There's a lot to like about this compact phone - which will suit many looking for a smaller flagship. There's a great display, quality build, and good cameras. But it heats up quickly under load so it's not for gamers, while the fingerprint scanner is irritating in use.

Waterproof; Stereo speakers and 3.5mm port; Good camera performance; Flagship power;

Gets hot quickly when gaming; Fingerprint scanner is temperamental; No zoom camera;

Although the iPhone 12 mini didn't make quite the splash Apple anticipated, there are plenty of people shopping for a smartphone that's both powerful and palm-sized. The upcoming Asus Zenfone 8 looks like it could fill just that role in the Android market, at least based on the few hours we've spent with it so far. This isn't a full review because we don't have all the details on the phone just yet. An Asus representative told PCMag the Zenfone 8 will likely be available by the end of June and pricing will be around $599 to $799. That's a pretty big gulf, so we can't make an accurate assessment of the phone until we have all of the facts. For now we have some first impressions to share.Just the Right Size The Zenfone 8 measures 5.8 by 2.7 by 0.3 inches (HWD) and weighs 6 ounces, which is a little larger than the iPhone 12 mini (5.2 by 2.5 by 0.3 inches) and about on par with the Google Pixel 5 (5.7 by 2.8 by 0.3 inches). The important thing is that it's easy to use with one hand. ...

With two impressive cameras, a top-notch chipset, and a compact build, the Asus Zenfone 8 could be just right for fans of small phones and Android.

Hand-friendly size; Powerful processor; Excellent onboard audio; High-quality cameras

Lacks wireless charging; Software updates aren't guaranteed

The never ending quest for maximum screen to body ratio spawned some very interesting design solutions in the past few years. From the infamous notch to the pop-up camera, phone manufacturers are constantly pushing the limits to offer the mythical edge-to-edge display experience.

ASUS has packaged the best specs possible, in a much smaller package.

Compact size, Snapdragon 888 inside, Good battery life, Headphone jack!!, Charger included in the box

Camera underperforms the competition

If it wasn’t for the disappointing battery life, I’d have no issues recommending the Asus Zenfone 8 to anyone after a compact smartphone. Besides that, it’s a beefy device with strong media chops and a dependable everyday camera, packed into a diminutive form factor that won’t give you an unsightly bulge.

Pleasingly compact; Absolute powerhouse; Clean, satisfying ZenUI; Capable camera;

Mediocre battery life; Netflix stuttering; Not exactly attractive;

The Asus Zenfone 8 is a solid flagship phone at a sub-flagship price, though inevitably there are compromises: there’s no telephoto lens or wireless charging, and it misses out on its predecessor’s novel flip camera that let the rear lenses rotate forward to take selfie shots. You can still get that camera in the limited-release Asus Zenfone 8 Flip, but the regular Zenfone 8 delivers top-tier specs at the most affordable price since the OnePlus 6T.

Top-level specs; Small form factor; Respectable camera capability;

No telephoto lens; Middling battery life; No wireless charging

toAsus isn’t looking to take on the Galaxy S21 Ultra or any other massive smartphone with the new Zenfone 8. Instead, it’s targeting phones like the iPhone 12, the Google Pixel 4a 5G, and Pixel 5 by making a high-performance mobile phone that fits neatly in your hand and pocket. The Zenfone 8 is a compact flagship phone, and a really well-designed one, but the bigger question is, does anyone really want such a thing anymore? The Zenfone 8 has been my main phone for a while now, and if I’m absolutely honest, despite its ability, I did miss a bigger phone. But if you’re tired of thumb-stretching screen sizes, you will probably feel very differently. However, Asus hasn’t got the fundamentals right with the Zenfone 8, and it’s in danger of being lost in the crowd. Let’s go into more detail. Asus set itself some tough targets with the Zenfone 8. It wanted a phone that was less than 70mm wide and under 150mm tall, as this would make the phone suitable for comfortable one-handed use. It has s...

Small and lightweight; Great, but quite simple, camera;

Poor battery life; Screen responsiveness problems; No wireless charging;

Pleasingly compact; Absolute powerhouse; Clean, satisfying ZenUI; Capable camera;

Mediocre battery life; Netflix stuttering; Not exactly attractive;

The ASUS Zenfone 8 is a dark horse in the flagship smartphone race for 2021, with flagship-grade specifications in a highly compact, one-handed form factor. This compact smartphone has a slew of top-shelf features – a 3.5mm audio jack, stereo speakers, a 120Hz AMOLED display and a top of the line...

Has a 3.5mm audio jack, Impressive specifications, Great stereo speakers, Excellent 120Hz refresh display, Good primary camera

No wireless charging, Obtuse refresh rate settings, No optical zoom camera

Most of you are likely familiar with ASUS’ extensive line of PCs and related components, including ASUS’ ROG gaming products. You’ve probably also seen our ASUS ROG Phone 5 benchmarks , which showcase this incredibly fast gaming phone.

Did we mention it's small?, Premium build and materials, Beautiful display, Solid camera, Fantastic audio, Impressive performance, Almost stock Android

No wireless charging, Middling battery life, No telephoto shooter