If no sdcard is available then the storage options should be increased, 256gb isn't enough. The galaxy s10 had a 1tb option and it still had an sdcard.
I've been using a Sony XZ1 Compact for the past three years, without much of an issue. 256gb would be plenty for me, this ASUS phone is appealing. Just because 256gb is not enough for you it doesn't mean it's the case for everyone.
A successful product is not a product that SOMEONE will like. It's a product that many people will like.
Asus is pretty good at making niche phones that almost no one buys. So the question is: when (if ever) they start to focus on smartphone business as something they want to have an important role in (as in laptops). For now they're merely notifying their existence.
Yeah, wife also uses S10e. Thought about this phone but she loves wireless charging. There is also the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G, but also no wireless charging (and no OIS on that one). Sony's compact phones also lack wireless charging, despite costing twice as much. There is only the S20-S21, but those phones have some utterly horrible battery life and performance (minus the Snapdragon models). So I guess, the S10e will have to serve a few more years.
Silliest comment of the year. If not the decade. Yes, Samsung made 512GB edition of the Note 9. Released 1TB edition of the S10+. And? It keeps releasing the S20 Ultra, S20, S20+, S21 Ultra, S21 and other phones with a measly 128gb storage ONLY. And there is NO dedicated microSD slot (like on the Zenfone 6-7-8), just a hybrid SIM slot.
If anything, Samsung is pathetic. Yes, I am salty about their decisions because a new S21 costs an insane amount of cash and it has no storage?
Uh, that plastic gasket piece between the metal frame and display is essential for durability. It is actually something you are supposed to have. Removing it is the cheap move, not the more expensive move.
Thanks Andrei! I don't like that they dropped the microSD slot; there are fewer and fewer phones in the upper middle and flagship range that have those. Regarding the battery life, maybe ASUS could come out with a Zenphone 8 Lite with everything like this (plus mSD slot, please) , but with the SD 780; plenty fast, much easier on power draw
I agree 100%. They can't compete when it comes to Software Updates, or Camera Quality, or Customer Service. So there's no point for them to compete in the Luxury/Flagship category.
They should've just made ONE variant: QSD 780, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage, and decreased the price by $100 to compete in the High-end category instead. Don't make different RAM/Storage options, or different 3G/4G/5G radio variants... that's a waste of money.
Their winning strategy against those cheaper Chinese competitors? Just do a clean Stock AndroidOS, have unlockable bootloader, and include the basic features. Basic features are: 3.5mm Jack, microSD, IrDa. Also great features are Front-firing stereo loudspeakers, Flat Display, IP68 protection or User Removable Battery. I know I'd buy it, even with the QSD 780G, as that is actually a Flagship-level Processor, unlike QSD 845 or QSD 768G (or lower).
So I've seen the picture of the 4000mAh battery on 2 different sites, it looks like its easily replaceable once the back cover is off, Andrei do you have any info on how easy it is to remove the back cover?
I actually quite like this one. Not gaudy, not cringy, not exaggerated, just an all-around solid and compact smartphone. The camera bump does look misaligned, and the chrome ring around the selfie cam is just one of the dumbest things I've ever seen; but otherwise, if I needed to daily carry a SD 888, this would be the phone I'd buy.
No 3.5mm jack on the Flip and no SD slot on the both phones, bonus is get a hole in cheaper version. Well this is going to be a skip. Sony Xperia 1 Mark III is still the king on the smartphones right now, king in price also unfortunately.
SD slot is not about storage, it's about having things right near your fingertips in the case of any emergency - Phone cracked / Phone busted up need to send to factory / Immediately need to get data to a PC / any private data. That is not possible with any solution, Cloud is not a solution at all as it needs constant Internet access and background data usage PLUS it's going to a blackbox security system putting all your data behind a ToS and Privacy Corporate Policy.
You'll never get what you need by relying on a private corporation - if you want actual utility, you'll need a government subsidy or non-profit or something. The population is never going to "learn to make the right choices", that day is never coming.
What's needed is several different models of fully-featured Linux phones. Won't happen.
I do get it inefficient and I don't use it other than with dex but it something that's nice I was at a colts game and there was a wireless charging pad available for everyone and it happened to be i was without a charger and at about 20%, its just a convenience like a micro-sd or a headphone jack.
