The ASUS Zenfone 8 Flip is a title that has been in the headlines a lot lately, and it’s for a few good reasons. First of all, the phone sports a stunning design, with a beautiful metal unibody built on the Zenfone’s all-metal design, and a screen that can be flipped to be used as a landscape display. Furthermore, the Flip is equipped with a powerful Snapdragon 845 processor and up to 6 GB of RAM. Last but not least, the phone sports a dual rear camera setup with two 13 MP sensors, as well as a 13 MP selfie camera. What’s more, the Flip is even available in four different colors, including a new metallic blue color that sports a mirror-like finish
After a few years of being a moderate success, the ASUS Zenfone brand has fallen into the depths of disappointment. In most ways, it’s not entirely the brand’s fault. Manufacturers have to cut costs somewhere, and the Zenfone series is not spared in the process. The ZE600KL, launched in 2014, was the original Zenfone, and it was an entry-level device that was by no means a sensation. The ZE601KL in 2015 was supposed to be a step up, and it was indeed a substantial upgrade over its predecessor. However, the phone still had its shortcomings, and chipped away at the users’ patience.
ASUS has been a name synonymous with affordable Android smartphones, selling the Zenfone series and the Zenfone 2 series which were the go-to phones for many in the budget segment. The Zenfone 8 was ASUS’ flagship phone for a while and was a great option in the mid-range segment. With the Zenfone 8, however, ASUS was hit by a price cut due to competition from other rivals, and the Zenfone 8 did not turn out to be mega popular in its own right.
If you remember correctly, there has not been a Zenfone since the Zenfone 5 in Malaysia and that’s because the market dynamic changed drastically with so many fresh players and other Chinese brands dominating the scene. ASUS, the legend they were, fell and left the Malaysian smartphone market. But since the 6 and 7 which was announced in selected countries, it garnered it attention back and there was a glimmer of hope – a second shot. So, the brand unveils the new Zenfone 8 and Flip to Malaysia, in this review we are going to share our final verdict on the ASUS Zenfone 8 Flip and what we think about it.
It has the same design as its predecessor, but it is more appealing to the eye.
In all honesty, the Zenfone 8 Flip isn’t all that different from the Zenfone 6 we saw at Computex 2019 – thanks to ASUS for that. So, when we got our hands on the Zenfone 8 Flip, we weren’t shocked that it was built this way and that it looked the same, but it’s always good to look at something a bit different and providing customers the option to buy something unique – so it did tick some boxes in that regard.
The primary feature of this phone, apart from the overall appearance, is the flip camera, which was originally used with the ASUS Zenfone 6 and has since been enhanced. The motors are much more responsive and snappy, and they can detect a bad drop quickly enough to retract and protect the camera. Finally, you can swing the phone with the camera, which is not something you should do – in fact, no one should do it – but it was one of the tests ASUS performed during the Zenfone 6 launch to demonstrate how durable it is. Because the motor isn’t as stiff as you would assume, if you hold your phone in your hands and move your wrist quickly, the flip camera will almost certainly open.
As a result, they feature a beautiful hard-shell cover with a little lock on top to prevent the camera from accidentally opening. Better still, if you don’t feel comfortable putting your phone in this case, they partnered with RhinoShield to create an armored case with a lock and impact protection, which I’d highly suggest picking up from the shop while you’re there.
Excellent Presentation…
The ASUS Zenfone 8 Flip is the phone for you if you’ve ever desired a phone with no notch and no cutouts for the most immersive experience imaginable. It features a 6.67-inch edge-to-edge display with a teeny-tiny chin on the bottom – and it’s an AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, which isn’t quite as fantastic as the ROG Phone 5, but honestly, 90Hz is good enough and the difference is hard to notice. Finally, underneath the display is a fingerprint sensor that is quick enough to unlock quickly.
Now, for the most part, the display operates like a high quality display should: with vibrant colors, punchy vibrance, and, of course, a good viewing angle – they weren’t joking when they said the Delta-E for color accuracy was less than one. So, if you’re a fan of watching programs or videos on your phone, you’ll like it.
However, there is a problem.
However, throughout our testing, we noticed something about the display that reminded us of the S20 Green Tint problem, which is still visible on this panel. When we conducted our Grey Uniformity Test, we observed some unevenness in the greys with some green hints when it was in the 20% grey level, which is something you wouldn’t see on a day-to-day basis. If we look at the DSE score, it’s less than 20%, so it doesn’t have much of an impact, but for the most part, when it comes to viewing information, the display uniformity is enough for daily activities. We’re not sure whether this is a hardware problem or something that might be fixed with an update, like the S21, but we had to inform you.
