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This time around, we’ll compare the ASUS ZenFone 8 vs Google Pixel 4a. We’ve already compared ASUS’ compact flagship handset with Google’s Pixel 5 smartphone, in case you’d like to check that out. Considering how good of a phone the Pixel 4a turned out to be, this comparison seemed to be worth it, despite the fact these two phones are not exactly in the same category. The ZenFone 8 is a flagship smartphone, while the Pixel 4a is a budget offering by Google.
Both of these phones are quite compact, and they’re both quite good. Both have a lot to offer, and we’ll try to give you a better idea of which one will fit you best. The price difference is quite noticeable, but paying more may make sense for some of you. That being said, we’ll kick off this article with a spec comparison, and then move to their designs, displays, performance, and so on. That being said, let’s kick off the ASUS ZenFone 8 vs Google Pixel 4a comparison, shall we.
Specs
| ASUS ZenFone 8 | Google Pixel 4a | |
| Screen size | 5.9-inch fullHD+ Super AMOLED flat display (120Hz refresh rate) | 5.81-inch fullHD+ OLED display (60Hz) |
| Screen resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 2340 x 1080 |
| SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB/16GB | 6GB (LPDDR4X) |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB (UFS 3.1); non-expandable | 128GB, non-expandable |
| Rear cameras | 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) |
12.2MP (f/1.7 aperture, 27mm lens, 1.4um pixel size, dual pixel PDAF, OIS) |
| Front cameras | 12MP (f/2.5 aperture, 28mm lens, 1.22um pixel size, dual pixel PDAF) | 8MP (f/2.0 aperture, 24mm lens, 1.12um pixel size) |
| Battery | 4,000mAh, non-removable, 30W wired charging, reverse wired charging | 3,140mAh, non-removable, 18W fast battery charging |
| Dimensions | 148 x 68.5 x 8.9mm | 144 x 69.4 x 8.2mm |
| Weight | 169 grams | 143 grams |
| Connectivity | 5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C | LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C |
| Security | In-display fingerprint scanner (optical) | Rear-facing fingerprint scanner |
| OS | Android 11 ZenUI 8 |
Android 10 (upgradeable) |
| Price | €599 / €669 / €799 | $349 |
| Buy | ASUS | Amazon |
ASUS ZenFone 8 vs Google Pixel 4a: Design
The ASUS ZenFone 8 and Google Pixel 4a do look somewhat similar, but they feel completely different in the hand. The two companies also used different materials to make these two devices. The ASUS ZenFone 8 is made out of metal and glass, while Google used polycarbonate (plastic) to make the Pixel 4a. The ZenFone 8 definitely feels more premium in the hand, which is completely unsurprising.
If you do prefer lighter phones, though, the Pixel 4a is the lighter of the two. It weighs 143 grams, compared to 169 grams of the ZenFone 8. Truth be said, neither is heavy, so… you’re good either way. Both devices have fairly thin bezels, though the ZenFone 8 fares better in that regard, which is unsurprising. Both devices include a display camera hole in the top-left corner, and their rear cameras are placed in the same spot.
The ASUS ZenFone 8 has two cameras on the back, while the Pixel 4a rocks a single snapper back there. You’ll also notice a fingerprint scanner on the back of the Pixel 4a. The ZenFone 8 includes an in-display fingerprint scanner instead. Both of these phones are easy to use with one hand. That’s one of the main reasons we’re comparing them. Good compact smartphones are hard to come by these days, and both of these fit in that category.
The ASUS ZenFone 8 is a bit taller, and a bit narrower than the Pixel 4a. It is also slightly thicker than Google’s smartphone. It is worth noting that the Pixel 4a is the less slippery of the two. That is to be expected, considering the build materials. It’s not the grippiest phone in the market, but it’s less slippery than the ZenFone 8.
ASUS ZenFone 8 vs Google Pixel 4a: Display
The ASUS ZenFone 8 features a 5.9-inch fullHD+ (2400 x 1080) Super AMOLED display. That is a 120Hz display that supports HDR10+ content. It gets quite bright at 1,100 nits of peak brightness, and it’s protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus. This is a flat display, by the way, and it’s an LTPS display. So, it does not support an adaptive refresh rate, in case you were wondering.
The Google Pixel 4a, on the flip side, includes a 5.81-inch fullHD+ (2340 x 1080) OLED panel with HDR support. That display is also flat, and it’s protected by the Gorilla Glass 3. It gets less bright than the panel on the ASUS ZenFone 8, and this is not a high refresh rate panel. You’re getting a 60Hz refresh rate here. Needless to say, the Pixel 4a display looks inferior to the ZenFone 8’s panel, on paper, and the same goes for real life as well.