I think the drawbacks are overstated. I used wireless charging nightly on my s8 and the battery is still fine all these years later. The software, otoh...
I'm really liking this thing by the looks of it. IP rating + headphone jack + compact size + 4000mAh battery is a winning combination. Hope they work on the camera though, I'm sure the mediocrity lies in the software rather than the hardware.
Can't stand notches or holepunch displays (i.e. I only want displays that are symmetrical on 2 axes - my Pixel 3a tbh still annoys me with rounded corners. Talking of the 3a, it's as big as I want to go. Guess I'll be holding onto it for the next 10 years at this rate. Otherwise this could be a contender for a replacement but I just can't stand that holepunch.
I hated them at first, but got used to a notch after 2.5 years of owning a phone with one. Now have one with a punch-hole, I'd say it's neither an improvement nor a step back. I'd still prefer a top and bottom bezel and better front-facing speakers, but it's not the end of the world. Might be worth contemplating when it becomes time for a replacement.
No. A 68-69mm wide phone is not compact. I have tried Xperia X Performance and Galaxy S10e. They don't fit in single hand. Now Zenfone 8 and Xperia 5 series are all trying to pretend they are compact but they aren't. The only option remaining is to spend 700USD to import an Aquos R2 Compact with Snapdragon 845 from Japan, or buy the Xperia XZ1 Compact with Snapdragon 835, for someone in Android ecosystem.
Both those devices aren't even in sniffing distance of 3000mAh battery capacity. Good luck with your battery life. At least the Sony uses 720p resolution which should help battery life, but the Aquos should be really mediocre with that high end chipset, high res display and relatively tiny battery size @2500mAh. I agree that phones could be still smaller but now we're talking about a fraction of an already small percentage of consumer base overall who want small phones.
xperia xz1 compact has best battery life than most flagship, better than many 4000 and 5000mah phones, usually i get 10+ hrs of on screen time. sd 835 was efficient and 720p help a lot.
Agreed. Smartphones do keep getting bigger, but people's hands do not.
It is also not "the smallest flagship by far". It is about the same size as the iPhone 12/Pro, and weight-wise in-between. And if we compare to flagships from last spring, we got the Samsung Galaxy S20.
as an s10e user, the s10e without a case does very well fit in a single hand thank you very much especially when used with the one-handed feature or just on one ui, in general, that's what one UI was made for to be better on bigger phone and make them easier to use even though s10e is compact it is a very decent phone.
Anybody know a good 4g phone that's like the size of a Blackberry Bold. I like having it in my pocket and can't find anything that is that size and still has email, web etc.
Bold: 115 x 66 x 10.5 mm (4.53 x 2.60 x 0.41 in) XZ1 Compact: 129 x 65 x 9.3 mm (5.08 x 2.56 x 0.37 in) XZ2 Compact: 135 x 65 x 12.1 mm (5.31 x 2.56 x 0.48 in)
Those are the closest you'll find outside of something pitifully small and unusable--which is pretty much every phone in the < 4" size.
The XZ2 Compact - international version - can handle dual SIM cards or SIM + SD.
The new QSD 888 isn't that much faster than the QSD 865, due to throttling. And the QSD 865 itself isn't that much faster than the QSD 855. Basically having QSD 855 in 2022 is still considered luxury/"flagship" level, unless you're in the iOS Market. With that said, the new "high-end" level chipset, QSD 780, is around the QSD 860 level. So that's a bargain. Maybe that's what ASUS should've gone for instead.
After a year (or two), we should see a better, newer and optimised AndroidOS version, that is running on the next platform ARMv9. So I expect a good performance leap up from the QSD 888+, similar (probably better) to the performance leap from the Early QSD 845 to the Later QSD 855+.
Looks cool phone, the kind I would use, but, has 2 drawbacks: 1. no sd card slot. Its not the problem that 128 GB is not enough for me, its just having the possibility to store data outside internal memory and access it fast without plugging the phone in a PC. 2. No FM radio in Europe. I'm tired of this, honestly. I look forward when Europe will force by law, like US, phone manufacturers to include FM radio. I really enjoy FM radio and even if I have unlimited plan, FM radio sounds way cooler and it feels more real-time than internet radio with apps with lots of ads and bloatware. Radio on Nokia 5 sounds really cool. I waited for Sony 5 III, which could have been my next phone, but no radio. Sony 10 III has no gyro, and I look at the stars with the phone through stellarium.
