Asus Zenfone 8 Flip 128 GB

flip camera

Asus has been releasing smartphones with a flip-down camera for several years in a row, and the 2021 Zenfone 8 line is no exception. The Flip prefix in the name indicates exactly this camera design: a module with three sensors can turn over, as a result of which one camera plays the role of both the main and the front. The manufacturer assures that there is no need to worry about the reliability of the design. Only the essentials were included in the composition of the camera — there are no additional modules that are needed only for quantity. The main role is played by a 64-megapixel Sony IMX686 sensor, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens is responsible for panoramas, and an 8-megapixel telephoto lens provides an increase in the picture when shooting from afar. In general, it turned out to be a good trio, the pictures are at a high level, although the model still falls short of Huawei and Samsung camera phones. But this solution will definitely be appreciated by fans of selfies and vlogs: portraits for social networks were shot on an advanced camera, you can also change angles when shooting by simply turning the block at different angles, and videos can be shot with a resolution up to 8K. Perhaps the only negative is the lack of optical stabilization, which has become mandatory for top-end devices with such a high price tag.

Due to the lack of a separate front camera, the screen has lost any cutouts and occupies almost the entire front surface. This is a large 6.67-inch Super AMOLED display with a high resolution of 2400x1080, a refresh rate of 90Hz and HDR10+ support. The fingerprint scanner is built into the screen, and it works quite quickly and stably.

At the same time, the smartphone itself is quite large: the thickness of the case is 9.6 mm, and the weight is as much as 230 g. The metal frame that complements the glass case contributes to this. Such a tube is not very comfortable in the hand, and the glossy surface also adds to the inconvenience, as it slips and is instantly covered with fingerprints. Fortunately, a specially shaped protective case with a plug that prevents the camera from turning over was included in the kit. It remains a mystery why, with such a thickness, they did not allocate space for a 3.5 mm jack, although the regular Zenfone 8 has one.

Flagship hardware

But Asus focuses not only on design, but also on smartphone performance. The model received everything that a modern flagship needs: a top-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, support for 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Adreno 660 graphics, NFC for contactless payment for purchases, stereo sound and sufficient memory — 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory. There is also a separate microSD card slot, which many premium devices lack — extra gigabytes will come in handy if you shoot a lot of photos and videos or, for example, store your favorite movies and series to watch while traveling. In general, the device easily handles with demanding games, launches applications with lightning speed and performs several tasks at the same time, but at peak loads the case can get a little warm. This, rather, is not the fault of the smartphone itself or its manufacturer, but specifically the Snapdragon 888 processor — there were complaints from users of gadgets from other brands about its “hot ardor”.

The battery of the device is quite capacious — 5000 mAh, one charge should be enough for a whole day of work, or even a little more. 30W fast charging is supported, but wireless, unfortunately, is not, although I would like to at this price.

By the way, if you do not need a PTZ camera, pay attention to Asus Zenfone 8, which has a similar filling, but is compact — the screen size is 5.9", which has become a rarity nowadays.