Asus ROG phones are generally known for their gaming-centric features. Everything about them, from the design to the software features, says that they are meant for gamers. But with the Asus ROG Phone 8, the company wanted to switch things up.
Unlike past releases, the Asus ROG Phone 8 launched to be an overall flagship. Of course, it still has the gaming-centric features that the lineup is known for. But this time, Asus tweaked things up and made the phone a better choice for a daily driver.
Main Highlights of the Asus ROG Phone 8
Just like its predecessors, the Asus ROG Phone 8 comes with the latest and greatest specs. Among all, these are the main highlights of the device:
Design, Dimensions, and Display
As mentioned earlier, Asus has taken a new approach for the ROG Phone 8. This time, the device prioritizes user-friendly design a lot. The brand-new device is lighter and thinner than the past flagships. To be specific, the phone measures 8.9 mm in terms of thickness and weighs 225 grams.
In comparison, the Asus ROG Phone 7 is 10.3 mm thick and weighs 239 grams. Of course, this reduction in the weight and thickness brings a piece of bad news. The brand-new device saw a drop in battery capacity, which is standing at 5,500 mAh. To compare, the predecessor came with a 6000 mAh cell.
But the good part is that the new device comes with optimized hardware. Thanks to that, the Asus ROG Phone 8 can offer the same battery performance as last year’s model.
As for the display, the ROG Phone 8 features a 6.78-inch panel, which is the same as last year’s model. However, the new display has slimmer bezels, and we finally have a greater screen-to-body ratio on the front. Of course, this also means that you get a punch hole on the top. The last year’s model featured the selfie camera on the top bezel.
In addition, the reduced bezel also means that the ROG Phone 8 is now smaller than its predecessor. To be specific, it is 163.8 mm tall and 76.8 mm in terms of width. In comparison, the predecessor measured 173.0 mm and 77.0 mm, respectively.
Besides, the screen has gaming-centric specs. For example, it can refresh at 165 Hz, offering a smooth and fluid gaming experience. As it is an LTPO panel, the screen can switch between 1 Hz to 120 Hz by considering what you’re viewing. Also, the peak brightness rating has increased to 2500 nits.
Waterproofing and Advanced Cooling of ROG Phone 8
One of the things that makes gaming phones different than regular daily drivers is the waterproof rating. As they need to incorporate a robust cooling setup, which is usually an active fan with vents, properly waterproofing the hardware becomes challenging. But this time, Asus ROG Phone 8 comes with a flagship-grade rating.
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The phone is rated at IP 68, which is a significant improvement from the IP54 rating found on the Asus ROG Phone 7. But the good part is the new gaming phone still focuses on the cooling aspect. It comes with an advanced conduction cooling tech.
This tech utilizes a copper block, which goes through the motherboard and makes contact with the back panel. It allows efficient heat transfer, which keeps the gaming hardware of the phone cool. Users can take the cooling to the next level by pairing the Asus ROG Phone 8 with the new AeroActive Cooler X.
It’s a redesigned cooling attachment from Asus that’s 10% lighter, 29% smaller, and more efficient than its predecessor.
Gaming-focused Hardware and Flagship Camera Config
Under the hood, the ROG Phone 8 comes with the latest flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. Asus paired it up with up to 24 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1 TB of UFS 4.0 storage. This configuration makes the device ready for anything that you throw at it.
As for the cameras, the back of the Asus ROG Phone 8 comes with a 50 MP IMX890 primary camera. It has a 6-axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer 3.0, which the brand has combined with Super HyperSteady Video mode. This camera is paired with a 13 MP 120-degree ultra-wide camera and a new 3x 32 MP telephoto camera with OIS.
On the front, the ASUS ROG Phone 8 features a 32 MP camera with a wide 90-degree FOV. This overall camera setup makes the new gaming phone a much better camera smartphone than its predecessor. And it’s worth noting that the predecessor won in many blind camera tests.
Other than that, the ROG Phone 8 has AI-enhanced features to offer a smoother experience. One can even help you play better in many flagship titles.
Pricing and Availability of Asus ROG Phone 8
The ROG Phone 8 is available in Rebel Grey and Phantom Black. They all come with an RGB backlit logo on the back. As for the pricing, the base mode with 12 GB of RAM is $1099. There’s a Pro variant available, which comes with LED to-matrix display on the back. Its base model has 16 GB of RAM and a price tag of $1499.