Asus Zenfone 8 128 GB / 8 GB (90AI0063-M00720)
 | £538.35 Buy!  ASUS Zenfone 8 Smartphone 59 Inch SIM Free Android Mobile Phone Black UK VAmazon.co.ukDelivery: to United Kingdom Report |
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Asus offers one of the most compact flagships of 2021. Its screen size is 5.9" — it would seem that it is not a small size at all, but go look for top models with a display of less than 6.5". Of course, the frames here are minimal, so the dimensions of the device are quite modest — 148x68.5x8.9 mm and weighs 169 g. At the same time, the design emphasizes the premium quality of the flagship: minimalism, smooth lines, glass coating and a strong metal frame.
In addition, the degree of protection IP68 is claimed, that is, the device is not afraid of water. But it seems that for the sake of compactness they sacrificed a capacious battery: a 4000 mAh battery is installed here, but it supports 30 W fast charging. Just 25 minutes at the outlet will add 60% charge. But in matters of hardware and performance, Asus Zenfone 8 does not make any compromises.
Inside, it's a real beast with a top-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, fast UFS 3.1 memory and 8/128 GB — more than enough for any task. The flagship supports 5G and boasts the advanced Wi-Fi 6E standard. At the highest level, the screen of the device is Super AMOLED with a high resolution of 2400x1080 pixels and a refresh rate of 120 Hz for a smoother picture, especially during games.
Right in the display is a 12-megapixel front camera. They didn’t get smart with the rear camera — apparently, Asus understands that the filming quality will not be better from a larger number of modules. Therefore, there are only two necessary sensors — a 64-megapixel main one with optical stabilization and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens. In addition, the smartphone received stereo speakers, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, which has become a rarity for top models, an NFC for contactless payments and an under-screen fingerprint scanner.
The most compact Android flagship
In 2021, Asus released several flagship smartphones: experiments and bold decisions were left for the Asus Zenfone 8 Flip with a rotating camera, and with the help of Asus Zenfone 8, the company decided to dispel the myth that a powerful top-end gadget cannot be modest. Perhaps this is the most compact Android flagship of the year, and although its screen size is 5.9", which is not so small, these days it is already a rarity. It uses a Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 2400x1080 pixels, an increased refresh rate of 120 Hz, Always on Display and an under-display fingerprint scanner. And although the screen is not so big, it is comfortable to play and watch movies on it — all the more, the picture quality is at a high level. And thanks to the minimal frames, the dimensions of the device are 148x68.5x8.9 mm. As a result, you can control the gadget with one hand. The One-Hand mode will help with this, which reduces the size of the window and moves all elements to the bottom of the screen. If desired, you can adjust the active area to fit your finger.
modest appearance
At the same time, the model looks rather modest, and there are no eye-catching elements in the design. Is that the power button, painted in bright blue. But the materials give out a representative of the premium segment: a glass matte back panel that does not need cases, a metal frame and a durable Gorilla Glass Victus protective glass that covers the front. In addition, the case is IP68 water resistant, although the manufacturer still advises against placing it completely under water and recommends avoiding contact with sea or chlorinated water, as well as drinks.
The beast inside
And if on the outside it is a small pipe that does not look too serious, then a real beast is hiding inside. Asus has equipped its creation with the most powerful hardware at the time of release, including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G processor, Adreno 660 graphics, 8 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, fast UFS 3.1 storage (128 GB) and Wi-Fi 6E standard. This stuff is more than enough for any tasks and the most demanding games at maximum settings. However under heavy loads, the case can heat up, but this is more likely to be blamed on the “hot” Snapdragon 888 platform. A 4000 mAh battery is located next to it, which will provide one and a half to two days of battery life. It supports 30W fast charging, which will help save time spent at the outlet. Finally, NFC, stereo speakers, a slot for two SIM cards (albeit without memory card support) and a 3.5 mm headphone jack complete the picture — a rather rare visitor to modern flagships.
But with the cameras, the manufacturer did not be smart, both with the design and the number of modules. A 12-megapixel front camera is responsible for selfies, a camera with two sensors is responsible for photos and videos. But what: 64 MP main lens (f / 1.8) is paired with 12 MP "wide". Add flash, optical stabilization, a three-microphone system to improve sound recording and flexible settings with numerous filters and modes — and you will get great pictures and videos for a blog, social media page or personal archive.