And the whole issue is that there isn't a single phone on the market that has: SDCARD, FM RADIO, dualsim, GYRO, Snapdragon CPU, IP rating, 3.5mm, small form-factor at the same time. So, I will stick to my Nokia 5 and Sony XZ1 compact combination for a few more years. I really hate this marketing crap the companies are pulling for forcing people buy something they aren't 100% satisfied with at the moment so they will feel incentivized when a new phone with something they wanted appears, but misses something else they had before.
Totally agree with the second part. No good compact phone on the market. Purchased xperia 5ii but returned it as it was too long. Went for asus zf8, but it has so poor battery life compared to xpetia 5ii. Sad. Reall no good phones available after sony ditched the compact series.
Hi Andrei, Wouldn't a 870 or even 865 make more sense in a compact phone like this which isn't able to use 888 to its fullest? They could even shave off a bit from price and the battery would also last longer
Strange, other reviews praise the camera for the price, but I also looked at their photos and more willing to go with your assumption. Ultrawide especially was lacking in fine detail even in broad daylight, and there's too much sharpening going in postprocessing. The main camera looks decent, but got to be expecting better than IMX686, however the front camera is miles better than anything in that price range.
This is pretty much the size and price I'd want for my next phone. My 2018 Galaxy A8 is a fantastic device and still getting quarterly security updates. I'd like to stick with Samsung for their Good Lock and One Hand Operation apps but they don't makes any good phones under 6" anymore. The S21 is a fantastic device but slightly bigger and slightly more expensive than I'd like.
They're finally paying attention!! Thank you.. However I'm about to be in the "enormous phone" crowd, sadly, because I'm getting a Galaxy A52 for free from work, and it was that, or an iPhone SE.
Thank you for the review, especially in respect to the camera section. I was not liking the dynamic range on the sample photos but I thought I must be wrong because of all the praising words, however, now I am sure that DR is not particularly good on the phone indeed. Shame, I really liked the device but that camera is not acceptable.
Ok. Phones have all been the same, for like 10 years now.
What I want is: portless/waterproof, in-screen camera, with front speakers. 512GB storage. Case with a kickstand. This should allllll be standard. There is no reason to have leaks, bezels, or run out of space, or need to cup your hand in order to hear stuff. That is a mini-TV/computer I can take with me everywhere. Make them in various sizes, 5" (nexus 5) all the way up to about 7.2" like a Huawei Mate.
This phone has just launched in India renamed as '8Z'. The phone suits my budget and me perfectly. There's just one thing I need to know: If the stock camera app can shoot RAW photos from both the rear cameras? And also if third-party camera apps (like OpenCamera) atleast access the ultrawide camera (and shoot photo in RAW)? If this works, I'll definitely go with the phone. It'll be great if someone can confirm this. Please do respond.
Currently using Zenfone 8 (16gb RAM/256gb) From what i read and tested, auto doesn't turn on 120hz refresh rate. 120hz active if you put the phone on 'high performance' > system modes. I think default is 'dynamic'. You can tweak each mode (by only a bit) except 'dynamic'. Since Zenfone 8 also comes with 'fps display' function and also Game Genie - which can show stuff like temp, fps, etc - no matter with 120hz set, game settings maxed, fps is pretty much at 90 but it's a different story when 'high performance' mode is used. (And of course, without a doubt, any phone running on SD888 with high settings will heat up)
::Just a phone enthusiast with no real knowledge of how my phone works::
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shabby - Wednesday, May 12, 2021 - link
If no sdcard is available then the storage options should be increased, 256gb isn't enough.The galaxy s10 had a 1tb option and it still had an sdcard.
