Review of the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition

A new and strong competitor to existing top Android smartphones is the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro. This most recent model redefines what a gaming smartphone can be, and it's more than simply an improvement. There are many things to be excited about, such as the absurd cooling system that ASUS ROG seems to be staying with (spoiler alert: it works now). To obtain the finest Android gaming experience, is it worth giving up your Samsung or Pixel for this one? There are also other dubious downgrades, such the battery capacity.

In 2024, gaming phones will have something to prove. Contrary to popular belief, not all smartphones can run every app or play every game. The ASUS ROG Phone 8 and Pro models prioritize the gaming experience with additional buttons and AI-powered capabilities that can really make a difference, even if the majority of contemporary phones are capable of running most releases. Are they all just tricks of the trade? Okay, let's investigate.

Cost and accessibility

The ROG Phone 8 will retail for $1,099.99 and is available in Phantom Black and Rebel Grey. It has 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. Would you want additional storage with a quicker experience? The price of the ROG Phone 8 Pro, equipped with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage, is set at $1,199.99.

The ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition, which is the model reviewed in this review and comes with an AeroActive Cooler X in the box along with 24 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage, will retail for $1,499.99. Only the ASUS Official Online Store sells this particular model.

Features

Specs

The ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition's native ASUS technologies, X Capture and X Sense 2.0, improve mobile gaming. X Capture intelligently finds and records crucial gaming moments by using an AI pattern recognition algorithm. It keeps track of kills, fatalities, and triumphant moments, so you won't have to worry about snagging that big frag. For this reason alone, Unreal Tournament needs to return.

With features like auto pick-up, auto escape, and fast-forward, X Sense 2.0—optimized for well-known titles like Genshin Impact—improves gameplay by automating tedious chores and freeing players to concentrate on the strategic elements of the game. This is often only seen in cheating software, emulators, and turbo controllers. If you choose to use one of these, please exercise caution.

Fans of auto battlers may also benefit from ASUS AI capabilities, which include the ability to conduct games in the background. Using the program to record keywords to discover online manuals is another useful function. Let's face it, we've all used them. A user-centric gaming experience is produced by the ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition's combination of these AI gaming technologies. The best part is that gamers have even more options because it's optional.

ASUS's powerful internals are kept cool using the Game Cool 8 cooling technology. This novel device improves thermal efficiency with a five-section design that incorporates a vapor chamber and cutting-edge materials like boron nitride. This effective cooling system keeps the CPU from thermally throttling, which may impair performance, and allows for prolonged gaming sessions.

The Pro Edition bundle from ASUS comes with the AeroActive Cooler X, which has two triggers on top to go along with the phone's side double-touch triggers. In order to provide the best possible heat dispersion, it has an additional Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 IoC to regulate temperature extraction when fixed to the ROG Phone 8 back plate. The touch pad becomes a refrigerator when the Chilled mode is used. Such a wonderful piece of technology.

In order to provide computational noise suppression in its audio feature, the ROG Phone 8 Pro also makes use of AI-driven machine learning. This technology guarantees clean and sharp audio transmission and reception both within and outside of games by supporting upload and download directions. Games that are team-based should function flawlessly.

Another feature is the use of DIRAC VIRTUO technology for spatial sound on headphones. It works with any headphones, regardless of brand or model, offering a rich audio experience. From shooters to thrillers, spatial audio on headphones adds another layer of audio design to games. You feel completely submerged when you hear footsteps behind you or shots streak over your head.

In the era of Bluetooth and other wireless technology, the presence of a 3.5mm headphone jack on strong gaming smartphones is fantastic. With or without wiring, the sound quality is excellent. It increases options for those who need more funds to purchase high-end Bluetooth headphones or buds.

Design

The ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro has a shape that is both utilitarian and eye-catching, taking design to new heights. The phone's chassis, which weighs a lot less than that of its predecessor, clearly indicates that ASUS made it with gamers in mind. Its lighter design makes it more portable and guarantees pleasant extended gaming sessions—an ergonomic factor for players who want to play for extended periods of time.

The ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition is 15% smaller in profile and has a 14% narrower bezel than the ASUS ROG Phone 7, which contributes to its comfort and handling capabilities. Although it remains a difficult piece of equipment, its improved moisture protection and IP68 water resistant certification make it more appealing. The republic of gamers may now relax in any situation, whether it a rainy day or an unintentional spill. Just remember not to attempt playing Pokémon GO by the pool.

It has two screens as well. Sort of, anyhow. The back "Anime Vision" Mini-LED display of the ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition includes 341 customizable LEDs. This feature offers useful features like notification indications and NFC-enabled hidden animations, along with an adjustable flair. A new degree of customization is provided by the option to modify these displays with user-created GIFs. This feature is similar to what is seen in many phones with an outside screen, but the small LEDs add something unique.

