Meet the ASUS Zenfone 8 and the ASUS Zenfone 8 Flip. While it’s tough to get excited about smartphones nowadays, ASUS’s latest offerings have something special that caught my attention.
Let’s begin with what they have in common. Both the Zenfone 8 and the Zenfone 8 Flip are powered by the latest flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G Mobile Platform.
The display
They also have Samsung AMOLED displays at a 20:9 aspect ratio with HDR10+ certification and in-display fingerprint sensors
The screen is bigger on the ASUS Zenfone 8 Flip, measuring 6.67in across compared to the 5.9in on the ASUS Zenfone 8. However, the former has a 90Hz refresh rate compared to the 120Hz on the latter.
In English, that means, application animations and general user experience will feel smoother on the ASUS Zenfone 8 despite the equal processing power. It also has an edge with its cinema-grade colour range and brightness.
The Camera
Both the Zenfone 8 and the Zenfone 8 Flip also have a Sony flagship IMX686 64 MP image sensor with 16 MP Quad Bayer technology in their main camera (which is called the wide camera on the Flip), and a Sony flagship IMX363 12 MP dual pixel image sensor for their ultra-wide camera.
Additionally, there is a Sony flagship IMX663 12 MP dual pixel image sensor on the Zenfone 8 punch-hole front camera.
That flip though
Still, the Zenfone 8 Flip has the advantage because not only does it have a 3x optical zoom 8MP telephoto, the whole camera assembly is motorised and can flip forward.
Basically, all three cameras on both phones will take better pictures than those in the previous generation. Low light? No problem. With a little bit of practice and technique, it can look professional too.
However, the ASUS Zenfone 8 Flip can also take selfie photos and videos using its best camera which is perfect for social media fiends, and it can take an auto panorama.
Auto panorama, vertical and horizontal, is not new but there are only a handful of smartphones that have done it. It is a lot of fun though and you should try it for yourself.
The ZenUI 8
Of course, both phones also run on the ZenUI 8. Yes, there is a lot of ‘faat‘ in ASUS’ latest smartphones.
It is smooth, speedy and easy to use. The System Mode offers several different modes that allow users to either prioritize performance or extend battery life and the Smart Key allows instant access to favourite actions.
Asus didn’t skimp on audio either. AudioWizard allows users to instantly tailor their audio experience, whether you are listening to music, playing a game, or watching a movie, there is a setting for what you are doing.
So which one should you get?
There are basically three options. Two variants of the ASUS Zenfon 8 and one variant of the ASUS Zenfone 8 Flip.
The ASUS Zenfone 8 comes in Obsidian Black or Horizon Silver with either 8G RAM / 128G storage (RM2,699) or 16G RAM / 256G storage (RM3,299 Shopee exclusive).
The ASUS Zenfone 8 Flip comes in Galactic Black or Glacier Silver with 8G RAM / 256G storage (RM2,999).
If you are a content consumer, someone who likes to watch videos on their smartphone, go for the ASUS Zenfone 8. Whichever variant fits your budget. You’ll love the display and the 4,000 mAh battery will last you a while.
For content creators, those who love taking photos and videos, especially of themselves, the ASUS Zenfone 8 Flip is a great choice. The bigger 5,000 mAh battery will let you take photos and record for longer. That flippable camera will not only prove to be excellent, it will also be a lot of fun.
To buy these phones online check out the SHOPEE x Zenfone Microsite. If you purchase one before June 11, you will get a free SoilSuit Case for your phone.
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