Boopop - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
I've been using a Sony XZ1 Compact for the past three years, without much of an issue. 256gb would be plenty for me, this ASUS phone is appealing. Just because 256gb is not enough for you it doesn't mean it's the case for everyone.Boopop - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
(which only has 32GB of storage, without an SD card).shabby - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
Some people just don't use their phones to their full capabilities 🤷🏼♂️I have 55gb of apps, 30gb of photos and 90gb of videos.
hemedans - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
i have xz1 compact too, and it does have sd card, where did you get yours without sd card?nico_mach - Wednesday, May 19, 2021 - link
If you never install an SD card, then it doesn't have an SD card.;-)
drajitshnew - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
I already have have 100+GB. And I don't take 4k videos because of storage anxietyBedfordTim - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
It is all about the trade offs at the price, but it is certainly a major limitation in terms of what you can do with the phone.notb - Tuesday, May 25, 2021 - link
Good thesis, bad logic.A successful product is not a product that SOMEONE will like. It's a product that many people will like.
Asus is pretty good at making niche phones that almost no one buys. So the question is: when (if ever) they start to focus on smartphone business as something they want to have an important role in (as in laptops). For now they're merely notifying their existence.
Linustechtips12#6900xt - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
as a galaxy s10e user this looks like a great upgrade, other than the no wireless charging bt otherwise very very compelling for me honestlyitsjustaprankbro - Wednesday, May 19, 2021 - link
Yeah, wife also uses S10e. Thought about this phone but she loves wireless charging. There is also the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G, but also no wireless charging (and no OIS on that one). Sony's compact phones also lack wireless charging, despite costing twice as much. There is only the S20-S21, but those phones have some utterly horrible battery life and performance (minus the Snapdragon models). So I guess, the S10e will have to serve a few more years.BedfordTim - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
It was one of the many annoyances of my Nokia 9. I can't imagine going back to 128GB.yetanotherhuman - Saturday, May 15, 2021 - link
I use a phone with 64GB and don't give a shit. I guess we're all different.itsjustaprankbro - Wednesday, May 19, 2021 - link
Silliest comment of the year. If not the decade. Yes, Samsung made 512GB edition of the Note 9. Released 1TB edition of the S10+. And? It keeps releasing the S20 Ultra, S20, S20+, S21 Ultra, S21 and other phones with a measly 128gb storage ONLY. And there is NO dedicated microSD slot (like on the Zenfone 6-7-8), just a hybrid SIM slot.If anything, Samsung is pathetic. Yes, I am salty about their decisions because a new S21 costs an insane amount of cash and it has no storage?
quiksilvr - Wednesday, May 12, 2021 - link
Uh, that plastic gasket piece between the metal frame and display is essential for durability. It is actually something you are supposed to have. Removing it is the cheap move, not the more expensive move.Wereweeb - Wednesday, May 12, 2021 - link
Tell that to people who think a smartphone's function is to look pretty in your hand.eastcoast_pete - Wednesday, May 12, 2021 - link
The problem with your statement is that it's true and thus makes sense 🙂; unfortunately, many people prefer looks over function.arashi - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
All iPhones are cheap phones to Andrei maybe. ;)eastcoast_pete - Wednesday, May 12, 2021 - link
Thanks Andrei! I don't like that they dropped the microSD slot; there are fewer and fewer phones in the upper middle and flagship range that have those. Regarding the battery life, maybe ASUS could come out with a Zenphone 8 Lite with everything like this (plus mSD slot, please) , but with the SD 780; plenty fast, much easier on power drawKangal - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
I agree 100%.They can't compete when it comes to Software Updates, or Camera Quality, or Customer Service. So there's no point for them to compete in the Luxury/Flagship category.
They should've just made ONE variant: QSD 780, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage, and decreased the price by $100 to compete in the High-end category instead. Don't make different RAM/Storage options, or different 3G/4G/5G radio variants... that's a waste of money.
Their winning strategy against those cheaper Chinese competitors? Just do a clean Stock AndroidOS, have unlockable bootloader, and include the basic features. Basic features are: 3.5mm Jack, microSD, IrDa. Also great features are Front-firing stereo loudspeakers, Flat Display, IP68 protection or User Removable Battery. I know I'd buy it, even with the QSD 780G, as that is actually a Flagship-level Processor, unlike QSD 845 or QSD 768G (or lower).
