The Asus ROG Phone 8 is designed with a strong focus on gaming aesthetics and robust build quality. It measures 163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 3.02 x 0.35 in) and provides a comfortable grip for extended gaming sessions. The device weighs 225g (7.94 oz), balancing durability and portability. It features a glass front and back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2) with an aluminum frame for a premium look and feel. The back houses an Aura RGB lighting system, including the ROG Fearless Eye logo, which can be customized with various colors and patterns. It includes pressure-sensitive zones that act as AirTrigger controls for a console-like gaming experience.
The phone boasts IP68 dust/water resistance, ensuring it can withstand the elements during outdoor use. The ROG Phone 8 incorporates a revolutionary cooling system to maintain optimal performance during intense gaming sessions. Its design reflects its gaming heritage while also catering to the needs of a premium smartphone user, making it a versatile device for both gaming and everyday use.
It boasts a top-of-the-line display tailored for an exceptional gaming and multimedia experience. It features an LTPO AMOLED panel, which offers a dynamic and vibrant color output. The screen measures 6.78 inches, providing a large and immersive viewing area. It has a 1080 x 2400 pixels resolution, ensuring sharp, clear visuals and a great viewing experience. Besides, the display supports an adaptive refresh rate of up to 165Hz, which is particularly beneficial for smooth gaming. It reaches an impressive 720 Hz for instant response, enhancing the gaming experience. The screen can achieve up to 2500 nits peak brightness, making viewing outdoors in bright sunlight easy. Moreover, the Asus ROG 8 phone is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, offering durability against scratches and drops.
Overall, as far as display is concerned, the Asus ROG hits all the right places on the checklist for a gaming smartphone. With these specifications, the Asus ROG Phone 8’s display is designed to deliver a premium visual experience, whether gaming, watching videos, or browsing the web.
The Asus ROG Phone 8 has a sophisticated camera setup to deliver a professional-level photography experience.
- Main Camera: This camera features a 50 MP primary sensor with an f/1.9 aperture, a 24mm wide-angle lens, and a gimbal OIS for superior image stabilization.
- Telephoto Camera: This camera features a 32 MP telephoto lens with an f/2.4 aperture, offering 3x optical zoom and OIS for clear zoomed-in shots.
- Ultrawide Camera: A 13 MP ultrawide sensor with f/2.2 aperture and 120˚ field of view, perfect for capturing expansive landscapes.
- Macro Camera: The SEA/China/India model has a 5 MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture for detailed close-up photography.
- Selfie Camera: A 32 MP front-facing camera with f/2.5 aperture and 22mm wide-angle lens for high-resolution selfies.
The advanced camera system supports LED flash, HDR, and panorama. It can record videos at up to 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, and slow-motion videos at 1080p with various frame rate options.
This setup ensures that the Asus ROG Phone 8 has the versatility and power to provide an exceptional visual experience, whether gaming, streaming, or capturing life’s moments.
It runs on the latest Android 14, providing a smooth and responsive user experience.
The phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, built on a 4 nm process technology and ensures top-tier performance and efficiency.
It features an Octa-core CPU with a configuration of 1×3.3 GHz Cortex-X4, 3×3.2 GHz Cortex-A720, 2×3.0 GHz Cortex-A720, and 2×2.3 GHz Cortex-A520, delivering robust processing power for any tas1.
The Adreno 750 GPU supports advanced graphics, ideal for high-end gaming and multimedia.
The device has 256GB of internal storage and 12GB or 16GB of RAM. It utilizes UFS 4.0 technology for ultra-fast data access and storage. Notably, Asus ROG Phone 8 needs a card slot for expandable storage.
These specifications ensure that the Asus ROG Phone 8 can easily handle the most demanding games and apps, providing an excellent, seamless, and immersive experience.
The Asus ROG Phone 8 offers robust connectivity and communication support, designed to cater to the needs of gamers and tech enthusiasts alike. Some of its key features include:
- 5G Connectivity: Ensuring fast and reliable internet connection for gaming and streaming.
- Wi-Fi 6 Support: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct improves wireless networking performance and efficiency.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, and aptX Lossless offer enhanced wireless data transmission with compatible devices.
- USB Type-C: This port facilitates quick data transfer and charging and supports USB 3.0, 3.1, and 3.2 standards. USB Type-C (side), DisplayPort 1.4, and USB Type-C (bottom), OTG are pretty versatile, fast, and efficient regarding power and data transfer.
- Dual SIM Slots: Allows two phone numbers on the same device for convenience.
- NFC support
- 5mm jack: supported.
These features are complemented by the phone’s high-performance hardware, including the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and a 6.78-inch Samsung AMOLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate, which is particularly beneficial for a smooth gaming experience.
- A Revamped Design: The ROG Phone 8 features a sleeker design that appeals to gamers and mainstream users.
- Powerful Specs: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip delivers superfast performance suitable for gaming and multitasking.
- Solid Battery Life: A massive 5,500mAh battery supports extended gaming sessions.
- High Refresh Rate: The 165Hz refresh rate screen ensures smooth visuals during gameplay.
- Quality Cameras: The camera hardware has remarkable upgrades, making it competitive with other premium smartphones.
- IP68 Rating: The device is water-resistant, adding to its durability.
- Wireless Charging Support: A convenient feature not always found in gaming phones.
- 5G Network connectivity
- No mmWave 5G: It lacks support for the faster mmWave 5G bands.
- Costly: The high-end specs come with a high price tag.
- Limited OS Updates: The phone is slated to receive only two major Android OS updates.
- Offset USB-C Port: The placement of the USB-C port can make using mobile controllers awkward.
- AI Features: The AI features are considered subtle compared to rivals.
- Smaller Battery: The battery size has been reduced compared to previous models.
- It has less capacity and performance than the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro.
Verdict
We like and appreciate the ROG Phone 8’s Zenfone-like design, IP68 rating, wireless charging, fast charging, excellent battery life, and solid camera hardware for a gaming phone. The chip and storage specs also make for a complete phone that delivers performance and aesthetics. However, the high price due to the premium features and specs could discourage some users who compare the Asus to alternative devices on the market. Moreover, weaker photography performance compared to other gaming phones makes the ROG 8 less favorable.
Overall, the Asus ROG Phone 8 is praised for its performance, design improvements, and gaming features. It’s a strong contender for users prioritizing gaming on their mobile devices. However, it may fall short for users looking for the best photography capabilities or a lower price point. The ROG Phone 8 is a compelling choice for dedicated gamers and tech enthusiasts. It offers a premium gaming experience without compromising other smartphone functionalities. If the Asus ROG Phone 8 aligns with your needs and preferences, go for it!
- Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro
- Google Pixel 8
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Apple iPhone 15 Pro
You can check out more Asus phones.
