ASUS Zenfone 8 packs high-end specs in a small chassis, debuts alongside the Zenfone 8 Flip

ASUS today took the wraps off the new Zenfone 8 lineup, unveiling two new flagship devices called the Zenfone 8 and the Zenfone 8 Flip. While the Zenfone 8 Flip is the successor to the Zenfone 7 that features the same triple-camera setup with its distinct flip mechanism, the Zenfone 8 offers a more traditional form factor with a punch hold camera in the front, ditching the flip camera and adopting a smaller overall footprint.

Both devices feature high-end specs, with the offerings being powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 SoC, the chipmaker’s flagship product. The major differences between the devices, however, lie in the dimensions and camera setup.

The Zenfone 8 features a 5.9-inch display with a 2400 x 1080 resolution. The panel is a Samsung-sourced 120Hz high refresh rate AMOLED unit that is certified for HDR 10+ and covers 112% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. It offers a peak brightness of up to 1,100 nits. The display is shielded by Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus. The phone can be had with up to 16GB LPDDR5 RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage.

As for the camera specs, the device sports a dual-lens setup at the back that houses a 64MP Sony IMX686 sensor with Quad Bayer technology that bins four pixels in one to churn out 16MP images. The unit is one with a 1/1.7" sensor and a 78.3° field of view. The secondary camera is a 12MP ultra-wide-angle shooter that can also double as a macro lens. The device lacks a dedicated telephoto lens for lossless zoom. At the front, a punch-hole cutout houses a 12MP shooter that also features dual PDAF autofocus.

The phone packs a 4,000mAh battery that can be topped up using a 30W charger. Connectivity options include 5G and Wi-Fi6/6E support, Bluetooth 5.2, and NFC. The device also boasts of stereo speakers and features a 3.5mm audio jack. Another noteworthy specification is that of IP68 water and dust resistance, which is a welcome addition.

As noted earlier, the Zenfone 8 Flip is a successor to the Zenfone 7, bringing with it the signature triple-camera array placed in the motorized housing that flips open from the back of the phone, letting the lenses do the duty of both the front and the rear cameras. The company says that it has improved the motor module to make it 50% stronger. The phone can be had with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of high-speed UFS 3.1 storage. It packs a large 5,000mAh battery, thanks to the larger size.

The offering sports a large 6.67-inch display with a 90Hz refresh rate – making it much larger than its sibling. This too is a Samsung-sourced AMOLED unit that covers 110% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. Both devices come with a unit that sports a Delta E average of less than 1. However, the 8 Flip makes do with a Gorilla Glass 6.

As for the camera lenses, the main camera and the ultra-wide-angle shooter are identical to the Zenfone 8. The third sensor in the motorized housing is an 8MP telephoto unit good for 3X optical zoom. The company has included features such as Free-angle shooting and Quick-angle shooting that lets users manually vary the angle of the motor when using the camera for increased flexibility.

While the Zenfone 8 Flip offers the same connectivity options as that of the Zenfone 8, the device understandably misses out on water and dust resistance rating. It also omits the 3.5mm audio jack. What the 8 Flip does offer, however, is support for a microSD card, something that is absent on the smaller device. Both devices ship with near-stock Android 11 out of the box, with software additions made for the camera features and some charging-related tweaks.

The Zenfone 8 starts at €599 for the variant with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The Zenfone 8 Flip will set buyers back by €799 for the variant with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. While both devices will begin being sold from tomorrow in Europe, pricing and availability information for the U.S. is yet to be announced.

The smaller of the two devices brings high-end specs in a smaller footprint at a relatively affordable price, as is the trend these days. While judgment needs to be reserved about the camera until reviews are out, ASUS has a viable alternative in store for those looking for a smaller device with impressive performance.