drajitshnew - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
I do not understand -- they should be adding micro SD express.thejaredhuang - Wednesday, May 12, 2021 - link
So I've seen the picture of the 4000mAh battery on 2 different sites, it looks like its easily replaceable once the back cover is off, Andrei do you have any info on how easy it is to remove the back cover?Unashamed_unoriginal_username_x86 - Wednesday, May 12, 2021 - link
The paragraph on the last page starting with "As we always say" is duplicatedWereweeb - Wednesday, May 12, 2021 - link
I actually quite like this one. Not gaudy, not cringy, not exaggerated, just an all-around solid and compact smartphone. The camera bump does look misaligned, and the chrome ring around the selfie cam is just one of the dumbest things I've ever seen; but otherwise, if I needed to daily carry a SD 888, this would be the phone I'd buy.Silver5urfer - Wednesday, May 12, 2021 - link
No 3.5mm jack on the Flip and no SD slot on the both phones, bonus is get a hole in cheaper version. Well this is going to be a skip. Sony Xperia 1 Mark III is still the king on the smartphones right now, king in price also unfortunately.SD slot is not about storage, it's about having things right near your fingertips in the case of any emergency - Phone cracked / Phone busted up need to send to factory / Immediately need to get data to a PC / any private data. That is not possible with any solution, Cloud is not a solution at all as it needs constant Internet access and background data usage PLUS it's going to a blackbox security system putting all your data behind a ToS and Privacy Corporate Policy.
flyingpants265 - Wednesday, May 12, 2021 - link
You'll never get what you need by relying on a private corporation - if you want actual utility, you'll need a government subsidy or non-profit or something. The population is never going to "learn to make the right choices", that day is never coming.What's needed is several different models of fully-featured Linux phones. Won't happen.
ozon - Friday, May 14, 2021 - link
There's microSD slot on the 8 Flip. Saw it listed on the Asus page.nicolaim - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
No wireless charging: lame.JfromImaginstuff - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
You do realise that wireless charging is still very inefficientads295 - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
I think there should be a law forcing it to be named "wired wireless charging" until we can transmit at least 5W of power over a distance of 1 metre.Linustechtips12#6900xt - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
I do get it inefficient and I don't use it other than with dex but it something that's nice I was at a colts game and there was a wireless charging pad available for everyone and it happened to be i was without a charger and at about 20%, its just a convenience like a micro-sd or a headphone jack.nico_mach - Wednesday, May 19, 2021 - link
I think the drawbacks are overstated. I used wireless charging nightly on my s8 and the battery is still fine all these years later. The software, otoh...ads295 - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
I'm really liking this thing by the looks of it. IP rating + headphone jack + compact size + 4000mAh battery is a winning combination. Hope they work on the camera though, I'm sure the mediocrity lies in the software rather than the hardware.skydiverian - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
Can't stand notches or holepunch displays (i.e. I only want displays that are symmetrical on 2 axes - my Pixel 3a tbh still annoys me with rounded corners. Talking of the 3a, it's as big as I want to go. Guess I'll be holding onto it for the next 10 years at this rate. Otherwise this could be a contender for a replacement but I just can't stand that holepunch.Spunjji - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
I hated them at first, but got used to a notch after 2.5 years of owning a phone with one. Now have one with a punch-hole, I'd say it's neither an improvement nor a step back. I'd still prefer a top and bottom bezel and better front-facing speakers, but it's not the end of the world. Might be worth contemplating when it becomes time for a replacement.inperfectdarkness - Sunday, May 16, 2021 - link
This is why I love the Xperia XZ2 Compact. Bezels. The 18x9 form factor just looks better and feels better.c933103 - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
No. A 68-69mm wide phone is not compact. I have tried Xperia X Performance and Galaxy S10e. They don't fit in single hand. Now Zenfone 8 and Xperia 5 series are all trying to pretend they are compact but they aren't. The only option remaining is to spend 700USD to import an Aquos R2 Compact with Snapdragon 845 from Japan, or buy the Xperia XZ1 Compact with Snapdragon 835, for someone in Android ecosystem.ads295 - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
Both those devices aren't even in sniffing distance of 3000mAh battery capacity. Good luck with your battery life. At least the Sony uses 720p resolution which should help battery life, but the Aquos should be really mediocre with that high end chipset, high res display and relatively tiny battery size @2500mAh. I agree that phones could be still smaller but now we're talking about a fraction of an already small percentage of consumer base overall who want small phones.hemedans - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
xperia xz1 compact has best battery life than most flagship, better than many 4000 and 5000mah phones, usually i get 10+ hrs of on screen time. sd 835 was efficient and 720p help a lot.inperfectdarkness - Sunday, May 16, 2021 - link
2700mAh for xz1 compact. 2870mAh for xz2 compact.Tams80 - Tuesday, May 18, 2021 - link
The XZ2 isn't really compact.Tams80 - Tuesday, May 18, 2021 - link
And?You do realise there are people happy to make that trade-off, even if they are only a small group? And the XZ1 has pretty decent battery life.
