The year is not over for Asus in the smartphone market. After a month of July dedicated to the ROG Phone and a month of August focused on the Zenfone 9, September sees the arrival of “new” ROG Phone 6. Two variants that host a high-end MediaTek chipset instead of a a Qualcomm chip.
A more powerful variant
For these new versions, Asus has therefore chosen a MediaTek processor, the Dimensity 9000+, which on paper promises more power than the Qualcomm chip thanks to its cores clocked at 3.2 GHz. According to the graphics of the Taiwanese firm, the SoC of MediaTek is more efficient than that of the American founder and above all offers better control of the heating. A new GPU is also appearing, the Mali-G710. Finally, 6 GB of RAM is allocated, with 256 or 512 GB of storage depending on the model chosen.
On passive and active cooling, Asus has kept the same characteristics as the classic ROG Phone 6 released at the beginning of the summer. But for its 6D Ultimate model, the company saw things a little differently with the AeroActive Portal, a mechanical flap that opens to release heat. The latter comes in addition to the AeroActive Cooler, the large fan that we had already observed on the ROG Phone 6 Pro in July. As with a PC, Asus has therefore done everything to offer ventilation worthy of the name to its most premium smartphone.
An almost identical shell
On the rest, Asus does not change the formula of the ROG Phone of 2022 one iota. Apart from the finish which goes black (instead of immaculate white), nothing has changed on the technical sheet. Thus, we find the 6.78-inch Oled panel and the photographic alignment consisting of a 50-megapixel main module offering good results. The IPX4 standard is also making a comeback, which is a good thing, even if the protection against water will be less. Even the ROG Vision, this small Oled screen located on the back of the smartphone, is identical on the 6D and on the 6.
In short, these ROG Phone 6D and 6D Ultimate must be considered as “improved” versions of the classic ROG Phone 6s. It remains to be seen whether the performance of MediaTek’s high-end chip will prove to live up to Asus’ promises. We will not fail to pass the smartphones on our test benches to find out for sure.
Question prices, the ROG Phone 6D will be sold at 949 € and the Ultimate version is displayed at 1429 €. The classic version is therefore sold at a lower price than the basic ROG Phone 6, which is not the case with the ROG Phone 6 Ultimate, which therefore becomes the most expensive model from Asus. Let’s add that a Batman version of the ROG Phone 6D will also be on sale next November for €1,329. The collaboration between DC and Asus offers a special model, completely black in the image of the knight of the night. The smartphone is delivered in an original case, branded with the bat logo and integrating accessories such as the Bat-Signal, an aero-case shell with a design inspired by Gotham and finally, a SIM card ejection pin in the shape of a of Batarang. In short, a must have for all Batman fans.