The ZenFone 8’s panel does look better in comparison, even though the difference is not huge. The colors do look a bit more punchy on the ZenFone 8’s panel, even though that panel has a slight blue tint. You can change that via the settings, though. Both displays offer good viewing angles, and those deep blacks you’d expect out of OLED panels. Scrolling is much smoother on the ZenFone 8’s panel, of course, and there are other benefits to that 120Hz refresh rate.
ASUS ZenFone 8 vs Google Pixel 4a: Performance
You’d expect a huge gap in performance considering the specs here, right? Well, there is a difference, but it’s not huge, at least not when it comes to regular, everyday tasks. The ASUS ZenFone 8 is fueled by the Snapdragon 888, and it comes with faster RAM and flash storage than the Pixel 4a. The Pixel 4a ships with the Snapdragon 730G SoC, which is, needless to say, inferior to the Snapdragon 888.
Now, both phones do perform well. For most people, the Pixel 4a will be more than enough when it comes to performance. The phone is snappy in regular tasks, it can even do some light gaming without a problem. You will notice that the ZenFone 8 is a bit faster across the board, though. It can open apps a bit faster, and essentially do everything a bit faster than the Pixel 4a. When it comes to gaming, well, it’s a powerhouse.
The ZenFone 8 comes with some software from the ROG Phone series, which boosts its gaming prowess on its own. That SoC, RAM, and flash storage also help things. You can play basically any game from the Play Store on this device, regardless of how graphically demanding it is. The same cannot be said for the Pixel 4a, as the experience won’t be the same. The Pixel 4a is not made to be a gaming machine, though. It is quite a capable smartphone, which will serve you well, if you’re not a gamer or something of the sort.
ASUS ZenFone 8 vs Google Pixel 4a: Battery
The ASUS ZenFone 8 comes with a 4,000mAh battery, while the Pixel 4a has a 3,140mAh battery pack. The ZenFone 8 does have a larger display, and a higher refresh rate as well, so that difference is not surprising. Does it offer better battery life, though? Well, yes, it does, but not by much. The ZenFone 8 was able to get us to 6 hours of screen-on-time, with our usage, while the Pixel 4a was a bit behind at about 5.5 hours.
We’re talking about some sort of average results here, as it’s impossible to give out accurate numbers. Your mileage may differ, of course. Do note that we did not really play games, at least not much, so do note that processor-intensive tasks will affect these numbers significantly. The ZenFone 8 does offer a bit more in the battery department, but none of these phones will win awards for amazing battery life. Still, they’ll be more than enough for most of you, as far as battery life is concerned.
Now, in regards to charging, the ZenFone 8 definitely has more to offer. The phone supports 30W fast wired charging, and also reverse wired charging. The Pixel 4a, on the other hand, offers 18W wired charging, and that’s it. Reverse charging is not supported on the device. Neither of these two devices offer wireless charging, which is a shame. That is to be expected when it comes to the Pixel 4a, but it’s a bit surprising the ZenFone 8 does offer such a feature.
ASUS ZenFone 8 vs Google Pixel 4a: Cameras
The Google Pixel 4a has the best camera in its price range, easily. Things do get more interesting when we compare it to the ZenFone 8’s camera setup, though. The Pixel 4a has a single camera on the back, compared to two cameras on the ZenFone 8. Google’s software magic is pulling most of the weight when it comes to the Pixel 4a. The phone provides great images in pretty much all situations. That sensor is showing its age, but it’s still performing great. The downside is you’re not getting a dedicated telephoto or ultrawide lens here.
The ZenFone 8 does offer an ultra-wide camera, in addition to its main shooter. The phone offers a lot better results than its predecessor, which is using the same main sensor. Both phones provide really sharp, and vivid images during daylight. The dynamic range is excellent on both, though the Pixel 4a shines a bit more in that regard, that is its strong suit. The colors are good on both. There’s little to complain about when it comes to daylight shots.
Both phones do a good job in low light as well. Both manage to light up an image quite a bit, and preserve a lot of details. Many people would say that images from the Pixel 4a look a bit unrealistic in such conditions, but great still. The ZenFone 8 does manage to keep them looking realistic, and prevent much noise from entering the shot. Both phones are capable of preserving quite a few details from the shadows as well. The ZenFone 8 definitely managed to surprise us, it even has a capable ultra-wide camera.
Audio
Both of these phones offer stereo speakers. On top of that, both of them have a 3.5mm headphone jack as well, which is a rarity these days. It is worth noting that the stereo speakers on the ZenFone 8 are capable of providing better sound. You’ll get richer and louder audio from them. The separation is excellent, and the distortion is very minimal at the highest of volumes. ASUS really managed to pack up a good pair of stereo speakers in such a compact body.
The sound provided by the Pixel 4a speakers is good, but not to the level of the ZenFone 8. If you hook up a good pair of headphones, you’ll get good results on both smartphones. Don’t expect miracles in regards to sound quality, and you’ll be happy with the results.