7 mins read

Asus Zenfone 8 Review: Size Doesn’t Matter

The Asus Zenfone 8 boldly bucks the current trend of ever-increasing smartphone sizes․ In a market saturated with oversized devices, it offers a refreshing alternative․ This compact powerhouse packs impressive specifications into a surprisingly small frame․ Let’s delve into a comprehensive review to see if size truly doesn’t matter․

Design and Build Quality

The Zenfone 8’s diminutive stature is immediately apparent․ Holding it feels incredibly comfortable and manageable, a stark contrast to the unwieldy feel of many flagship phones․ The build quality is exceptional; the phone feels robust and premium․ Its compact design doesn’t compromise on its aesthetic appeal․ Asus has managed to create a phone that is both powerful and pocketable․ The smooth, curved edges contribute to its comfortable feel, making one-handed use a breeze․ The rear camera module, while prominent, blends seamlessly into the design, avoiding the often jarring look of protruding lenses․

Display

The Zenfone 8 boasts a vibrant 5․9-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate․ The colors are rich and accurate, offering a truly immersive viewing experience․ Even under direct sunlight, the display remains easily readable․ The 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and animations incredibly smooth․ This is a significant upgrade compared to traditional 60Hz displays․ Gaming experiences are enhanced significantly by the higher refresh rate, resulting in smoother gameplay and improved responsiveness․ The small form factor makes the display feel incredibly sharp and detailed․ Overall, the display is one of the Zenfone 8’s standout features․

Performance

Powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, the Zenfone 8 delivers exceptional performance․ Demanding tasks, such as gaming and video editing, are handled with ease․ Multitasking is seamless, with apps switching quickly and efficiently․ The phone remained cool even during extended periods of intense usage․ This demonstrates excellent thermal management․ The benchmark scores are among the highest we’ve seen in this class․ The combination of powerful hardware and efficient software optimization contributes to a remarkably smooth and responsive user experience․

Gaming Performance

The Zenfone 8 excels in gaming․ High-end games run smoothly without any noticeable lag or frame drops․ The responsive touch screen and powerful processor create an immersive and enjoyable gaming experience․ Even graphically demanding titles remain playable at high settings․ The compact size makes the phone exceptionally comfortable for extended gaming sessions․ The phone’s efficient cooling system prevents overheating, even during marathon gaming sessions․

Camera

The Zenfone 8 features a dual-camera system, comprising a 64MP main sensor and a 12MP ultrawide lens․ Image quality is excellent, with the main sensor capturing detailed and vibrant images in various lighting conditions․ The ultrawide lens provides a versatile option for capturing expansive landscapes and close-up shots․ The camera app is intuitive and easy to use, offering a range of shooting modes and settings for both novice and experienced photographers․ Low-light performance is also impressive․ Images retain detail and clarity even in dimly lit environments․

Camera Features

  • 64MP main sensor
  • 12MP ultrawide lens
  • Excellent image stabilization
  • Multiple shooting modes
  • 4K video recording

Battery Life

Despite its compact size, the Zenfone 8 packs a surprisingly large battery․ With moderate usage, it comfortably lasts a full day on a single charge․ Heavy users might need to top up the battery in the late afternoon․ The fast-charging capabilities are a welcome addition, allowing for quick recharge times․ Wireless charging would have been a nice addition, but it’s not a significant omission given the overall package․ The battery life is certainly commendable considering the device’s small size and powerful processor․

Software

The Zenfone 8 runs on Android, offering a clean and uncluttered interface․ Asus’s custom skin adds a few useful features without being overly intrusive․ The software is regularly updated, ensuring users receive the latest security patches and performance improvements․ The overall software experience is smooth and responsive, adding to the overall positive experience of using the device․ Customization options allow users to personalize their device to their preference․ The bloatware is minimal, a welcome change from some other manufacturers․

Connectivity

The Zenfone 8 offers all the essential connectivity features, including 5G, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5․2․ Connectivity performance is reliable and consistent․ The phone consistently maintains a strong signal, even in areas with weak reception․ The inclusion of a headphone jack is a welcome addition for users who prefer wired headphones․ The phone also supports NFC, enabling convenient contactless payments․ This comprehensive suite of connectivity features ensures users remain connected wherever they are․

Audio

The audio quality is surprisingly good for a phone of this size․ The speakers deliver clear and loud sound, making it suitable for watching videos and listening to music․ The inclusion of a 3․5mm headphone jack is a welcome addition, allowing users to connect their wired headphones․ For those who prefer wireless audio, the Bluetooth 5․2 support offers a stable and high-quality connection․ The audio experience is certainly better than many of its competitors․ Sound quality is crisp and clear across various frequencies․

Overall Impression

The Asus Zenfone 8 is a compelling smartphone that proves size isn’t everything․ It’s a compact powerhouse that delivers exceptional performance, a stunning display, and a capable camera system․ The battery life is impressive, and the software experience is smooth and enjoyable․ While the absence of wireless charging might be a minor drawback for some, it’s easily overshadowed by the phone’s numerous strengths․ If you’re looking for a high-performance phone that doesn’t sacrifice portability, the Zenfone 8 is undoubtedly worth considering․

The phone is easy to hold and use with one hand․ It easily slips into a pocket, unlike its larger competitors․ The combination of a beautiful display, powerful processor, and long-lasting battery makes the Zenfone 8 a standout device․ It successfully balances power and portability in a way few other phones manage․ The overall user experience is incredibly satisfying, leaving you with a sense of high quality and thoughtful design․

  • Pros: Compact design, excellent performance, stunning display, great camera, long battery life, headphone jack
  • Cons: No wireless charging