Display

The 6.68-inch Samsung E6 AMOLED display, which boasts an LTPO adaptive refresh rate peaking at 165Hz and a peak brightness of 2500 nits, is the main attraction of the ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition. These specifications result in a gaming and watching experience that is noticeably better. Playing in various places requires good sight in a variety of lighting situations, which is ensured by the high brightness. In the meanwhile, by modifying in response to content, the adaptive refresh rate promotes energy economy while maintaining fluid images without needless power use.In terms of responsiveness, the display's 720Hz touch-sampling rate is revolutionary. This function gives players an advantage over rivals and is particularly helpful in fast-paced games where every millisecond matters. Victus 2 Gorilla Glass further demonstrates ASUS's dedication to robust design and highlights its rock-solid construction with an eye protection mode for extended use.

Camera

The 50 MP main camera on the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro is a powerful camera system that offers crisper photos and substantially less blur in motion shots thanks to a 6-axis hybrid gimbal stabilizer. Layers of flexibility are added by the 32MP telephoto and 13MP ultrawide lenses, which provide everything from fine zoomed-in photographs to panoramic landscape views. With this range, users may take stunning photos in a variety of situations, from ordinary moments to gaming events.AI-driven technologies that enhance overall picture quality, such as ASUS's AI Object Sense, which recognizes and analyzes various objects in a shot independently. Another creative feature is the Handheld Light Trail mode, which is perfect for capturing movement in different scenarios like traffic or the outdoors. These features enhance the phone's photographic capabilities and appeal to artistic users who want their smartphone cameras to capture more than just ordinary photos.The 32MP RGBW sensor on the front, which has a 90-degree ultrawide angle and pixel-binning technology, is notable for its capacity to take clearer, more accurate photos of groups and selfies. This guarantees that users can take bright, clear pictures in any situation, but it is especially helpful in low light. Because of its wide-angle lens, the front camera is also perfect for video conversations and streaming. Its wider range of vision is particularly helpful for social media and gaming.

Performance

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor powers the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition's performance. Compared to the ASUS ROG 7, its 3.3GHz CPU clock speed offers a 30% boost in total performance. This boost results in more effective multitasking, seamless gaming, and quicker app launches.This improvement implies that players will be able to enjoy better gaming experiences with lower latency and higher frame rates, which is important in competitive gaming settings. Because to the chipset's 20% efficiency gain over the previous models, greater playtime between charges is possible thanks to improved battery management.With a 25% more efficient GPU than the ROG 7, the phone's graphics performance guarantees the greatest results available for Android-based mobile devices. The ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition surpasses rivals like the Xiaomi 14 Pro, as seen by its strong Antutu benchmark results. Particularly in graphically intensive games and apps, these numerical ratings represent real-world performance advantages that consumers might encounter on a regular basis.

Battery

The reduced battery life of the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro is our only complaint. Although the ROG Phone 7's 5500mAh high-capacity battery is still 500mAh larger, it does accept a 65-watt HyperCharge adaptor. In only 39 minutes, the phone can charge from 0% to 100% thanks to quick juicing technology. Must charge before heading off to work? You dirty beast, just take a shower and forget about it.The ROG Phone 8 supports both wired and Wireless Qi 1.3 charging, which is handy but won't allow for hypercharge-like charging rates. It does provide consumers more freedom by enabling them to utilize public wireless charging stations while lounging at home.

The ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition: Is it worth the purchase?

The ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition is evidence of the company's skill in creating a gaming smartphone that pushes the envelope. A complete solution that appeals to both serious gamers and everyday users looking for optimal performance is what the ASUS ROG Phone 8 and 8 Pro have to offer. The gimmicks, like noise suppression and AI-powered keyword storage, are workable fixes for problems that mobile games encounter. This smartphone is undoubtedly worth its premium price if you find that offer to be appealing.Although it's almost ideal, we're still holding out for an ASUS Rog Phone that doesn't need a large fan plugged into the rear in order to cool itself and provide reliable mobile controls. Although it has lovely, sensitive triggers, this lovely fan is not very useful for traveling.

Options

In case our evaluation of the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition wasn't convincing enough, mobile gamers might consider these other options.

iPhone

Pro Max 15The iPhone 15 Pro Max, the flagship model in the most recent wave of Apple smartphones, is a gaming powerhouse that outperforms several Android competitors. If you choose to be secure and stick with an iPhone instead of using Android software, this smartphone is a clear substitute for the ROG Phone 8. Naturally, it's not as customized as the newest ROG Phone, and its internal and external cooling options aren't as good, but if you're an iOS devotee, this could be a good choice for you.Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

With the greatest Android experience available, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra remains the premium offering from the Korean tech giant until the upcoming release of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Despite having fewer features specifically designed for gaming than the ROG Phone 8, the S23 Ultra is still an excellent all-arounder and can run demanding games like PUBG Mobile and Honkai Star Rail.