Back From the Shadows: Is the Asus 8z a Worthy Comeback Kid?
Asus has been conspicuously absent from the Indian smartphone market for quite some time, focusing solely on its ROG gaming phone lineup. However, the company is making a return with the Asus 8z, a phone that first emerged in 2021 under the name ZenFone 8. While the 8z boasts impressive specs and a compelling design, it’s arriving in an already oversaturated market, facing stiff competition from established players. Is this a triumphant return for Asus, or is the 8z a bit late to the party?
A Compact, Premium Design with a Focus on Feel
The Asus 8z stands out by embracing the often overlooked virtue of compactness. In a world of gigantic smartphones, the 8z’s 5.9-inch display is a breath of fresh air for those seeking a device that’s comfortable to hold and easy to use with one hand. This is all achieved without sacrificing build quality. The 8z features a frosted glass back, metal frame and curved edges that feel premium to the touch. A subtle blue power button adds a touch of contrast to the otherwise monochromatic Obsidian Black color scheme, giving the phone a clean, understated aesthetic.
Features that Make a Difference
The 8z doesn’t skimp on important features. It boasts IP68 water and dust resistance and includes an unexpected but welcome addition – a 3.5mm headphone jack, a feature that’s becoming increasingly rare in flagship phones. The notification LED at the bottom of the frame offers a convenient visual cue for incoming notifications and charging status, adding to the overall user-friendliness.
Powerful Performance with a Slight Catch
Under the hood, the Asus 8z packs a punch with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, a powerful chipset that was the flagship offering in 2021. Despite being a generation behind the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the 888 still delivers smooth performance for everyday tasks, gaming, and demanding applications. The 120Hz refresh rate display enhances the user experience by providing incredibly smooth scrolling and a responsive interface.
Benchmarks and Gaming Prowess
Benchmarks reveal a slight performance drop compared to newer flagship phones, but the 8z still pulls its weight, scoring highly in AnTuTu and Geekbench 5. The capable GPU handles graphics-intensive games like BGMI with ease, although pushing the graphics settings to the maximum does result in some heat generation and battery drain.
Battery Life: A Trade-off for Compactness
The 8z’s compact design does come with a trade-off: a relatively small 4,000mAh battery. While the phone can comfortably last a full day with moderate usage, heavy users may need to charge it around the end of the day. While the 30W fast charging is efficient and gets you back in the game relatively quickly, the lack of wireless charging is a noticeable omission.
Dual Cameras: Versatile but with Room for Improvement
The Asus 8z takes a different approach to photography by featuring only two rear cameras. The primary 64-megapixel Sony IMX686 sensor with OIS captures sharp and detailed images with excellent dynamic range and faithful color reproduction. The 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera with its 113-degree field of view provides a wider perspective, making it perfect for capturing scenic landscapes or group shots. The ultra-wide camera also doubles as a macro camera, adding to its versatility.
Daylight Delight, Low-Light Challenges
Daylight photos taken with the 8z are impressive, showcasing excellent sharpness, good dynamic range, and accurate color representation. The ultra-wide camera, while not as sharp as the main camera, delivers good results for a secondary camera. However, low-light performance falls short compared to some competitors. While the "Night shooting" mode helps, it produces unnatural halos around light sources, and the detail remains lacking.
Software: ZenUI with a Stock Android Feel
The Asus 8z comes equipped with ZenUI, a custom skin on top of Android 12. ZenUI offers a user-friendly experience that is remarkably close to stock Android. It allows for personalization with customizable icon shapes, font styles, and color accents. Features like Privacy Indicators and a comprehensive dark mode enhance the user experience and provide additional control. It’s worth noting that the 8z shipped with a somewhat dated December 2021 security patch, which could be a cause for concern.
Conclusion: A Solid Offering with Room for Growth
The Asus 8z undeniably offers excellent performance, premium design, and a compelling compact form factor. It appeals to users who demand a high-quality smartphone but are tired of increasingly larger devices. However, the absence of wireless charging and the somewhat underwhelming camera performance in low-light conditions put it at a disadvantage against more well-rounded competitors.
Who is the Asus 8z For?
The 8z is a fantastic option for users seeking:
- A premium, compact flagship experience.
- Exceptional performance for everyday tasks and gaming.
- A phone comfortable for one-handed use.
What to Consider:
- Battery life limitations. If you are a heavy phone user, frequent charging will be necessary.
- Missing wireless charging. This feature is increasingly common in premium phones.
- Competition: The 8z faces stiff competition from other compact flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S22, or from the iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 13 Mini, which offer a distinct user experience and software ecosystem.
Overall, the Asus 8z is a solid offering with a unique niche. While it isn’t flawless, it presents a compelling alternative for those seeking a premium, compact phone. Its value proposition will depend on how much emphasis you place on battery life, the latest generation hardware, and camera performance in low-light conditions.
