1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Asus Zenfone 8 | Xiaomi 13 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 148 × 68.5 × 8.9 mm, 169g | 162.9 × 74.6 × 8.4 mm, 210g | Zenfone 8 is significantly more compact and lighter, offering better one-handed use and portability. Xiaomi 13 Pro is larger and heavier. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 5.9" | 6.73" | Xiaomi 13 Pro provides a much larger screen, better for media consumption, gaming, and multitasking. Zenfone 8's smaller screen is better for portability. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1440x3200 | Xiaomi 13 Pro offers much sharper and more detailed visuals due to higher pixel count. |
| PPI | 446 | 522 | Xiaomi 13 Pro has a noticeably crisper display due to its higher pixel density. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks, similar viewing experience. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 1100 nits | 1900 nits | Xiaomi 13 Pro provides much better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) | Xiaomi 13 Pro has a newer, more powerful, and more efficient chip, resulting in faster performance in apps, games, and general usage. |
| AnTuTu Score | 891,700 | 1,532,113 | Xiaomi 13 Pro offers significantly better performance, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 740 | Xiaomi 13 Pro's newer GPU delivers superior graphics performance in gaming. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4000mAh | 4820mAh | Xiaomi 13 Pro has a larger battery, likely offering longer battery life for all use cases. |
| Charging | 30W Fast Charging | 120W Fast Charging | Xiaomi 13 Pro charges much faster, significantly reducing downtime for charging. |
| Features | Non-removable | Reverse charging, Non-removable, 50W Wireless charging, 10W reverse wireless charging, Surge G1 battery management chip | Xiaomi 13 Pro offers wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, giving it more versatility and functionality. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 64MP, f/1.8, 1/1.7", Sony IMX686 | 50MP, f/1.9, 1", Sony IMX989 | Xiaomi 13 Pro boasts a larger sensor, potentially capturing more light, resulting in better low-light performance and higher image quality. |
| Selfie Camera | 12MP, f/2.45, 1/2.93", Sony IMX663 | 32MP, f/2.0, 1/3.2", Omnivision OV32C | Xiaomi 13 Pro has a higher resolution front camera, potentially resulting in more detailed selfies. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 50MP, f/2.0, Samsung S5KJN1 | Xiaomi 13 Pro offers optical zoom capabilities, which is missing on the Asus Zenfone 8. |
| Wide Angle Lens | None | 50MP, f/2.2, Samsung S5KJN1 | Xiaomi 13 Pro offers a dedicated wide-angle camera, which is missing on the Asus Zenfone 8. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | 12MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55", Sony IMX363 | None | Asus Zenfone 8 has a wide-angle and macro camera in one sensor, a feature that is not found on the Xiaomi 13 Pro. |
| Video | Up to 8K@120fps | Up to 8K@24fps, 1920fps slow-mo | Xiaomi 13 Pro provides a higher slow-motion recording frame rate. |
| DxOMark Score | Main: 116, Photo: 120, Video: 118 | Main: 136, Photo: 136, Video: 129 | Xiaomi 13 Pro has superior image and video quality based on DxOMark scores. |
| Features | Dual Camera, OIS, Autofocus, etc. | Flicker sensor, Triple camera, Gimbal OIS, etc. | Xiaomi 13 Pro offers a wider range of camera features including triple camera setup, gimbal stabilization, and a flicker sensor. Asus Zenfone 8 has basic dual camera setup. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 13) | Android 13 (upgradable to 14) | Xiaomi 13 Pro offers a newer and more updated Android operating system, along with longer software support. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | WiFi 6 | WiFi 6E | Xiaomi 13 Pro has better WiFi capabilities with the newer 6E standard, offering access to the 6GHz band for reduced interference. |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.3 | Xiaomi 13 Pro offers a newer Bluetooth standard. |
| SIM | Dual Nano SIM | Dual Nano SIM / eSIM | Xiaomi 13 Pro supports eSIM in addition to dual nano SIMs offering flexibility for dual-SIM users. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256 GB | 128/256/512 GB | Xiaomi 13 Pro offers more storage options, including a 512GB option. |
| RAM | 6/8/12/16 GB | 8/12 GB | Asus Zenfone 8 provides more RAM options, with up to 16GB being available. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports external storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Hi-Res Audio, Noise cancellation mic, 3 Mics | Dolby Digital Plus, Hi-Res Audio | Asus Zenfone 8 has features like noise cancellation microphone and three microphones, potentially offering superior audio capture. Xiaomi 13 Pro has Dolby Digital Plus for enhanced playback. |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint | Basic fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | Both have a basic fingerprint sensor. |
| Build | |||
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Both have the same level of protection against scratches and cracks. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity, Hall | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, RGB | Both have a comprehensive set of sensors. Asus Zenfone 8 has Gravity and Hall sensor additionally while Xiaomi 13 Pro has an RGB sensor additionally. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Asus Zenfone 8 Advantages:
- Compact and Lightweight: Significantly smaller and lighter, much more comfortable for one-handed use and pocket-friendly.
