We’re about to finish the first quarter of 2021, and as expected we’re starting to see the first leaks about devices that will hit the market in Q2 2021. Recently, the ASUS ZenFone 8 series made its first appearance on the Google ARCore listing. Apparently, ASUS is bringing three variants with different designs. The first device was spotted on Google’s listing with ZenFone 8 Flip moniker, so we believe that this time around, this may be the only version with a flipping camera. Now, a new report XDA-Developers confirms that ASUS is preparing three versions of its ZenFone 8 series. The company will surf in the trend started by Apple’s iPhone 12 series last year and will bring a ZenFone 8 Mini variant.
ASUS is preparing a ZenFone 8/Pro, ZenFone 8 Mini, and ZenFone 8 Flip
A fresh new leak from XDA-Developers brings new interesting tidbits about the ZenFone 8 series. Three phones will come with display sizes ranging from 5.9-inches on the smallest ZenFone 8 Mini to 6.69-inches on the Pro variant. The ZenFone 8 Mini is codenamed SAKE and bears the ASUS_I006D model number. The ZenFone 8, or 8 Pro variant is the PICASSO and goes with the ASUS_I004D build number. Worth noting that all the ZenFone 8 flagships will bring OLED panels with FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate.
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The new findings come straight from the kernel source code of the brand new ASUS ROG Phone 5. It also detailed a third smartphone codenamed “VODKA” and bearing the ASUS_I007D build number. This might be the ZenFone 8 Flip variant spotted on Google’s ARCore listing. Worth noting that all devices are true flagships since they come with Snapdragon 888 chipset. So, the ZenFone 8 Mini will be a powerful beast for all those who don’t enjoy the 6+ displays trend. The ZenFone 8 Mini will also come with a 64MP Sony IMX686 primary camera. There is also a secondary Sony IMX663 sensor which is yet to go, official.
The ZenFone 8/Pro will come with the same IMX686 64MP image sensor alongside a 12MP Sony IMX363 snapper. It also has a 24MP OmniVision OV24B1Q sensor and an 8MP OmniVision OV08A telephoto module. Hopefully, the new handsets will bring a design refreshment in comparison to their predecessors.
As we’ve mentioned before, the ZenFone 8 Flip may be the only smartphone retaining the flipping camera mechanism. We believe that the upcoming ZenFone 8 and ZenFone 8 Mini will finally embrace the punch-hole trend.
That would be Sony that started a mini trend, not Apple. Apple just sit watching what the superior competition are doing and then market it as if they were the first ones to think it up. Most of us aren't fooled but naturally, there's always a few who slip through the net….