The Asus ROG Phone is supposed to offer you a “console-like experience”. Here you can find out what else the gaming smartphone has to offer.
The ROG Phone 8 comes in two colors. (Source: Asus / Gizmochina)
Mobile gaming no longer has a niche existence. With hits like Genshin Impact, open-world games are now also finding their way onto smartphones. Larger game publishers are also starting to give up their better-known brands for serious smartphone games, as we can see with Assassin’s Creed Jade. With the ROG Phone 8, Asus is continuing the series of smartphones under the company’s gaming brand that is aimed specifically at gamers.
However, the ROG Phone 8 only stands out with an unusual design if desired. Controls aimed at gamers are relatively inconspicuous. This only changes if you connect additional accessories that give you more cooling or additional control options. Let’s take a closer look at the smartphone.
When will the Asus ROG Phone 8 be released?
All ROG Phone 8 models can be pre-ordered starting January 9th. In a press release, Asus states January 31, 2024 as the delivery date.
At Asus Pre-order the ROG Phone 8*
Advertisement
At Asus Pre-order the ROG Phone 8 Pro*
Advertisement
Which versions does the Asus ROG Phone 8 get?
The ROG Phone 8 comes in two versions that differ in a few ways. In addition to the basic model, you can also choose the ROG Phone 8 Pro.
How much does the Asus ROG Phone 8 cost?
The prices of the two models depend on the storage configuration and accessories, especially for the ROG Phone 8 Pro. According to a data sheet, you have to be prepared for the following prices:
- ROG Phone 8 with 12 gigabytes of RAM and 256 gigabytes of storage: 1,099.99 euros
- ROG Phone 8 Pro with 16 gigabytes of RAM and 512 gigabytes of storage: 1,199 euros
- ROG PHONE 8 Pro with AeroActive Cooler X, 24 gigabytes of RAM and one terabyte of storage: 1,499 euros
Which Android version does the ROG Phone 8 (Pro) come with?
All versions come with Android 14 running ROG UI. There are various software functions that you won’t necessarily find on a standard Android and that are clearly aimed at gamers.
Design and technical details
Asus wants to target gamers in terms of design and has included a few gadgets, but these can also be kept simpler if desired. In both models you will find elements that allow you to make a decision. The base model has a feature called “Aura RGB”. This lets you change the lighting of the ROG logo, which is on the back of the ROG Phone 8. The colors used are “Phantom Black” and “Rebel Grey”.
On ROG Phone 8 you can change the color and pattern of the logo. (Source: Asus / Gizmochina)
If you hold the phone horizontally, you can see a “GLHF” on the top left corner. Of course, it could stand for something else, but we think it’s likely that it stands for “Good Luck Have Fun”, an abbreviation that you can find in League of Legends, for example. There is also a mobile phone offshoot. The camera island, which is clearly separated from the rest of the housing, is slightly slanted on one side. On the side where the volume rocker is located, there are also two other elements that serve as shoulder buttons.
Asus uses a different design for the Pro version. Although the camera section remains the same, the design element you can customize changes completely. The ROG Phone 8 Pro uses 341 programmable mini-LEDs that can also show animations. If you want your smartphone to be less conspicuous, you can also turn off the LED lighting. Then she can’t be seen.
The ROG Phone 8 Pro has 341 mini-LEDs on the back. (Source: Asus)
Otherwise, much remains the same as the basic model. Here too you have patterns on the side that can be shoulder buttons. As you can see, a slanted line is also part of the design. The color changes slightly on the basic model. The Pro version is a little more inconspicuous.
Important for gaming: the display
The AMOLED display of the ROG Phone 8 (Pro) is 6.78 inches in size in both cases and has a resolution of 2,400 x 1,080 pixels. HDR10 is supported. Peak brightness is 2,500 nits. The refresh rate is variable between one Hertz and 120 Hertz. But you could also choose a frequency of 165 Hertz.
The inner values: processor, memory, battery
The internal values are quite important for a gaming smartphone. Asus therefore relies on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for the ROG Phone 8 (Pro). This puts it in line with many other flagships in the Android sector. For cooling, Asus uses a system that consists, among other things, of a steam chamber and two graphite sheets. Depending on the model and configuration, there are also 12 to 24 gigabytes of LPDDR5X RAM. The data storage is fast UFS 4.0 storage up to one terabyte.
The battery also remains the same in both models. Both have a typical value of 5,500 milliamperes hours. The power supply can charge with up to 65 watts. Asus claims at least 3-4 hours of gaming time.
Artificial intelligence is intended to improve the gaming experience
Even if the processor and the cooling solution are undeniably relevant for graphics performance, software solutions can also contribute positively to the gaming experience. Asus primarily focuses on functions that are implemented with the help of artificial intelligence. With the function called “AI Grabber” texts can be captured directly in the game. You could then paste this text into a search engine of your choice. “X Sense 2.0” can use pattern recognition to recognize key events and automatically collect items in some games. According to a press release, “X Capture” is intended to record important moments.
However, the list of AI functions is not exhausted. Even outside of gaming, AI should ensure natural language searches in the cell phone gallery, help with noise cancellation and later even create AI wallpapers.
The camera can do that
Cameras are part of a smartphone, even if they focus on gaming. The ROG Phone 8 has a triple camera, consisting of a 50-megapixel main sensor with optical image stabilization, a 13-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 32-megapixel camera with 3x optical zoom and optical image stabilization. The cell phone has an integrated gimbal function, which should further stabilize your recordings.
According to the manufacturer, the software is able to remove wind noise from a video or create surround recordings and takes photos in RAW files.
The front camera works with 32 megapixels. It has a 90 degree field of view and an RGBW sensor.
Sound and connections
Asus offers you NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, WiFi with 2.4 gigahertz, 5 gigahertz and 6 gigahertz with the ROG Phone (Pro). There are 5-magnet speakers and support for a 3.5 millimeter jack connection as well as Hi-Res Audio.
Accesories
The shoulder buttons aren’t the only input options available to gamers on the ROG Phone 8 (Pro). If you need more cooling power and two additional buttons, you can use the AeroActive Cooler X. It’s even included in a configuration of the ROG Phone 8 Pro. You also get a 3.5 millimeter jack plug. The accessory uses either the cell phone battery or a separate USB-C port to provide power. The cooling solution is also a stand. However, the RGB lighting means that the inconspicuous design is gone.
For those who don’t want to control their games with the touchscreen, Asus offers a separate ROG Tessen Mobile Controller, with which you get real buttons as well as a D-pad and analog sticks. With the “Amory Crate” software you can reassign buttons on the ROG Phone and also configure the pedals on the back.