- Slightly More RAM Options: Up to 16 GB RAM provides additional headroom for multitasking and demanding apps.
- Slightly Better Audio Recording: Noise cancellation microphone and 3 microphones for potentially clearer calls.
- Wide Angle + Macro Camera: Combines two functionalities into one sensor.
Practical Implications: Ideal for users who value portability and one-handed usability, good for casual users who also do moderate multitasking.
Xiaomi 13 Pro Advantages:
- Larger and Sharper Display: Much larger screen with higher resolution and brightness, better for media consumption, gaming, and productivity.
- Significantly More Powerful Performance: Newer and significantly faster chipset, resulting in much better performance in all areas.
- Significantly Better Camera System: Larger main sensor, Telephoto lens, Wide-angle lens and better DxOMark scores, greatly improving image and video quality.
- Faster Charging & Wireless Charging: 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging significantly reduce downtime.
- Larger Battery: Longer battery life for all use cases.
- Newer Software: Comes with a newer Android version and will have more software update support.
- Better Connectivity: Supports the latest WiFi 6E standard.
- eSIM Support: More flexible SIM options including eSIM support.
Practical Implications: Ideal for power users, content creators, and gamers who value performance, image quality, display quality and longer battery life.
Trade-offs:
- Zenfone 8: Sacrifices performance, camera quality and a larger display for better portability.
- Xiaomi 13 Pro: Larger, heavier, and may not be comfortable for one-handed use compared to the Zenfone 8.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Asus Zenfone 8:
- Ideal User: Individuals who prioritize portability and one-handed use, casual users and anyone who want a phone with good everyday performance without needing top-tier processing power.
- Use Cases:
- Easy one-handed navigation and quick tasks.
- Pocket-friendly phone for daily commutes.
- Good for basic social media, web browsing, and light gaming.
- Users who do not want a larger display that may be cumbersome for some users.
Xiaomi 13 Pro:
- Ideal User: Power users, mobile gamers, photographers, and media enthusiasts who require the best possible performance, camera capabilities and a large immersive display.
- Use Cases:
- High-end mobile gaming with smooth performance and visuals.
- Content creation such as high quality photography and videography.
- Extensive media consumption (movies, shows, videos, games)
- Users who engage in intensive multitasking for work or personal use.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- Do you prioritize portability and one-handed use over everything else? If yes, the Asus Zenfone 8 might be a better fit for you. If not, then the Xiaomi 13 Pro may be more suitable.
- Do you need high-end performance for demanding tasks like gaming or video editing? If yes, the Xiaomi 13 Pro's vastly superior chipset and GPU make it an easy choice.
- How important are camera quality and versatility to you? If this is a high priority, then the Xiaomi 13 Pro's advanced camera system, including its telephoto and wide-angle lenses, as well as its high DxOMark scores make it a significantly better option.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1 (Casual User): If you mainly use your phone for social media, browsing, and casual gaming, and also highly value portability, the Asus Zenfone 8 is sufficient, and its small size may be preferred.
- Scenario 2 (Power User): If you need top-tier performance, a large, high quality display, a better camera, and a much larger battery, the Xiaomi 13 Pro is the clear winner.
- Scenario 3 (Photography Enthusiast): If you are an avid mobile photographer or videographer, the Xiaomi 13 Pro's superior camera system and additional features provide more flexibility and higher quality output.
My Choice
If I were to choose, I would opt for the Xiaomi 13 Pro. While the Zenfone 8's compact size is appealing, the Xiaomi 13 Pro's advantages in display quality, performance, camera capabilities and battery far outweigh the benefits of the Zenfone 8. As someone who uses my phone extensively for demanding tasks, and also enjoys mobile photography, the Xiaomi 13 Pro provides a much better overall experience, and also delivers a much more refined, feature-rich experience.
