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;

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

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;

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

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

Mediocre battery life; Netflix stuttering; Not exactly attractive;

Asus has found a niche for the Zenfone 8 and I absolutely love it. If you’re after a smaller Android phone with top-tier specs that doesn’t break the bank then this device should tick all the boxes. It’s got a great screen, speaker and performance and is very smartly designed.

Great size for those who find Android phones big, Impressive speed, Lovely screen, Impressive value, If you find most Android phones too big, but aren’t willing to sacrifice performance, this is the phone for you.

Can get hot when gaming, No telephoto camera, No wireless charging, While the battery life is fine, you do get longer endurance with larger Android phones with bigger cells. The lack of any decent zoom skills on the camera is a shame too.

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.

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

No telephoto lens, Middling battery life, No wireless charging

The ZenFone 8 Flip retains the creative motorised camera system, but a lack of features compared to the cheaper, smaller ZenFone 8 make it a harder sell than ever before.

Versatile Flip Camera system, All-screen design, Great performance

No waterproofing, No OIS, No headphone jack, No wireless charging, Heavy and bulky

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...