1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A02s | Asus Zenfone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Size | 164.2 × 75.9 × 9.1 mm | 148 × 68.5 × 8.9 mm | A02s is larger and bulkier, harder to use one-handed; Zenfone 8 is smaller and more pocketable. |
| Weight | 196g | 169g | Zenfone 8 is noticeably lighter and more comfortable to hold for extended periods. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 5.9" | A02s offers a larger screen for media consumption; Zenfone 8 is more compact with a higher pixel density. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2400 | Zenfone 8 has a significantly sharper display with more detail. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 270 | 446 | Zenfone 8 has a much sharper display with significantly more detail. Text, images, videos will appear much clearer and smoother. |
| Technology | PLS LCD | AMOLED | Zenfone 8 has superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors, making for a more enjoyable viewing experience. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Zenfone 8 provides much smoother scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1100 nits | Zenfone 8 is much more visible in direct sunlight. Note: Samsung A02s brightness is missing so is considered to have poor visibility in bright sunlight compared to Asus. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM450 Snapdragon 450 (14 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Zenfone 8 is much faster, smoother for gaming, multitasking, and general use. |
| Antutu Score | 74,800 | 891,700 | Zenfone 8 offers vastly superior performance in all aspects of smartphone usage. |
| GPU | Adreno 506 | Adreno 660 | Zenfone 8 will have significantly better graphics performance, especially in games. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4000mAh | A02s potentially offers longer battery life, but actual results depend on usage. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging, Li-Ion | 30W Fast Charging, Li-Polymer | Zenfone 8 charges faster, getting you back up and running quicker. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 13MP, f/1.8 | 64MP, f/1.8, 1/1.7", Sony IMX686 Exmor RS | Zenfone 8 captures much more detailed photos with higher resolution and likely better image quality. |
| Selfie Camera | 5MP, f/2.2 | 12MP, f/2.45, 1/2.93", Sony IMX663 | Zenfone 8 has a higher resolution selfie camera and larger pixel size (1.22µm) for potentially better low-light selfies. A02s has slightly wider aperture which could potentially allow more light to enter the sensor. |
| Other Cameras | 2MP Depth, 2MP Macro | 12MP Wide Angle + Macro | A02s has dedicated depth and macro cameras, but Zenfone 8 offers a versatile wide-angle lens with macro functionality and a much higher resolution sensor. |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps | Up to 8K@24fps, multiple 4K options | Zenfone 8 can shoot much higher quality video with 8K resolution, offers HDR, EIS and supports slow motion at much higher FPS. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10, Max Android 12 | Android 11, Max Android 13 | Zenfone 8 has a newer OS out of the box and one generation of software updates. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Wi-Fi 6 | Zenfone 8 has significantly faster and more reliable Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi 6. |
| Bluetooth | 4.2 LE | 5.2 LE | Zenfone 8 has a more modern Bluetooth standard with better audio quality and power efficiency. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5) | Zenfone 8 supports more satellite systems which would translate to more accurate and reliable location tracking. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 32 GB or 64 GB | 128 GB or 256 GB | Zenfone 8 offers substantially more storage, essential for apps, photos, videos, and media. |
| RAM | 3 GB or 4 GB | 6 GB, 8 GB, 12 GB or 16 GB | Zenfone 8 can multitask significantly better and handle demanding apps and games. |
| Expandable | No | No | Both phones do not offer the option to expand the storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | Basic | Hi-Res Audio, Noise Cancellation, Stereo Speakers | Zenfone 8 will offer much better audio experience. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic | Fingerprint sensor | Zenfone 8 offers a basic biometric security option for unlocking the phone. |
| Build | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Zenfone 8 provides higher screen protection from drops and scratches. |
| Sensors | Proximity, Accelerometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Zenfone 8 has a much more comprehensive set of sensors enabling features in apps and games. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A02s Advantages:
- Larger Battery: The A02s has a larger 5000mAh battery, potentially offering longer battery life for users who prioritize longevity between charges.
- Dedicated Depth and Macro Cameras: For users interested in portrait mode and very close-up photography, the dedicated cameras provide some flexibility in this regard although the quality and resolution is low.
