Asus has built a steady presence in the mobile industry with help from its recent ROG Phone series . But it's been chasing a general audience (mostly in Asia) for much longer with its Zenfone lineup, attempting to please everyone and usually failing.

Size Smaller competent Android phones continue to be severely underrated and this entry puts even Sony's Compact lineup on notice., Display It's got excellent brightness and colors. 120Hz refresh is still rare at this price.

Software, again Some of the Asus customizations are annoying or unnecessary. Also, Asus’s track record on software updates is lagging., Camera Occasionally mediocre output on auto, especially in the selfie department.

After a couple of generations making phones with flip-out cameras and increasingly large displays, Asus has taken the ZenFone 8 in a totally different direction: small.

Thoughtful compact design, Robust build quality and IP68 rating, Excellent Snapdragon 888 performance

Battery life is just okay, Only two major OS updates, No telephoto camera

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

Can Asus strike the right balance between size, power, and performance?...

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.

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;

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 Asus ZenFone 8 forgoes the signature motorised camera, and instead boasts strong core features for a very competitive price.

Slick performance; Crisp 120Hz display; Compact design;

Iffy battery life; No wireless charging; Occasional heat issues;

Though 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 Asus Zenfone 8 ($629.99) fills the small-phone gap for flagship enthusiasts who prefer Android. In addition to stuffing a lot of power in its small frame, the Zenfone 8 packs a crisp 120Hz OLED display, capable cameras, and incredible sound. But millimeter-wave and wireless charging, both found on the iPhone 12 mini, are missing here, as is any support for Verizon subscribers. That's why the powerful, flexible $450 Google Pixel 5a remains our Editors' Choice among midrange phones.Perfectly Pocketable 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. The Zenfone 8's design language is sophi...

With two impressive cameras, a top-notch chipset, and a compact build, the Asus Zenfone 8 is a top choice for small-phone fans.

Hand-friendly size; Powerful processor; Excellent onboard audio; Flagship-quality photos

Lacks wireless charging; Software updates aren't guaranteed; Does not work on Verizon's network

The Asus Zenfone 8 has nailed its particular niche: a small Android phone with top specs and a reasonable price. If that’s what you want, then look no further. But if you are searching for better camera or battery endurance, then you might want to consider an alternative such as the Samsung Galaxy...