The market is absolutely saturated with large phones, which are popular. That doesn't mean only large phones should exist.
People like you really grate my gears.
Findecanor - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
Agreed. Smartphones do keep getting bigger, but people's hands do not.It is also not "the smallest flagship by far". It is about the same size as the iPhone 12/Pro, and weight-wise in-between. And if we compare to flagships from last spring, we got the Samsung Galaxy S20.
haukionkannel - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
True… only iPhone 12 mini seems to be allmost compact and no Android versions have been around for years…Linustechtips12#6900xt - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
12 mini or se 2020Linustechtips12#6900xt - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
as an s10e user, the s10e without a case does very well fit in a single hand thank you very much especially when used with the one-handed feature or just on one ui, in general, that's what one UI was made for to be better on bigger phone and make them easier to use even though s10e is compact it is a very decent phone.inperfectdarkness - Sunday, May 16, 2021 - link
XZ2 Compact > XZ1 Compact, imho. Damn shame Sony doesn't care diddly squat to make another 5" phone. Everything is 6" now.prophet001 - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
Anybody know a good 4g phone that's like the size of a Blackberry Bold. I like having it in my pocket and can't find anything that is that size and still has email, web etc.Thanks!
hemedans - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
sony xperia xz1 compact-height
bold 115cm
xz1c 128cm
-width
bold 66cm
xz1c 65cm
-depth
bold 10.5cm
xz1c 9.3 cm
xz1c will be narrow and compact but a little bit taller.
inperfectdarkness - Sunday, May 16, 2021 - link
Bold: 115 x 66 x 10.5 mm (4.53 x 2.60 x 0.41 in)XZ1 Compact: 129 x 65 x 9.3 mm (5.08 x 2.56 x 0.37 in)
XZ2 Compact: 135 x 65 x 12.1 mm (5.31 x 2.56 x 0.48 in)
Those are the closest you'll find outside of something pitifully small and unusable--which is pretty much every phone in the < 4" size.
The XZ2 Compact - international version - can handle dual SIM cards or SIM + SD.
MrGutts - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
So let me get this right, the smaller version has a headphone jack but not the much larger unit?arashi - Sunday, May 16, 2021 - link
The larger unit is literally the old version with updated SoC. Laziest upgrade.Kangal - Tuesday, May 18, 2021 - link
The new QSD 888 isn't that much faster than the QSD 865, due to throttling. And the QSD 865 itself isn't that much faster than the QSD 855. Basically having QSD 855 in 2022 is still considered luxury/"flagship" level, unless you're in the iOS Market. With that said, the new "high-end" level chipset, QSD 780, is around the QSD 860 level. So that's a bargain. Maybe that's what ASUS should've gone for instead.After a year (or two), we should see a better, newer and optimised AndroidOS version, that is running on the next platform ARMv9. So I expect a good performance leap up from the QSD 888+, similar (probably better) to the performance leap from the Early QSD 845 to the Later QSD 855+.
XMight - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
Looks cool phone, the kind I would use, but, has 2 drawbacks:1. no sd card slot. Its not the problem that 128 GB is not enough for me, its just having the possibility to store data outside internal memory and access it fast without plugging the phone in a PC.
2. No FM radio in Europe. I'm tired of this, honestly. I look forward when Europe will force by law, like US, phone manufacturers to include FM radio. I really enjoy FM radio and even if I have unlimited plan, FM radio sounds way cooler and it feels more real-time than internet radio with apps with lots of ads and bloatware. Radio on Nokia 5 sounds really cool. I waited for Sony 5 III, which could have been my next phone, but no radio. Sony 10 III has no gyro, and I look at the stars with the phone through stellarium.