- Potentially lower price: While not listed, the A02s would likely be significantly cheaper than the Zenfone 8.
Asus Zenfone 8 Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 888 chipset provides a massive performance boost, making the Zenfone 8 much faster for all tasks, including gaming, multitasking, and general usage.
- Significantly Better Display: The AMOLED screen with higher resolution, brightness, and refresh rate offers a superior viewing experience.
- Far Better Camera System: The Zenfone 8's main, wide-angle, and selfie cameras produce better quality photos and videos and have more features.
- Faster Charging: The 30W fast charging capability gets the Zenfone 8 powered up quicker.
- More RAM and Storage: Zenfone 8 offers more RAM for better multitasking and storage options for media and apps.
- Modern Connectivity: Zenfone 8 supports newer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards, offering faster speeds and better performance.
- Higher Quality Audio: Offers high quality playback with stereo speakers.
- More comprehensive sensor package: Offers fingerprint sensor for biometric security as well as a more comprehensive sensor suite.
- Superior screen protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus.
Significant Trade-offs:
- Battery Life vs. Performance: The Galaxy A02s prioritizes a larger battery while the Zenfone 8 prioritizes performance, resulting in trade-offs between battery endurance and responsiveness.
- Display Quality vs. Size: The A02s offers a larger screen but the Zenfone 8 has superior display quality.
- Camera Quality vs. Features: The A02s has more camera modules for specific use cases, but the Zenfone 8's cameras have significantly better image quality.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A02s:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users who prioritize basic smartphone functionality, a large screen, and longer battery life over performance. This phone would suit users who are not demanding with their smartphone usage.
- Use Cases:
- Basic web browsing and social media.
- Watching videos and basic media consumption.
- Making calls and sending text messages.
- Users who need a phone with a large screen and will not use it to play games or other intensive tasks.
- Price-to-Value: Offers basic functionality at an entry-level price. It is the budget option, but offers very basic performance and camera capabilities.
Asus Zenfone 8:
- Ideal User: Performance-oriented users who want a powerful, compact smartphone with a high-quality display and versatile camera capabilities, even those who are on a budget compared to other flagships.
- Use Cases:
- Mobile gaming and demanding apps.
- High-quality photography and videography.
- Multitasking and productivity.
- Consuming high quality video and audio content.
- Users who need a compact phone that is capable of performing heavy duty tasks.
- Price-to-Value: Offers flagship-level performance and features at a lower price point compared to other flagships.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your primary use case for a smartphone?
- Basic communication and media consumption (A02s).
- Gaming, high-quality media creation, or productivity (Zenfone 8).
- How important is performance to you?
- If basic performance is acceptable, the A02s is suitable.
- If you need high performance and smooth operation, the Zenfone 8 is the better option.
- What is your budget?
- If the budget is very limited, the A02s might be the only option.
- If budget is not the biggest factor, the Zenfone 8 will provide more value.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Basic user with a low budget: Choose the Samsung Galaxy A02s. It provides basic smartphone functionality and a larger screen at a low cost.
- Scenario 2: User who wants a phone with good display and is not a demanding user: The Samsung Galaxy A02s provides a basic large screen experience for media consumption.
- Scenario 3: User who wants a small phone with flagship performance and high quality camera: Choose the Asus Zenfone 8. It will provide a significantly better experience in nearly every aspect of smartphone usage.
- Scenario 4: User who wants high quality photos and videos: The Asus Zenfone 8 is the far better option, with better resolution, higher quality sensors and a more comprehensive video feature list.
My Choice
I would choose the Asus Zenfone 8. While the Samsung Galaxy A02s has a larger battery, the Zenfone 8 has a significantly superior display, performance, camera, connectivity, and software. The difference in these other specs would greatly improve my day to day use of the phone which outweighs the potential gain in battery life provided by the A02s. The Zenfone 8 is a much more modern and capable device that would be a much more enjoyable to use in nearly every way. Even though I value long battery life, the other specs are too important for me to pick the A02s over the Zenfone 8.
