Why you can trust TechRadarWe spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best.Find out more about how we test.
Verdict
The Asus ZenFone 6 may seem just as odd as theAsus ROG Phoneat first. It has an ambitious motorized camera likely to win ‘cool tech gadget’ and ‘most likely to get damaged one day’ prizes.
Its appeal is wider than the ROG Phone’s, though. The ZenFone 6’s very reasonable price makes it one of the best phones to offer high-end specs at a lower price, like those of Honor and OnePlus.
We think theOnePlus 7looks nicer though. And theHonor 20 Prohas a more versatile set of cameras for gigs and holidays.
This might be the better choice for those looking for something a little geeky and unusual. The flip camera is not as slick andsafelydesigned as theOnePlus 7 Pro’s, but it can follow subjects, act as a stand, and lets you shoot better selfie video.
Important core parts of the experience are aced too, such as battery life and the look of the software. It’s a custom interface, but you might guess it was Google’s own before looking closer.
Who’s this for?
The Asus ZenFone 6 is for the follower of tech who might otherwise be tempted by a OnePlus 7, but wants something a little more dynamic and unusual.
Should you buy it?
If you were considering an Honor or Huawei phone but are now put off by the ‘political situation’ they are tied up in, the Asus ZenFone 6 is a much safer bet. Just think twice if you’re a bit clumsy, as we’re not sure how much abuse the camera will actually take.
Check out these three alternatives:
OnePlus 7
Not convinced by the Asus’s flip camera? The OnePlus 7 is your first place to head. It’s a less ambitious phone. OnePlus kept the design of the 6T but upgraded the chipset to the Snapdragon 855 and switched to the same 48MP camera as the ZenFone 6.
Its battery life isn’t quite as good, you only get a secondary depth camera, not a wide one, and it has a teardrop notch. However, we do prefer to the look of the OnePlus 7, and it has a higher-contrast OLED screen rather than an LCD.
Read our hands-onOnePlus 7 review
Honor 20 Pro
If it wasn’t for the concerns about the future of Honor phones, following Google cutting ties with Huawei, the Honor 20 Pro would be a real rival to the ZenFone 6.
Its quad rear cameras are significantly more versatile than the ZenFone 6’s for travel and street photography, and the phone is smaller, making it easier to handle.
The Kirin chipset isn’t as powerful as the ZenFone 6’s, though, and it has a punch-hole screen that may annoy if you want to fill out the display with a streamed movie.
Read our hands-onHonor 20 Pro review
Google Pixel 3a XL
What do you get from the ‘official’ Android phone at the same price? Some parts of the Pixel 3a XL are significantly lower end. The chipset belongs to the league below, its body is plastic rather than glass or metal, and its surrounds look huge next to the Asus’s.
However, its 12MP photos are actually often more detailed than the 12MP ones the ZenFone produces. And here you get ‘real’ stock Android, not a close approximation. The Pixel will get quicker updates to new versions of Android too.
Read our hands-onGoogle Pixel 3a XL review
First reviewed: May 2019
Current page:Verdict and competition
Andrew is a freelance journalist and has been writing and editing for some of the UK’s top tech and lifestyle publications including TrustedReviews, Stuff, T3, TechRadar, Lifehacker and others.
I’m a die-hard Apple fan, but even I’ll admit that the Google Pixel 9 Pro is the best-looking phone of the year
VIPRE Security Group says its new endpoint protection tools can stamp out even the latest cybersecurity threats
Herman Miller Aeron gaming chair review: premium, highly customizable comfort
