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;

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.

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;

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;

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

Mediocre battery life; Netflix stuttering; Not exactly attractive;

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?...

Asus delivers a very compact and high-quality smartphone with the Zenfone 8. The system performance is very good, which is also reflected in a very smooth operation in everyday use. Besides very fast Wi-Fi and a bright AMOLED display, the new 5G mobile standard is also supported.

robust housing with IP68 certification, bright 120 Hz display, good performance, compact design, fast WLAN

short battery life, no DC dimming