Phone Comparisons: Google Pixel 6 vs ASUS ZenFone 8

This time around we’re comparing some of the best devices from Google and ASUS. We’ll compare the Google Pixel 6 vs ASUS ZenFone 8. The Pixel 6 Pro is technically Google’s most powerful handset, while the ZenFone 8 Flip is also out there, but the regular ZenFone 8 has been positioned as the flagship offering, kind of. That being said, the Pixel 6 and ZenFone 8 are also the smaller flagship alternatives to their siblings, even though the Pixel 6 is quite large in its own right. The ZenFone 8 is considerably more compact.

These two phones are both quite powerful. They are quite different, though, in so many ways. So, if you’re trying to decide what your new phone should be, and you’re considering one of these two devices, we’ll try to help you decide. We’ll first list their specifications below, and then move to the design, display, performance, battery, and camera categories. Having said that, let’s kick off this Google Pixel 6 vs ASUS ZenFone 8 comparison.

Specs

	Google Pixel 6	ASUS ZenFone 8
Screen size	6.4-inch fullHD+ AMOLED flat display (90Hz)	5.9-inch fullHD+ Super AMOLED flat display (120Hz refresh rate)
Screen resolution	2400 x 1080	2400 x 1080
SoC	Google Tensor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
RAM	8GB (LPDDR5)	6GB/8GB/16GB
Storage	128GB/256GB, non-expandable	128GB/256GB (UFS 3.1); non-expandable
Rear cameras	50MP (f/1.9 aperture, 1.2um pixel size, 26mm lens, omnidirectional PDAF, OIS, Laser AF) 12MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1.25um pixel size, 114-degree FoV)	64MP (f/1.8 aperture, 0.8um pixel size, 26mm lens, PDAF, OIS) 12MP (ultra-wide, f/2.2 aperture, 112-degree FoV, 14mm lens, 1.4um pixel size, dual pixel PDAF)
Front cameras	8MP (f/2.0 aperture, 24mm lens, 1.12um pixel size)	12MP (f/2.5 aperture, 28mm lens, 1.22um pixel size, dual pixel PDAF)
Battery	4,614mAh, non-removable, 30W wired charging, 21W wireless charging	4,000mAh, non-removable, 30W wired charging, reverse wired charging
Dimensions	158.6 x 74.8 x 8.9mm	148 x 68.5 x 8.9mm
Weight	207 grams	169 grams
Connectivity	5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C	5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C
Security	In-display fingerprint scanner (optical)	In-display fingerprint scanner (optical)
OS	Android 12	Android 11 ZenUI 8
Price	$599	€599 / €669 / €799 / starting at $629
Buy	Google	ASUS

Google Pixel 6 vs ASUS ZenFone 8: Design

Both of these phones are made out of metal and glass, but they are quite different despite that. The Pixel 6 has a more square design, with less curves. The ASUS ZenFone 8 sits in the hand a bit better, as it does seem to be more ergonomic. Its back side is more curved towards the sides, and the phone also feels to be thinner because of it, even though they’re exactly the same in regards to thickness.

The ZenFone 8 does have thinner bezels in comparison, while both have display camera holes. Those holes are placed in different places on their displays, though. Both phones have flat displays, and neither has uniform bezels. Their rear camera setups are vastly different. The Pixel 6 has a camera strip that stretches from one side to the other, while the ZenFone 8 has a more traditional camera island in the top-left corner.

The Pixel 6 is considerably taller and wider than the ZenFone 8, while they’re the same in regards to thickness. The ZenFone 8 is also a lot lighter than the Pixel 6, as it weighs 169 grams compared to 207 grams of Google’s handset. It does have a smaller display as well, though. Both phones feel good in the hand, though the ZenFone 8 is easier to hold, and use, mainly due to its size. Both phones are very slippery, and both have Gorilla Glass Victus on the back. It’s also worth noting that they’re both IP68 certified for water and dust resistance.

Google Pixel 6 vs ASUS ZenFone 8: Display

The Google Pixel 6 features a 6.4-inch fullHD+ (2400 x 1080) AMOLED display. That is a 90Hz display, and it’s flat. It does support HDR10+ content, and we’re looking at a 20:9 display aspect ratio here. This panel is protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus, and has a centered display camera hole.

The ASUS ZenFone 8, on the other hand, has a 5.9-inch panel. That display offers a resolution of 2400 x 1080, and this also comes down to a 20:9 display aspect ratio. The ZenFone 8 utilizes a flat Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. This display also supports HDR10+ content, and it gets considerably brighter than the one on the Pixel 6. Both are bright enough, though, but the ZenFone 8 will give you an advantage in direct sunlight This panel is also protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus.

