Asus ROG 8 Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Smartphone Review

The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is the latest addition to the Republic of Gamers (ROG) lineup, continuing the tradition of pushing mobile gaming to the next level. This device isn’t just another smartphone; it’s a beast tailored specifically for gamers, boasting top-tier specs, a striking design, and various gaming-centric features that set it apart from the competition.

In this detailed review, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the Asus ROG 8 Pro, exploring its design, performance, gaming capabilities, camera, software features, and more.

Design and Build Quality: A Gamer’s Dream Aesthetic

One glance at the ROG Phone 8 Pro, and you know it’s built for gaming. Asus hasn’t strayed from its aggressive, gamer-focused design language, and that’s a good thing. With bold RGB lighting, angular lines, and robust build quality, the phone feels premium and screams power.

Key Design Elements:

• RGB Lighting: The customizable RGB logo on the back adds a unique touch and can sync with your gaming setup.
• AeroActive Cooler Port: The dedicated cooling accessory port ensures your phone stays cool during long gaming sessions.
• Reinforced Corners: The ROG Phone 8 Pro is designed with reinforced corners to protect it from accidental drops, especially during intense gaming moments.

Materials: The phone is made of Gorilla Glass Victus on both the front and back, with an aluminum frame. This combination provides a sturdy, durable feel without being overly bulky.

Display: Stunning 165Hz AMOLED Panel

The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro comes with a 6.78-inch AMOLED display, which delivers an incredible 165Hz refresh rate. This is one of the fastest displays available in the market, making it a treat for competitive gamers who demand smooth visuals.

Display Specs at a Glance:

Gaming Edge: The 165Hz refresh rate is not just a marketing gimmick. It makes a noticeable difference when playing fast-paced games like Call of Duty Mobile or PUBG Mobile. The 720Hz touch sampling rate also ensures that your taps are registered instantly, giving you a split-second advantage in intense moments.

Vivid Colors: The AMOLED panel produces vibrant colors with deep blacks, making gaming, media consumption, and general usage feel immersive.

Performance: Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

Performance is where the ROG Phone 8 Pro truly shines. Under the hood, it’s powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, paired with up to 18GB of LPDDR5X RAM. This combination ensures that the phone handles any game or app you throw at it with ease.

Key Performance Specs:

• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
• RAM: Up to 18GB LPDDR5X
• Storage: Up to 512GB UFS 4.0
• GPU: Adreno 750

Real-World Performance:

• Gaming: Even the most demanding mobile games like Genshin Impact and Asphalt 9 run buttery smooth at max settings. Thanks to the phone’s advanced cooling system, it can sustain high performance without throttling.
• Multitasking: With 18GB of RAM, switching between apps, running heavy games in the background, and multitasking are seamless. You can run several apps simultaneously without noticing any slowdowns.

Thermal Management: Asus has integrated an advanced Vapor Chamber Cooling System to ensure that the phone doesn’t overheat during extended gaming sessions. Paired with the AeroActive Cooler accessory, the phone can maintain optimal performance even during the most graphically intensive games.

Gaming Features: Tailored for Pro Gamers

The ROG Phone 8 Pro is equipped with several gaming-focused features that truly make it stand out as a gaming smartphone.

Game-specific Enhancements:

• AirTrigger 6: Asus’s AirTrigger technology allows you to map shoulder buttons on the edges of the phone for a more console-like experience. These are highly customizable and can be used for various in-game actions.
• X Mode+: Activating X Mode+ gives you a performance boost by increasing CPU, GPU, and RAM resources specifically for gaming. It also optimizes the display, network settings, and touch response for maximum performance.
• ROG UI: The ROG UI offers various enhancements, like the Game Genie dashboard, where you can see real-time performance stats, toggle settings, and more while gaming.
• AeroActive Cooler 7: This attachable cooler helps keep the device temperature down during long gaming sessions, and it even has a built-in kickstand for easier viewing.

Battery Life: Massive 6,000mAh Capacity

Powering all of this gaming glory is a 6,000mAh battery, split into two cells to ensure balanced weight distribution. This setup not only makes the phone more comfortable to hold but also improves heat management.

Battery Stats:

• Capacity: 6,000mAh
• Charging Speed: 65W fast charging
• Battery Life: With moderate gaming, the phone easily lasts over a day. Even with heavy gaming sessions, it still provides 7-8 hours of screen-on time.

Fast Charging: The phone supports 65W HyperCharge via USB-C, and you can go from 0 to 100% in just around 40 minutes. For those worried about battery longevity, the phone also includes adaptive charging features, ensuring that the battery isn’t overcharged overnight.

Camera: Surprisingly Capable for a Gaming Phone

While the ROG Phone 8 Pro is primarily a gaming smartphone, its camera system is nothing to scoff at. The triple camera setup on the back includes a 50MP primary sensor, a 13MP ultra-wide lens, and a 5MP macro sensor.

Camera Specifications:

Camera Performance:

• Daylight: Photos taken in good lighting conditions are sharp, with accurate colors and plenty of detail.
• Low-light: The ROG Phone 8 Pro holds up decently in low-light scenarios. The night mode helps bring out more detail, although it’s not on par with flagship camera phones.
• Video: It supports up to 8K video recording at 30fps, making it suitable for content creators who need high-resolution video on the go.

Software: Clean UI with Gaming Enhancements

The ROG Phone 8 Pro runs on Android 14 with ROG UI on top. It’s a clean, near-stock experience with added features aimed at gamers. The ROG UI includes a host of customizations that allow you to tailor the gaming experience to your liking.

Key Software Features:

• Game Genie: Offers on-screen tools during gaming for performance stats, recording, and adjusting settings.
• Custom Themes: Multiple ROG-inspired themes with dynamic wallpapers and icons.

Software Updates: Asus has promised at least 2 years of OS updates and 3 years of security updates, ensuring that the phone will stay up to date.

Audio: Immersive Stereo Sound

The dual front-facing speakers on the ROG Phone 8 Pro are among the loudest and clearest in the smartphone market. These speakers, combined with Dirac sound tuning, provide an immersive audio experience, making gaming, movie watching, and music listening more enjoyable.

Audio Features:

• Hi-Res Audio Support
• 3.5mm headphone jack
• Dedicated DAC for improved audio quality with wired headphones

Final Verdict: The Best Gaming Phone on the Market?

The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is, without a doubt, one of the best gaming phones available in 2024. It excels in performance, gaming features, and display quality, making it an easy recommendation for hardcore mobile gamers.

Pros:

• 165Hz AMOLED display with excellent color accuracy
• Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor with up to 18GB of RAM
• Comprehensive gaming features like AirTriggers, X Mode+, and Game Genie
• Massive 6,000mAh battery with 65W fast charging
• Solid build quality and unique gamer-focused design

Cons:

• Price: Premium pricing might be a hurdle for non-gamers.
• Camera performance: Decent but not on par with flagship non-gaming phones.

Should You Buy It?

If you’re a gamer who demands the best performance, display, and gaming-specific features in a phone, the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is built for you. However, for general users or those more focused on photography, other flagship devices might offer a more balanced experience.

In summary, the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro isn’t just a gaming phone – it’s a statement of power and performance, making it the perfect companion for gamers and tech enthusiasts alike.