ASUS again presents the Zenfone line through the Zenfone 8 . It’s quite surprising considering that the ASUS Zenfone has been in the market for a long time. Can Zenfone 8 be as successful as its brother ASUS ROG Phone , which triumphed in the gaming segment? Check out his review as follows.
ASUS Zenfone 8 Design
One attraction of the Zenfone 8 is in its compact body design. Zenfone 8 comes with a Super AMOLED display panel whose dimensions are 5.9 inches. Slightly larger than the iPhone Mini whose panel measures 5.4 inches.
Its compact dimensions make Zenfone 8 very comfortable to use. Even with one hand. It’s also easy to carry around. Can fit into a trouser pocket. In the sales package, ASUS includes a body protective casing. It is adequate to protect the body and prevent slipping in one-handed use.
Overall the body design feels very premium. The body has also been designed to be waterproof with an IP65/IP68 rating. On the right side are the volume buttons and the blue power button. The power button is also supported by the Smart Key feature. Its function is to allow users to more quickly open certain applications by simply pressing the button twice.
At the top of the body there is a 3.5mm headphone jack. Meanwhile, at the bottom there is a sim card slot, notification LED light and a USB-C port.
ASUS Zenfone 8 . screen
The 5.9-inch AMOLED screen it carries has a resolution of 1080 x 2040 pixels. It is undeniable that the screen is very bright. This is thanks to the support of a series of abundant features that support the screen panel.
Call it HDR 10+ and the DCI-P3 112% color gamut coverage. The screen panel has even been calibrated to the Delta E color accuracy standard of less than 1. Above the average of other phones in its class. Its accurate screen is adequate for content creation activities for users who need it. With a note no problem with the relatively small screen size.
The screen panel also supports a 120 Hz refresh rate. As a result, all animation effects or when scrolling the screen looks very smooth and more comfortable on the eyes. The screen brightness level is also very high, up to 1100 nits. Still clearly visible even in very bright lighting conditions.
One plus, the screen has been reinforced with a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. Support for the Eye Care feature is also presented to reduce the emission of blue light that can be harmful to the eyes.
On the screen ASUS added a fingerprint sensor. From our tests, the fingerprint sensor is relatively less responsive. It would be more convenient to use the password lock feature or pattern drawing option to lock the screen.
ASUS Zenfone 8 . Audio
Switching to the audio sector again, ASUS provides a premium touch that will spoil your ears. ASUS has also partnered with Dirac to optimize the sound quality. As a result, the sound output from the stereo speakers that it carries does feel clear and powerful.
For Audiophiles, Zenfone 8 already supports Hi-Res Audio or high-resolution audio files. Cirrus Logic CS35L45 dual chip amp support is also available. Just make sure you use wireless headphones or earbuds that also carry the same Hi-Res standard. That way it will be more optimal to enjoy all the advantages in the audio sector.
ASUS Zenfone 8 interface
Switching to the interface, ASUS Zenfone 8 carries the original Android 11 interface. The interface is simple and relatively clean from bloatware or unnecessary applications. ASUS also provides customization options to set animations, application icon sizes, to Dark mode which will change all interfaces with a black background.
For use with one hand, there is also a One-hand mode. In this mode the Interface will be optimized to make it easier to reach with the thumb when used with one hand.
ASUS Zenfone 8 . Camera
Turning to the camera sector, this smartphone carries a dual camera configuration. The main camera uses a Sony IMX686 sensor with a resolution of 64 megapixels. The main camera module is paired with an F1.8 lens complete with stabilizer support.
From our testing, the results of the photos of the two cameras are quite satisfactory in all lighting conditions. Autofocus performance feels fast. The photos look very sharp. Contrast and color tones are also quite accurate. In dim lighting, noise control is good. The photos still look sharp and have minimal noise. It is quite unfortunate that Zenfone 8 does not carry a telephoto camera like other flagship smartphones. In video mode, this camera can record videos up to 8K resolution.
The front camera is also very good. With a 12 megapixel Sony IMX663 sensor you can take selfies with sharp results. In portrait mode, the front or rear camera can also produce photos with blurred backgrounds that are quite neat and look natural.
ASUS Zenfone 8 . performance
Behind its compact body design, ASUS Zenfone 8 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset which supports 5G networks. This smartphone configuration is available with 8GB/128GB or 16GB/256GB options. For the model we reviewed, it uses 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal memory.
Admittedly the performance of this phone does feel fast and hasty. There’s barely any lag. For everyday use it is more than adequate. Benchmark results can be seen as follows.
ASUS has also equipped the Zenfone 8 with a complete performance mode. You can set and select the performance mode as needed. There are 5 options to choose from, namely High performance, Dynamic, Durable, Ultra Durable, and Advanced.
For running heavy applications such as video editing applications or playing games, High Performance mode can be selected. For daily use, the dynamic mode that we often use is sufficient.
In our gaming test, we tried to play the Genshin Impact game. Zenfone 8 can run the game smoothly on high and highest settings. However, it should be noted that by choosing high performance mode and high graphics settings, the impact of this smartphone will feel hot faster. This hot sensation is very uncomfortable when held.
Zenfone 8 also brings Game Genie features that can be selected to optimize the gaming experience. This feature offers various options such as boosting the performance, turning off the call feature, selecting the screen refresh rate etc.
ASUS Zenfone 8 . battery
ASUS Zenfone 8 carries a battery with a capacity of 4000 mAh. The benchmark results recorded a time of about 5 hours 37 minutes. However, from our tests for not-so-moderate daily use, the battery capacity which is not too large is still enough to last a day using the 120 Hz screen refresh rate option and Dynamic mode. To get longer battery life, lowering the screen refresh rate to 60 Hz or 90 Hz and turning off the Always On Display feature can be a solution.
The ASUS Zenfone 8 battery also supports the fast recharge feature relying on its built-in 30W charger. However, it is quite unfortunate that ASUS has not provided support for the wireless charging feature which has become standard in several flagship smartphones.
Conclusion
This smartphone is a breath of fresh air in the Android smartphone market, which is dominated by 6-inch screens and above. There are two things that stand out the most from Zenfone 8, namely the compact premium design and the powerful performance of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888. The absence of a telephoto camera and wireless charging feature is quite unfortunate. However, this compromise in our opinion is quite replaced by a 120 Hz AMOLED screen that is pleasing to the eye, an okay camera and above average audio.
The selling price of Zenfone 8 is in the price range starting from 7.99 million Rupiah. With compact dimensions, a series of flagship features and a competitive price, we think Zenfone 8 has enough potential to be able to win back the attention of Indonesian smartphone lovers. However, looking at the increasingly fierce competition map, it seems that ASUS really needs to make extra efforts to re-popularize the almost forgotten Zenfone brand. However, ASUS Zenfone 8 is still a must-see for anyone who is eyeing an Android smartphone with a compact body and fast performance.
Advantages of ASUS Zenfone 8
+ Compact premium design
+ Waterproof body
+ Stunning 120 Hz AMOLED display
+ Fast performance
+ Good camera
+ Excellent audio
+ Supports 5G
+ Competitive price
+ Original Android 11 interface
+ Performance mode available
+ Smart key feature is quite functional
Disadvantages of ASUS Zenfone 8
– Not equipped with a telephoto camera
– Fingerprint sensor is not responsive – Does
not support wireless charging yet
– Body is very hot at maximum performance conditions
