Asus Zenfone 7 vs OnePlus 8 Pro: A Detailed Comparison of Two 2020 Flagships

Released in 2020, the Asus Zenfone 7 and OnePlus 8 Pro represent distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone experience. The Zenfone 7 prioritizes a compact form factor and innovative flip camera, while the OnePlus 8 Pro focuses on a larger display, faster wireless charging, and a more mainstream appeal. This comparison dives deep into their specifications to determine which device offers the best value today.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing battery life and convenience, the OnePlus 8 Pro is the better choice. Its significantly longer endurance rating (103h vs 42h) and 30W wireless charging capabilities outweigh the Zenfone 7’s more compact design. However, the Zenfone 7 remains a compelling option for those seeking a smaller, more pocketable flagship.

PHONES
Phone Names Asus Zenfone 7 OnePlus 8 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 66 - EU
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 7, 28, 78 SA/NSA - EU
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1800/150 Mbps, 5G 3.6 Gbps DLHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -78 SA/NSA - IN
Launch
Announced2020, August 26. Released 2020, September 012020, April 14
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, April 21
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions165.1 x 77.3 x 9.6 mm (6.5 x 3.04 x 0.38 in)165.3 x 74.4 x 8.5 mm (6.51 x 2.93 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight230 g (8.11 oz)199 g (7.02 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1440 x 3168 pixels (~513 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 700 nits (HBM)Fluid AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 650
OSAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 12, ZenUIAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)No
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, auto panorama (motorized rotation)Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-48 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 5 MP, f/2.4, (Color filter camera)
Single5 MP, f/2.6, AF-
Triple64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), PDAF, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 113˚, 17mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF-
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, auto panorama (motorized rotation)HDR
SingleVGA16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
TripleMotorized flip-up main camera module-
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX Adaptive5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-CUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging30W wired, PD3.0, 60% in 34 min, 100% in 93 min Reverse wired30W wired, 50% in 23 min 30W wireless, 50% in 30 min 3W reverse wireless
Stand-byUp to 450 h (2G) / Up to 430 h (3G)-
Talk timeUp to 14 h 10 min (2G) / Up to 7 h 10 min (3G)-
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 4510 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsAurora Black, Pastel WhiteGlacial Green, Ultramarine Blue, Onyx Black
ModelsZS670KS, ASUS_I002D, I002DIN2023, IN2020, IN2021, IN2025
PriceAbout 910 EURAbout 310 EUR
SAR1.03 W/kg (head)     1.28 W/kg (body)     -
SAR EU0.52 W/kg (head)     -
Pricing
128GB 8GB RAM-$ 428.39
256GB 12GB RAM-$ 853.51
RENEWED-$ 486.00
Tests
Audio quality Noise -82.1dB / Crosstalk -80.7dB-
Battery lifeEndurance rating 42h Endurance rating 103h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 2.422:1 (sunlight) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker Voice 66dB / Noise 63dB / Ring 76dB -23.5 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 573276 (v8) GeekBench: 3374 (v5.1) GFXBench: 24fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Asus Zenfone 7

  • Compact and pocketable design
  • Unique flip camera mechanism for versatile shooting
  • Competitive Snapdragon 865 performance

  • Significantly shorter battery life
  • Lacks wireless charging
  • Smaller display may not appeal to all users

OnePlus 8 Pro

  • Excellent battery life (103h endurance)
  • 30W wired and wireless charging
  • Larger, more immersive display

  • Larger size may be less comfortable for one-handed use
  • Higher price point
  • More conventional camera design

Display Comparison

Both the Zenfone 7 and OnePlus 8 Pro feature displays with an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, the OnePlus 8 Pro’s larger screen size is a key differentiator. While both offer a smooth visual experience, the Zenfone 7’s smaller size may appeal to users who find larger phones unwieldy. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s display is likely to be brighter in direct sunlight, though specific nit values are not provided, making it more usable outdoors.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but the Zenfone 7’s flip camera mechanism is a standout feature, eliminating the need for a notch or punch-hole. Without detailed sensor information, it’s difficult to definitively declare a camera winner. However, the Zenfone 7’s unique design allows for consistently sharp selfies, as the main camera sensors are used for front-facing shots. The OnePlus 8 Pro likely benefits from more advanced image processing algorithms, but the Zenfone 7’s hardware versatility is a significant advantage.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+), coupled with an Octa-core CPU configuration (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55). This means raw processing power will be nearly identical for most tasks. The performance difference will likely come down to thermal management and sustained performance. While neither device’s specs indicate a significant advantage, OnePlus is known for its software optimizations, potentially leading to slightly smoother long-term performance. Both utilize the same RAM configuration options, with the OnePlus 8 Pro offering a 12GB/256GB option at $853.51.

Battery Life

The OnePlus 8 Pro boasts a substantial advantage in battery endurance, achieving a rating of 103 hours compared to the Zenfone 7’s 42 hours. While both support 30W wired charging, the OnePlus 8 Pro adds 30W wireless charging and 3W reverse wireless charging, offering greater flexibility. The OnePlus 8 Pro reaches 50% charge in 23 minutes with wired charging, while the Zenfone 7 takes 34 minutes to reach 60%. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s wireless charging capability is a major convenience factor for users who prefer cable-free charging.

Buying Guide

Buy the Asus Zenfone 7 if you need a truly compact flagship phone that’s easy to handle one-handed and appreciate the unique versatility of its flip camera. Buy the OnePlus 8 Pro if you prefer a larger, more immersive display, faster wireless charging, and a longer-lasting battery, even if it means sacrificing some portability.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Zenfone 7's flip camera mechanism feel durable? Will it break after extended use?
Asus claims the Zenfone 7’s flip camera is tested for 200,000 flips, suggesting reasonable durability. However, any mechanical component is susceptible to wear and tear over time. User reports suggest it's generally reliable, but careful handling is recommended.
❓ How does the OnePlus 8 Pro handle gaming? Will the Snapdragon 865 throttle under sustained load?
The Snapdragon 865 in the OnePlus 8 Pro is capable of handling demanding games. While some throttling is expected under prolonged gaming sessions, OnePlus’s software optimizations and cooling system are designed to mitigate this. The phone should maintain a stable frame rate for most titles, though performance may dip slightly over extended periods.
❓ Is the 3W reverse wireless charging on the OnePlus 8 Pro useful for anything beyond earbuds?
While 3W reverse wireless charging is slow, it's sufficient for topping up accessories like wireless earbuds or smartwatches. It won't quickly charge a phone, but it can provide a small emergency boost to compatible devices.