And the whole issue is that there isn't a single phone on the market that has: SDCARD, FM RADIO, dualsim, GYRO, Snapdragon CPU, IP rating, 3.5mm, small form-factor at the same time. So, I will stick to my Nokia 5 and Sony XZ1 compact combination for a few more years. I really hate this marketing crap the companies are pulling for forcing people buy something they aren't 100% satisfied with at the moment so they will feel incentivized when a new phone with something they wanted appears, but misses something else they had before.
msildoja - Monday, July 5, 2021 - link
Totally agree with the second part. No good compact phone on the market. Purchased xperia 5ii but returned it as it was too long. Went for asus zf8, but it has so poor battery life compared to xpetia 5ii. Sad. Reall no good phones available after sony ditched the compact series.yetanotherhuman - Friday, July 9, 2021 - link
Yeah, it's incredibly tiring. I recently got a new phone, but it was too big. I left it in the box and carried on using my 4 year old phone instead.patel21 - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
Hi Andrei,Wouldn't a 870 or even 865 make more sense in a compact phone like this which isn't able to use 888 to its fullest?
They could even shave off a bit from price and the battery would also last longer
sheh - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link
Roughly the same size as the S10 and S20.A good start, but shaving extra 2-3mm width and 10mm height would be welcome.
tkSteveFOX - Friday, May 14, 2021 - link
Strange, other reviews praise the camera for the price, but I also looked at their photos and more willing to go with your assumption.Ultrawide especially was lacking in fine detail even in broad daylight, and there's too much sharpening going in postprocessing. The main camera looks decent, but got to be expecting better than IMX686, however the front camera is miles better than anything in that price range.
SolarBear28 - Friday, May 14, 2021 - link
This is pretty much the size and price I'd want for my next phone. My 2018 Galaxy A8 is a fantastic device and still getting quarterly security updates. I'd like to stick with Samsung for their Good Lock and One Hand Operation apps but they don't makes any good phones under 6" anymore. The S21 is a fantastic device but slightly bigger and slightly more expensive than I'd like.yetanotherhuman - Saturday, May 15, 2021 - link
They're finally paying attention!! Thank you.. However I'm about to be in the "enormous phone" crowd, sadly, because I'm getting a Galaxy A52 for free from work, and it was that, or an iPhone SE.inperfectdarkness - Sunday, May 16, 2021 - link
When did 5.9" become small?I'll keep my XZ2 Compact, thanks.
ithehappy - Wednesday, May 19, 2021 - link
Thank you for the review, especially in respect to the camera section. I was not liking the dynamic range on the sample photos but I thought I must be wrong because of all the praising words, however, now I am sure that DR is not particularly good on the phone indeed. Shame, I really liked the device but that camera is not acceptable.flyingpants265 - Saturday, June 12, 2021 - link
Ok. Phones have all been the same, for like 10 years now.What I want is: portless/waterproof, in-screen camera, with front speakers. 512GB storage. Case with a kickstand. This should allllll be standard. There is no reason to have leaks, bezels, or run out of space, or need to cup your hand in order to hear stuff. That is a mini-TV/computer I can take with me everywhere. Make them in various sizes, 5" (nexus 5) all the way up to about 7.2" like a Huawei Mate.
raajesh.k - Friday, March 18, 2022 - link
This phone has just launched in India renamed as '8Z'. The phone suits my budget and me perfectly. There's just one thing I need to know: If the stock camera app can shoot RAW photos from both the rear cameras? And also if third-party camera apps (like OpenCamera) atleast access the ultrawide camera (and shoot photo in RAW)? If this works, I'll definitely go with the phone. It'll be great if someone can confirm this.Please do respond.
Insomnicrap - Sunday, July 17, 2022 - link
Currently using Zenfone 8 (16gb RAM/256gb)From what i read and tested, auto doesn't turn on 120hz refresh rate. 120hz active if you put the phone on 'high performance' > system modes. I think default is 'dynamic'. You can tweak each mode (by only a bit) except 'dynamic'.
Since Zenfone 8 also comes with 'fps display' function and also Game Genie - which can show stuff like temp, fps, etc - no matter with 120hz set, game settings maxed, fps is pretty much at 90 but it's a different story when 'high performance' mode is used.
(And of course, without a doubt, any phone running on SD888 with high settings will heat up)
::Just a phone enthusiast with no real knowledge of how my phone works::