Asus’ Zenfone 8z is a ray of hope for fans of compact phones

It's a blow to fans of compact form factors in phones if we don't see an iPhone mini this year.

Thankfully, we don't have to give up on the hope of seeing the mini version of the Zenfone 8z in India. Around May last year, it launched in global markets. The company missing the initial launch window makes sense since the country was going through a devastating second wave of COVID-19. It took many months for the device to be released.

I used the device for months, was impressed, and wanted to publish the review by the end of 2021. It would've been my favorite phone of the year, but it wasn't.

I can finally talk about the phone. It's no longer a new kid on the block, but it's still worth a look thanks to its combination of solid specs and compact build.

Here is the device's star- studded spec sheet.

Specifications

How compact is this phone?

It's hard to call a device small because of the screen sizes on phones. You can call the iPhone 12 mini or 13 mini small, but it's not clear what you're talking about.

The Zenfone 8 is a small phone, which is agreeable. It is almost the same size as the iPhone 12. It fits into the pockets of my jeans easily, but I might have bigger pockets than most users.

The rounded aluminum frame of the Zenfone 8 helps in gripping and operating the phone with one hand. The back of the phone is made of glass. The phone is closer to the weight of the phone than it is to the weight of the phone.

Bonus stuff

Minor design perks are nice to have, but they don't make the phone great.

I give more points to phones that have dual speakers. It makes for a more enjoyable experience when watching videos and listening to phone calls.

There is a jack for a headphones. It's easy to get a pair of wireless earbuds now, but having a 3.5mm jack makes it easier to give this phone to people who are used to it.

It's nice to have a teal power switch and an indicator on the bottom to know when your phone is charging.

What’s good about this phone?

Since it is marketed as a compact phone, it is important to talk about one-handed usage. If your current phone is a similar size, like the iPhone 12, theUI is easy to navigate.

It is the perfect phone for light entertainment and gaming. While multitasking and switch between apps smoothly, the Snapdragon 888 shows its strength.

The phone has a screen that is good for watching movies or videos on the internet. It's bright enough to use in the sun.

ZenUI 8 is based on Android 11. It is a mostly clean skin with a few extra features, such as a custom mode for gaming.

The camera setup on the phone isn't going to change the quality of the phone, but it is good enough in most conditions.

Daylight photos are bright and detailed, and that camera works hard to earn its keep. Some snaps might be slightly saturated, but it isn't a deal-breaker.

The camera does a good job without losing colors. The setup would have rounded out nicely if a telephoto sensor had been used. There are some camera samples.

As long as you keep the beauty mode turned off, the selfie camera will take decent selfies.

What could be better?

The battery life of the Zenfone 8 is always a trade-off for a compact phone. The battery is not enough to last through the day.

You can increase the battery life by changing the refresh rate, but that's about it. Thankfully, there is a 30W power source in the box to quickly charge the phone.

Video calls and intense gaming can cause the phone to get hot. It is not alarming, but it is annoying.

The cameras do a good job, but there are a few areas the company could work on. There are photos coming out of beauty mode. The best solution is to turn it off, because it makes photos with skin that doesn't look natural. It's turned on by default in portrait mode, and off by default in front camera.

Night mode photos are fine if there is some light on the focused object and it isn't moving much. You might not get the best details in these images, and there might be some grain depending on the light.

Who’s it for?

There aren't many choices if you're looking for a compact option. The starting price of the Zenfone 8z is $629, but both of them cost more than that. The device is slightly cheaper in India than it is in the US.

The compact phone from Asus doesn't compromise on features or specifications. It has a nice build, a great screen, and a good camera. It has all the components that are required for a hit phone. If the Apple rumors are true, it will be hard for it to sell the upcoming iPhone SE 3 since it is late to the party in India.