 42.2 ↑ 5.76 Mbit/s LTE: Advanced Pro Advanced Pro
↓ 2,000 Advanced Pro 5G: NSA/SA WLAN: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
Wi-Fi Direct 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth: 5.2 5.0 5.0 LE Location: A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS, NavIC A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS Other standards: USB 2.0 type C, NFC, 3.5 mm jack Lightning, NFC USB 3.1 type C, NFC SIM card: Nano- SIM, dual SIM battery: 4,000 mAh, 30 W
permanently installed 2,227 mAh (8.57 Wh)
permanently installed, wireless charging 4,080 mAh (15.78 Wh)
permanently installed, wireless charging size (W × H × D): 68.5 × 148.0 × 8.90 mm 64.2 × 131.5 × 7.40 mm 70.4 × 144.7 × 8.00 mm Protection class: IP68 Weight: 169 g 133 g 151 g Price: 669 €/729 €/799 € from 666 €/from 729 €/from 839 € from 589 €
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