Exceptional Results
This phone isn’t a slouch in terms of performance. With Qualcomm’s newest Snapdragon 888 processor and 8GB of RAM. Given that it’s a flagship CPU for 2024, I don’t think there’ll be any problems with it not putting up a nice show. It’s quick, as it should be, and it performs well at all hours of the day and night. If you want to play games on the phone, it does become hot – and honestly, any flagship CPU at this point with such horsepower crammed under the hood is going to produce heat. Something for which you should be prepared. The combination of speed and a simple, clean UI that uses very little resources and has no bloatware is why this phone can get you through any scenario.
Strangely, the Game Genie from the ROG Phone 5 appears on the Zenfone 8 Flip, but none of the other triggers are there.
The Camera is the star of the show.
To be honest, performance isn’t even the actual thing – it’s all about the camera. There are no gimmicky sensors in the phone’s triple camera setup:
- Sony IMX686 Sensor Primary 64MP Wide-Angle Camera
- Sony IMX363 Ultrawide-Camera Sensor (Secondary) 12MP
- Sensor: 8MP Telephoto
The flip camera has quite a few tricks in its bag. In panoramic mode, you don’t even need to move your phone since the flip camera’s 7-step panorama tilt will provide a stable picture. Because there is no front-facing camera, it also functions as a front-facing camera – so if you want to make a vlogging video, both of the high-quality Sony sensors are at your disposal to get you through whatever shot you want to do.
ASUS has gone a long way in terms of color reproduction and image quality, thanks to the new software it employs, it seems. The pictures seem clear and sharp straight away. Zooming in, you may notice some over sharpening and noise in darker areas, which is a bit bothersome, but it’s fine in low light. The intricacies are wonderful to look at in broad daylight. It does have a subdued appearance at times. But, personally, I don’t mind since it makes it simpler for people to apply their own filters to make it seem more “instaworthy.” I’m pleased with how the photos turned out for the most part. Play about with the parameters and you’ll be able to obtain some excellent pictures.
Unfortunately, there is no headphone jack.
Unlike the Zenfone 8, which has a headphone port, customers who choose the Zenfone 8 Flip will be disappointed to learn that it does not have one. As a result, you’ll have to depend on the single USB-C connection for both wired in-ear listening and charging. Better better, while you’re at it, pick up a pair of headphones.
Oh, and it has a stereo effect with one downward firing speaker and one at the earpiece, which isn’t as excellent as the ROG Phone 5, but it’s still decent. However, there is one problem with ASUS phones: when the volume rocker is set to 50%, it sounds like the volume is set to 10%. If you’re reading this, ASUS, please fix it.
However, the battery is enough.
In terms of battery life, this phone is a tank. It has a 5000mAh battery with Quick Charge 4.0 and PD Charging capabilities. So, you won’t have to worry about running out of power during the day, and even if you do, don’t worry, since the Quick Charging capabilities along with the supplied adapter will recharge the battery in only a few minutes.
Conclusion
The ASUS Zenfone 8 Flip has one flaw: it’s a fairly plain smartphone, but not in a bad manner. It’s simply that there’s nothing interesting to write about since it looks and functions very identically to the previous two Zenfones that included the flip camera. But what excites me is that now Malaysians may sample what the Zenfone 8 Flip has to offer – it only comes in one version, priced at RM 2999 – after all, it is ASUS’ last chance to redeem itself in the Malaysian market if they can win the hearts of consumers.
So, if you are bored of the traditional candy bar phone with a protruding bump, then flip it up with the ASUS Zenfone 8 Flip. Afterall, it’s a pretty phone with the flagship performance.
We’d like to thank ASUS Malaysia for giving us the Zenfone 8 Flip to evaluate and create this content.
Last year, we were all shocked by the Zenfone 2.0’s disastrous launch, and the relatively small number of consumers who bought them. One of the reasons for the poor sales last year was the price. The Zenfone 2.0 was one of the most expensive smartphones in its class, and was no way worth the amount of money people paid for it. This year, ASUS tries to make amends with the Zenfone 8.. Read more about asus zenfone 8 flip specs and let us know what you think.
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