ASUS Zenfone 8 vs OnePlus 9 5G: Specs Comparison

ASUS is once again competing in the flagship arena with the Zenfone 8, sporting a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC, but how would it fare against other phones with the same chipset, such as the OnePlus 9 5G? Find out as we pin these two smartphones head to head in a spec comparison.

Summary of advantages

ASUS Zenfone 8:
• Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
• Higher main camera resolution (64MP)
• Multi-magnet stereo speaker with dual Ciruss Logic CS35L45 smart amplifiers
• Triple microphones with OZO Audio Zoom & ASUS Noise Reduction Technology
• 3.5mm audio jack
• IP65/IP68 rating
• WiFi 6E

OnePlus 9 5G:
• Larger display
• Higher ultra-wide camera resolution (50MP)
• Dedicated monochrome camera
• Higher front camera resolution (16MP)
• Larger battery capacity
• Faster charging rate

Display

Both phones feature 120Hz FHD+ AMOLED screens that are HDR10+ certified. However, the OnePlus 9 5G sports a larger screen at 6.55-inch compared to the Zenfone 8’s 5.9-inch display. In terms of build and protection, both do sport the Corning Gorilla Glass, but the Zenfone 8 is equipped with the stronger Victus version, plus the IP65/IP68 water and dust rating.

CPU and GPU

Powering these two smartphones is the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset and Adreno 660 GPU, so we expect the same level of performance across the board. Although, we can only determine how well they perform especially how they handle thermals once we have both units for a review.

RAM and Storage

In the category of storage, both the OnePlus 9 5G and the Zenfone 8 have 256GB capacities, but for RAM, the Zenfone 8 has a larger configuration of 16GB compared to its competitors 12GB.

Camera

The camera department is won by the OnePlus 9 5G with its triple camera configuration with a 48MP main. It also has a higher wide camera resolution at 50MP and a dedicated 2MP monochrome camera. However, the ASUS Zenfone does have a higher main camera resolution at 64MP.

Upfront, the 16MP selfie camera of the Oneplus 9 5G trumps over the 12MP front camera of the Zenfone 8.

Take note, though, that these numbers don’t always equate to quality. We will provide proof on which camera is better once we get to test both units for comparison.

Other features

In terms of network connectivity, both smartphones lay in the same realm—providing 5G, Bluetooth 5.2, and NFC. The slight difference is its WiFi, where the ASUS Zenfone 8 is equipped with WiFi 6E, meaning it has a higher capacity for high-bandwidth activities and less network congestion.

Both phones come with their own unique manufactured speakers, but the ASUS Zenfone 8 presents its Triple microphones with OZO Audio Zoom & ASUS Noise Reduction Technology and its Multi-magnet stereo speaker with dual Ciruss Logic CS35L45 smart amplifiers to the table; additionally, it has access to the reliable 3.5mm audio jack—a plus in our books.

Battery

Between the ASUS Zenfone 8 and the OnePlus 9 5G, the 4,500mAh battery of the OnePlus 9 5G stands over the 4,000mAh battery of its competitor. Furthermore, the former also has a faster charging rate of 65W than the 30W of the ASUS Zenfone 8. Thus, the complete win for battery capacity and charging rate goes to the OnePlus 9 5G.

Which one to get?

The local price of the OnePlus 9 5G is PHP 38,990USD 664INR 56,325EUR 633CNY 4,839, which is cheaper than the ASUS Zenfone 8’s 16GB + 256GB variant at PHP 39,995USD 682INR 57,777EUR 649CNY 4,963. However, ASUS provides a cheaper option for users with its 8GB + 128GB variant priced at PHP 34,995USD 596INR 50,554EUR 568CNY 4,343.

Choose the ASUS Zenfone 8 for its higher main camera resolution, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, triple microphone noise reduction technology, WiFi 6E, and a 3.5mm audio jack, IP65/IP68 water and dust rating, and more compact size.

However, if you want a smartphone with a larger screen, higher ultra-wide camera resolution,  a dedicated monochrome camera, high battery capacity, and a faster charging rate, choose the OnePlus 9 5G.

So what do you think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.