There was a point in time in the history of the mobile telephony industry that smartphone manufacturers feared to find ways to push almost every phone’s face glasses. Some popup cameras used while others have settled for small puncture hole cutouts. Asus, however, used a unique “Flip camera” system in Zenfone 7 Pro which hit two birds with a stone. While most popup cameras have apparently disappeared, the ASUS brings back to the flip in its flagship product of 2021, at least based on this last leak.
The idea behind the FLIP camera is not really new, just that this particular design has not been used before. In 2014, OPPO N1 also allowed using the same main camera for normal photos and selfies, but rotated its forehead to make this possible. After Zenfone 7 Pro, Samsung launched the Galaxy A80 with almost the same principle but used a sliding mechanism.
Given how popup cameras came out of fashion, it’s a bit surprising to hear that ASUS has not yet abandoned that. 91Mobiles indicates that the reversing camera will return this time under the name Zenfone 8 Flip. It puts the moniker “pro” to align on the plain Zenfone 8, which will have almost identical specifications to save for the reversal camera and displays.
Both phones will be powered by the last Snapdragon 888 with 8 GB of expected ram. Zenfone 8 without flap is the “mini” of the two with an FHD + 5.92 inches screen while the zenfone 8 rockers gets a more massive 6.67-inch screen. Both phones receive a 64 MP main camera and a 12 mp macro shooter, with Zenfone 8 switch with an 8MP telephic camera and, of course, the motorized reversal mechanism.
Whether this mechanism would help or not to sell the phone this year is, of course, a different question, but it is clear that the Asus leaves strongly. The details about Zenfone 8 Flip and Zenfone 8 should land next week on May 12.
