ASUS has recently announced its latest smartphone models – the Zenfone 8 and Zenfone 8 Flip, both of which have unique features that make them stand out from the competition.
Starting with the Zenfone 8, the smartphone boasts a compact flagship design, which is quite rare in today’s mobile market. Its small size makes it easy to hold and use with one hand, providing a refreshing change from the bulkier smartphones we’ve grown accustomed to. It features a palm-friendly body with a matte aluminum mid-frame and curved frosted glass back, available in black or silver color options.
Measuring at 148 x 68.5mm, the Zenfone 8’s footprint is somewhere between the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 mini in terms of width. It weighs 5.96oz (169g) and is rated with IP65 and IP68 protection against dust and water, making it the first ASUS smartphone to offer such protection.
The Zenfone 8 is packed with a lot of impressive features despite its small size. It has a 5.9-inch 2,400 x 1,080 AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and an in-display fingerprint reader. It also boasts a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G processor, which provides great performance, a 4,000mAh battery (with 30W charging), triple mics, and powerful stereo speakers, all of which are optimized by audio specialist, Dirac.
The Zenfone 8 comes with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage, making it a true flagship phone. It features a 64MP main camera (Sony IMX686 sensor) with OIS (optical image stabilization), a 12MP ultra-wide camera (IMX363), and a 12MP punch-hole selfie camera with auto-focus (using the new IMX663). The inclusion of the Sony IMX686 sensor provides better low-light performance, and the IMX663 sensor makes for better selfies.
Moving on to the Zenfone 8 Flip, it features a unique flip camera, which was introduced in the previous generation of Zenfone smartphones. The flip camera allows the user to use the same high-quality cameras on both the front and back of the phone, making it a versatile option for taking pictures and videos. The flip camera has been updated to include an extra 8MP telephoto camera (OmniVision OV08A sensor) with 3x optical zoom, in addition to the main and ultra-wide cameras.
ASUS claims that the flip module’s lifespan has been bumped up from 200,000 flips to 300,000 flips, which translates to more than 5 years of usage if you do 150 flips a day. The Zenfone 8 Flip is also available in black or silver color options, and it shares the same dimensions as its predecessor, the Zenfone 7, with the exception of the updated Snapdragon 888 processor, new 256GB storage option, and new in-display fingerprint reader.
The Zenfone 8 Flip’s other features include a 6.67-inch 2,400 x 1,080 AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, a 5,000mAh battery (with 30W charging), 8GB of RAM, stereo speakers, and triple mics. It also features a triple-card slot (microSD and two nano SIMs) and has the same triple-camera flip module as the Zenfone 7. Unfortunately, the Zenfone 8 Flip does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack, unlike the smaller Zenfone 8.
On the software side, the Zenfone 8 and Zenfone 8 Flip run on ZenUI.
In conclusion, ASUS has taken a unique approach to its flagship smartphone lineup by offering two very different devices in the Zenfone 8 and Zenfone 8 Flip. The Zenfone 8 is a compact flagship, offering top-of-the-line specs in a smaller form factor, which is a rarity in today’s market. On the other hand, the Zenfone 8 Flip continues the legacy of ASUS’ flip camera design, offering a unique take on smartphone photography.
While the Zenfone 8 and Zenfone 8 Flip may not be for everyone, it’s refreshing to see a company like ASUS taking risks and innovating in a market that can sometimes feel stale. With competitive pricing and high-end specs, these devices are certainly worth considering for those in the market for a new smartphone.
As of now, the Zenfone 8 is available immediately in Europe, while the Zenfone 8 Flip will be available in a few days. There’s no word yet on US availability, but we’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, it’s exciting to see what the future holds for ASUS and its smartphone lineup.