Both displays are quite good, but neither is of the LTPO variety. That means that neither supports adaptive refresh rate. The ZenFone 8’s panel does get brighter, while both offer really good viewing angles. Both are very responsive, and look great overall. They’re saturated, and colors do pop. Google’s Material You can stand in the way of saturated colors, though, so keep that in mind, as it prefers pastel shades. The ZenFone 8’s display is a bit cooler, and you may need to do some tweaking in order to get it to be a bit more neutral, but that’s easy to do in the settings. One more thing to note is that the Pixel 6 display does feel a bit hollow when you use it, as it isn’t bonded to the mid-frame.

Google Pixel 6 vs ASUS ZenFone 8: Performance

The Pixel 6 is fueled by the Google Tensor SoC. This is Google’s very first mobile processor. It has proven to be quite a good performer from the get-go. The ZenFone 8 on the other hand, is equipped with the Snapdragon 888, a proven flagship SoC from Qualcomm. Both phones utilize LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 flash storage. That, combined with these SoCs, and pre-installed software, makes for a deadly combination.

Both phones perform admirably, to say the least. They can both do everyday tasks with extreme speed, and can also handle gaming. Do note that the Pixel 6 does heat up more than the ZenFone 8, though. Partially because of the SoC, and partially because it doesn’t release heat through the display, as Google decided not to bond that display to the mid-frame. It’s not something that will annoy you, well, at least not most of you, as it never gets too hot.

If you decide to play some games on these two phones, that’s just fine, as both can handle that type of load. Once again, the Pixel 6 will heat up a bit more during gaming. You can play basically any game you can find in the Google Play Store, as both of these phones are immensely powerful and well-optimized. You can’t go wrong when it comes to performance, to be quite honest.

Google Pixel 6 vs ASUS ZenFone 8: Battery

The Pixel 6 comes with a 4,614mAh battery, while the ZenFone 8 includes a 4,000mAh battery pack. Those two batteries are more than enough for both phones. Do note that the ZenFone 8 has a considerably smaller display, which is why a smaller battery pack is included. That doesn’t mean it offers bad battery life, though, not at all. Both of these phones offer really good battery life, in fact, at least in our testing.

Do note that your battery life may differ considerably, as there are a lot of factors included. So, take everything said here with a grain of salt. Both phones managed to cross the 7-hour screen-on-time mark for us, and still have some battery juice left. On some days, they fell below that mark, of course, when we used them more intensively. The point is, both phones offer really good battery life.

The Google Pixel 6 supports 22W charging, despite the fact Google sells a 30W charger for it. Its wired charging actually slows down after it gets to 50-percent, so it will take you just under two hours to fully charge it. The ZenFone 8, on the other hand, offers proper 30W fast charging. It can charge the phone to 60-percent in 25 minutes, and to 100-percent in 80 minutes. So, it does slow down as well, but it will take it considerably less to reach a full charge in comparison to the Pixel 6.

The Pixel 6 also supports wireless charging up to 21W. You’ll reach 21W only with the Pixel Stand, though, which is not yet available at the time of writing this article. You can use other Qi chargers to charge it, though, but do note that the charging speed will be lower. The Pixel 6 does offer reverse wireless charging, while the ZenFone 8 has reverse wired charging support.

Google Pixel 6 vs ASUS ZenFone 8: Cameras

The camera experience on these two phones is considerably different. Both phones do include two cameras on the back, though. The main, wide-angle camera, and an ultrawide camera. The ZenFone 8 does bring a considerable performance boost over its predecessor, when it comes to cameras. It’s a night and day difference. The Pixel 6, on the other hand, comes with a new main sensor after four years, and it also brings considerable improvements.

Both of these phones are quite capable in the photography department. The images during the day end up looking great. The Pixel 6 has a slightly better dynamic range, while the ZenFone 8 does a great job with foliage. Both phones provide images with a lot of detail, and a good white balance. The Pixel 6 images do pop a bit more, due to Google’s processing, and that’s a look most people will prefer. Both do a great job during the day.

When the light goes away, surprisingly, the ZenFone 8 can keep up with the Pixel 6. The Pixel 6 does allow for more light to enter an image, and tends to capture sharper images. The details are plentiful in images from both phones, though, and the Pixel 6 does struggle a bit more with light flares than the ZenFone 8. The Pixel 6 does a better job when it comes to video recording, hands down.

Audio

Both the Pixel 6 and ZenFone 8 do come with stereo speakers. What’s surprising is that the ZenFone 8 actually offers more detailed sound. It not only sounds sharper, but it sounds as if it offers a wider soundstage. Not to say that the Pixel 6 speakers or sound is bad, not at all, but the ZenFone 8 does offer a bit more in that regard. Both will satisfy the needs of most users, though.

The ZenFone 8 also has a 3.5mm headphone jack, while the Pixel 6 does not. That is surprising for a smartphone in this category, but it certainly is welcomed. It’s kind of surprising ASUS managed to fit all that in here, as the ZenFone 8 is quite a compact smartphone. The company did an excellent job in the audio category, that’s for sure.