Asus can build excellent gaming smartphones. The manufacturer has already proven this several times. We were also able to test two ROG Phones in the past and see for ourselves. But aside from the gaming area, slight weaknesses continued to emerge. Has that changed with the new generation? We grabbed the ASUS ROG Phone 8 and tested how it performs in everyday life.
From a purely visual perspective, the ASUS ROG Phone 8 doesn’t scream “gaming” as loudly as many of the previous models. Instead, it almost seems a little plain. Sure, an illuminated logo on the back shouldn’t be missing, but otherwise the design is more reminiscent of more classic high-end smartphones.
We really like the two-part back. While the reflective part always creates chic effects, the lower part is kept matt. The camera has a very eye-catching design, but in our opinion it also fits in very well with the rest.
The screen is a highlight. This shines with rich colors and excellent contrasts and thus brings out beautiful images. Since beauty ultimately lies in the eye of the beholder, we’ll now turn our attention to the bare numbers – they can’t lie.
Asus uses a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with a resolution of 2,400 x 1,080 pixels. This results in a pixel density of almost 388 PPI. The variable refresh rate is 165 Hertz, which can be continuously adjusted between 1 and 120 Hertz. Accordingly, all content is played back absolutely smoothly. With a peak brightness of up to 2,500 cd/m², all details can be seen even in direct sunlight. The DCI-P3 color space is covered by over 107 percent.
Despite the huge display, the smartphone still feels pretty good in the hand. This is because the screen has been housed in a slimmer case this time. Compared to the previous model, the ASUS ROG Phone 8 is around 15 percent thinner. The margins are also significantly smaller. Also because the front camera disappears under the display glass.
Gaming with nice extras
A Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 provides the necessary power. The high-performance chip has eight cores and clocks at up to 3.3 GHz. It is supported by 12 GB of lightning-fast LPDDR5X RAM and 256 GB of storage space. However, if you would like to use a microSD card, you have to take a hard look: the memory cannot be expanded.
The Asus ROG Phone 8 is – unsurprisingly – up to all requirements and can handle even the most demanding mobile games. However, there are several points here that set it apart from “ordinary” smartphones. On the one hand, there are the two integrated AirTriggers on the right side, which enable additional input. On the other hand, there is a second USB-C port on the left side. This means the smartphone can be charged without the cable getting in the way while playing.
Another plus point is the software that has been specially optimized for gaming. In the “Armory Crate” app we can not only find all the installed games at a glance, it also shows all the important key figures and we can choose between three presets to adjust the performance. Depending on whether we prefer to have maximum performance or the longest possible battery life.
In-game, however, software called “Gaming Genie” is used. This includes practical AI tools that, for example, enable items to be collected automatically. This saves you having to type manually. All of these functions ensure an excellent gaming experience that you can’t achieve with raw computing power alone.
Improved camera
One of the biggest weak points of ROG Phones so far has been the camera. It was never bad, but it was never particularly good either. Other smartphones in this price range generally perform better. The camera of the ASUS ROG Phone 8 has now received a significant upgrade. Asus has now installed a 50 MP main sensor, a 13 MP ultra-wide-angle camera and a telephoto sensor with 32 megapixels. Is that enough to catch up with the competition?
The photos taken with the main camera are definitely impressive. Beautiful snapshots with a high level of detail can be achieved, especially in good lighting conditions. Typically, four pixels are merged into one, resulting in 12.5MP images. However, a 50 MP mode can also be activated in the settings if desired.
Click on the images for a full-screen view.
The night shots are also worth seeing, with the smartphone automatically switching to night mode in low light conditions. For the best possible results, you have to hold the smartphone still for several seconds. A small crosshair helps you keep the camera as straight as possible.
Left without and right with night mode activated
The integrated gimbal is also helpful for videos. This ensures that the recordings remain steady and have as little blur as possible. Basically it works well. When moving faster, for example when filming while walking, small jerks still creep into the video.
Miscellaneous
The speakers surprised us positively. The ASUS ROG Phone 8 delivers extremely powerful sound – by smartphone standards. This means that music and mobile games come into their own very well. If you still prefer to use headphones, you can look forward to an additional jack connection.
The battery has a capacity of 5,500 mAh, which is easily enough to get you through the day without charging. If you play diligently, the running time decreases rapidly. Of course, the actual battery life varies depending on playing time, brightness and other factors. In most cases, however, you should be able to enjoy a few hours of fun at a time. The battery can be charged with up to 65 watts. A complete charging process takes less than an hour. Wireless charging is also supported.
Android 14 is installed ex works. Asus promises to provide the smartphone with updates for four years. Very practical: This time the ASUS ROG Phone 8 even has an IP68 certification and is protected against dust and water.
Conclusion
The ASUS ROG Phone 8 performed very well in our test. And this is not only due to the excellent gaming performance, but also because the manufacturer has developed further in many ways. The display and sound are outstanding, the battery life is pleasingly long and the camera has also received a significant upgrade. Overall, the ASUS ROG Phone 8 is not only interesting for gamers who strive for the best possible performance, but for everyone who is looking for a high-end smartphone.
The smartphone can already be pre-ordered at ALTERNATE. It will then be delivered from January 31, 2024. The price is 1,099 euros. There are also Pro versions with a display on the back and an external fan.
The article ASUS ROG Phone 8 in the test: More than just a gaming smartphone? appeared first on techrush.