For anyone looking for an affordable flagship, the Zenfone 8 and Pixel 6 from 2021 are actually worth considering for $599. Here is how they compare.
The Zenfone 8 may be a year old already, but it still has a lot to offer considering its current price of $599, but is it worth buying over the similarly priced Pixel 6? The Zenfone 8 already has a successor in the form of the Zenfone 9, but it is yet to be available for purchase. And while it brings several upgrades, it also costs a bit more, which may put it out of the reach of some. The Pixel 7 is also a couple of months away, and Google already provided an early look at the phone at its I/O event in May 2022.
While a lot of folks may not be aware, an older flagship is a sensible choice when looking for a good smartphone to buy. This is because they pack features not available on many mid-range or premium mid-range smartphones but sell for a similar price, thanks to discounts and sales. And with many flagships being iterative upgrades over their predecessors, it makes sense to save some money by picking up the model from the previous year.
RELATED: OnePlus 10T Vs. Asus Zenfone 9: Which Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 Phone Is Best?
The Zenfone 8 isn't a head-turning device when placed next to the Pixel 6, but it is well-built. The punch hole display has Gorilla Glass Victus, the frame is made from aluminum, and the curved back is a sheet of frosted Gorilla Glass 3. In addition, the phone has an IP68 dust and water resistance rating. Asus sells the phone in two colors — Obsidian Black and Horizon Silver. On the other hand, the Pixel 6 stuns with its camera bar and dual-tone paint job. Available to buy in Sorta Seafoam, Kinda Coral and Stormy Black, the Pixel 6 also has a glass and metal sandwich design. The front is Gorilla Glass Victus, the frame is aluminum, and the back is Gorilla Glass 6. It is also rated IP68 for water and dust resistance.
The selling point of the Zenfone 8 is its compact form factor, which is due to its 5.9-inch AMOLED screen, which has a 120Hz refresh rate and is HDR10+certified. In contrast, the Pixel 6 has a bigger 6.4-inch screen but with a lower 90Hz refresh rate. It is also an AMOLED display with HDR10+, but it has its punch hole at the top center of the screen, whereas the Zenfone 8 has it in the top left corner. The Pixel 6 has Google's Tensor chipset powering it along with 8GB of RAM. There is also the option of 128GB or 256GB of storage. Inside Asus's smartphone is the Snapdragon 888, which is more powerful than the Google Tensor chip. And like Google, Asus has paired the chip with 8GB of RAM and 128GB/256GB of storage. There are two cameras on the back of both phones. The Zenfone 8 has a 64MP f/1.8 primary camera and a 12MP 112-degree ultrawide camera angle that can capture macro shots, while the front-facing camera is a 12MP sensor. The Pixel 6 configuration is different with its 50MP f/1.9 primary camera and 12MP 114-degree ultrawide camera angle. The Pixel also has an 8MP front-facing camera. The Pixel 6 is one of the best camera smartphones in its class and is loaded with exciting camera features such as Magic Eraser. Nevertheless, the Zenfone 8 has some features, albeit few, that Google's phone is missing, such as 8K video recording and the ability to choose the direction of the sound to record so that users can eliminate unwanted sounds. Both phones have dual SIM support, but Asus uses physical SIM slots, while the Pixel 6 has a physical SIM slot and eSIM. The Zenfone 8 also has an audio jack, unlike the Pixel 6. Other features common to both phones are an in-display fingerprint scanner, stereo speakers, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 6E and NFC.
The Zenfone 8 has a 4000mAh battery and supports 30W fast wired charging. The Pixel 6 has a bigger 4614mAh battery with support for 30W wired charging and 21W wireless charging. However, it doesn't come with a charger in the box like the Zenfone 8. The Zenfone 8 launched with Android 11 but has been upgraded to Android 12. Asus promises two years of OS upgrades and three years of security updates for its phone, meaning the Zenfone 8 has one more OS upgrade and two years of security updates. On the other hand, the Pixel 6 launched with Android 12 and will receive three years of OS upgrades and five years of security updates. The two phones are priced at $599 for the base model with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, but the Zenfone 8 goes up to $649 for the 256GB variant while the Pixel 6 costs $699 for the same configuration.
Asus's 2021 flagship offers a lot for its current price, and compared to the Pixel 6, it has a more powerful chip, a higher refresh rate, can record in 8K and comes with a charger in the box. Reviews have also shown the Zenfone 8 has slightly better battery life. On the other hand, the Pixel 6 has the advantage of better cameras overall, more extended software support and wireless charging. So those who want a compact phone will make the right choice with the Zenfone 8, while those who want a capable camera smartphone and care about software support will find the Pixel 6 ticks these boxes.
Next: Why Apple's iPhone 13 mini Is The Best Small Phone You Can Buy
Habeeb enjoys writing about the consumer technology space and has a keen interest in wearables, Android smartphones and tablets, and Chromebooks. When he's not writing, he's catching up on the latest TV shows and movies.