Asus Zenfone 8 (8GB + 128GB) Review | 197 Data compared

The ASUS Zenfone 8 is a compact 5.9-inch flagship offering top-tier performance with a Snapdragon 888 processor, 120Hz AMOLED display, and a sub-$700 price point. Praised for its manageable one-handed design, the device includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, though the "One-Handed Mode" software is considered buggy. Despite lacking a telephoto camera and wireless charging, the Zenfone 8 provides a solid 64MP main camera, making it a high-value, albeit compromise-filled, option.

The Asus Zenfone 8, as reviewed by The Verge, stands out as a rare, compact Android flagship featuring a 5.9-inch 120Hz display and a powerful Snapdragon 888 processor, making it a capable one-handed device. Key pros include a premium build with an IP68 rating, the inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack, and highly customizable battery management for its 4,000mAh cell. While the camera offers capable, natural-looking results, it is generally considered "good but not great". Conversely, the device faces trade-offs with "only okay" battery life and the absence of wireless charging, a telephoto lens, and microSD storage. US consumers face further limitations, specifically a lack of compatibility with Verizon's network and mmWave 5G. Finally, the review notes a shorter commitment to software updates compared to industry leaders.

The Asus Zenfone 8 is a powerful, compact Android flagship featuring a 5.9-inch, 120Hz AMOLED display and a Snapdragon 888 processor, offering a "no-compromise" performance experience in a smaller form factor. Key pros include its durable design with an IP68 rating, bright screen, and the inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack. The device delivers solid photo and 8K video capabilities from its 64MP primary and 12MP ultra-wide lenses, though it lacks a telephoto lens, resulting in poor zoom quality beyond 4x. Battery life is generally good, lasting roughly 10-11 hours, and the phone supports 30W fast charging. Major drawbacks highlighted in the review include the lack of wireless charging and limited 5G mmWave support in the U.S.. Furthermore, potential long-term software support from Asus is noted as a concern.

The Asus Zenfone 8 is a powerful 5.9-inch Android flagship that addresses the market gap for compact, one-handed devices. Key advantages include a 120Hz Super AMOLED display, a 3.5mm headphone jack, an IP68 rating, and high-end performance via the Snapdragon 888 chip. However, notable drawbacks consist of a lack of wireless charging, the absence of a telephoto camera lens, and an uncertain long-term software update policy.

The Asus ZenFone 8 is highlighted as a high-performance, compact Android flagship featuring a 5.9-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 888 processor, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, making it a rare, pocketable option. Pros include strong performance, an IP68 rating, and a 64MP camera that delivers high-quality photos, though it lacks a dedicated telephoto lens. Key cons include the lack of wireless charging, no microSD slot, and a limited two-year software update commitment, alongside poor compatibility with Verizon.

The Asus Zenfone 8 is a compact flagship featuring a 5.9-inch 120Hz AMOLED display and a high-performance Snapdragon 888 chipset, offering a rare combination of a 3.5mm headphone jack and IP68 water resistance. Pros include its manageable, pocket-friendly size, powerful performance, and clean software, though it lacks a telephoto lens, wireless charging, and expandable storage. While battery life is limited to around 5.5 hours with the 120Hz display, the device's competitive pricing makes it a top choice for those seeking a premium, small-format Android phone.

The Asus Zenfone 8 received an overall DXOMARK camera score of 120, placing it competitively within the premium segment. Pros include reliable still image quality, effective video stabilization, accurate video white balance, and fast autofocus in standard lighting. Cons are notable due to hardware limitations, primarily the absence of a telephoto lens, resulting in a low Zoom score. Exposure instabilities, slow autofocus in challenging light, and inaccurate outdoor colors were also observed. The phone scored 108 in video, excelling in detail and stabilization but showing limited dynamic range and noise in low light. Artifacts like the "judder effect" and color fringing were noted, indicating it trails the iPhone 12 in consistency.

Mashable's review describes the Asus Zenfone 8 as a compact phone offering flagship performance at a sub-$700 price, appealing to users preferring smaller Android devices despite some compromises compared to larger flagships. Its strengths include a 5.9-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 888 processor, a headphone jack, durable Gorilla Glass Victus, IP68 water resistance, and clean ZenUI software. Weaknesses include potentially poor battery life under heavy use, a "decent" camera system lacking a telephoto lens and struggling with low light, an ineffective one-handed mode, a bland design, and no microSD card slot or wireless charging.

According to TechRadar, the Asus Zenfone 8 is a compact flagship phone that offers high-end specifications at a competitive price but includes some notable compromises. Its strengths include a powerful processor, a 120Hz AMOLED display, a 3.5mm headphone jack, IP68 water resistance, and a near-stock Android experience. However, its weaknesses lie in its camera performance, particularly the lack of a telephoto lens and struggles in low light, as well as mediocre battery life, absence of wireless charging, and no expandable storage.

LaptopMedia reviews the ASUS Zenfone 8 as a compact Android flagship with a 5.9-inch 120Hz AMOLED display and premium build quality, including IP68 water resistance and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Key strengths are its Snapdragon 888 performance and impressive 64MP main camera, but it suffers from poor thermal management, easily overheating during heavy use, and has polarizing battery life that may deter some users. For more details, visit LaptopMedia.

According to a review by Twenty First Tech, the ASUS Zenfone 8 stands out as a compact smartphone with a high-quality build, IP68 water resistance, and a bright 5.9-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, although the display has a reflective ring around the punch-hole camera and can be slippery without a case. Powered by a Snapdragon 888 processor and up to 16GB of RAM, it delivers flagship-level performance but suffers from overheating and performance throttling during intensive use, and the ZenUI 8 interface, while clean, is limited to two years of OS updates. While the 64MP main camera captures excellent daytime photos, the fingerprint reader is inconsistent and battery life is only decent with significant standby drain.

HotHardware describes the Asus Zenfone 8 as a compact Android flagship offering high-end performance in a small design, praising its powerful internals and competitive price. Key pros include an IP68 rating, a 120Hz AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 888 processor, a 3.5mm headphone jack, stereo speakers, and a clean software experience. Cons include middling battery life at 120Hz, no wireless charging or microSD slot, a slow fingerprint sensor, and some camera limitations in low light.

CNET reviewed the Asus Zenfone 8, describing it as a compact Android phone with a 5.9-inch Samsung AMOLED display, a 120Hz refresh rate, and IP68 water and dust resistance. The phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chip and offers up to 16GB of RAM, performing well in benchmarks and including a 3.5mm headphone jack. Downsides include the lack of a telephoto lens, no wireless charging, and the removal of the microSD card slot, with the camera system deemed dependable but not top-tier for its price.

The ASUS Zenfone 8 offers a compact, flagship experience with a Snapdragon 888 processor, 120Hz AMOLED display, IP68 rating, 3.5mm headphone jack, and powerful stereo speakers. However, it lacks a telephoto lens and wireless charging, has a potentially unreliable fingerprint scanner, and its 4,000mAh battery can experience idle drain with features like Always-on Display. While ZenUI 8 provides a clean Android experience with useful features, long-term software support is limited, making the phone best suited for users prioritizing size and performance over camera versatility or advanced charging.

According to Tom's Guide, the Asus Zenfone 8 stands out as a compact, easy-to-handle Android phone with premium features like a 120Hz AMOLED display and IP68 water resistance, powered by a Snapdragon 888 processor for strong performance. However, compromises include the lack of a telephoto lens, inconsistent Portrait mode, no wireless charging or microSD slot, and average battery life when using the high refresh rate.