Underestimating the mobile gaming industry is a tale as old as time, but the Asus ROG Phone 8 knows the industry is only getting started. According to Statista, mobile gaming makes up approximately 51 percent of the total video game revenue worldwide. The popularity of mobile gaming is likely due to the fact that everyone can access these games without a special gamer phone or console, however, for those more serious about their gaming experience, devices like the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro are a must-have. The release date for the Asus ROG Phone 8 came just as soon as the phone was announced at CES 2024, with an official launch having taken place on 9 January.
The device is only available for pre-order, however, and full sale of the device will begin on 4 February. With its stark design that sets it apart as a phone meant for a high-quality gaming experience, the Asus ROG Phone 8 has officially made a grand entrance.
The Asus ROG Phone 8 Should Help Gamers Keep Their Cool
Asus’ ROG brand is quite clear about one thing—it is designed for gamers. From the brand identity, ROG or Republic of Gamers, to its tagline of “Beyond gaming,” the Asus ROG Phone 8 is quite distinguishable in its design and style, even before we approach the internal specs of the device. What’s more is that the device is capable of doubling up as a hand-held console for those who prefer the playstyle, with some additional accessories of course.
Asus ROG Phone 8 Internal Specs
In 2024, we will likely see Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor everywhere, and this includes the Asus ROG Phone. The device features the ROG UI which is based on Android 14 so you can still expect to see some familiar details and features. With a CPU and a GPU that is 30 percent and 25 percent faster respectively, the phone also comes equipped with 8533 Mbps LPDDR5X RAM and a UFS 4.0 ROM.
Being the “world’s first IP68 gaming phone” is not as interesting to most, but for those who care, the device should have significant water and dust resistance. The smartphone also comes equipped with AirTrigger controls or ultrasonic sensors that can be customized to support a wide range of gestures such as “dual action, press and lift, and gyroscope aiming.”
Display and Design of the Asus ROG Phone 8
The 6.78″ LTPO AMOLED screen supports 2500 nits peak brightness and offers a 165Hz refresh rate. The dual SIM phone has reportedly been redesigned to be much easier on the hands, especially for extended use, with the company stating it is 15 percent thinner and 9 percent lighter than its predecessor. With a Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front screen, Gorilla Glass back cover, and a simple aluminum frame, the structure of the phone doesn’t particularly stand out, but the illuminated RGB logo on the back of the phone would be a shame to cover up with a phone case.
Rog Phone 8 with a hidden screen on the back !!! That was surprising.pic.twitter.com/3VgTcPIKet
— Techverse (@intechverse) January 9, 2024
The ROG Phone 8 Pro and ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition models take the Mini LED display on the back of the device even further, offering additional customization options for users of the device. The ROG Phone 8 will be available in Rebel Grey and Phantom Black while the two higher-end models will stick to Phantom Black only.
What About the ROG Phone 8’s Cooling System?
A major problem gamers regularly encounter is the issue of their consoles heating up. While a small part of the issue is the discomfort of holding on to a hot device, the more significant concern is usually the device crashing or shutting down due to an inability to handle the heat. Smartphones designed for gamers tend to better address this issue and the Asus ROG Phone 8 makes a commendable effort as well, with a GameCool 8 thermal setup that uses the 360-degree SoC Cooling System Gen 2 design. The company claims a 22 percent improvement in cooling efficiency, with the Rapid-Cooling Conductor dissipating the heat evenly between the thermal layers of the device.
Asus also has its own line of external accessories that can be attached to your phone to bring down the heat, with physical gaming buttons to refine your gaming experience as well. The latest edition, the AeroActive Cooler X, could perhaps add up another 20 percent to the thermal cooling efficiency which will aid in extended gaming sessions on your device.
The Camera, AI-Support, and Other Features
The cameras on the ROG Phone 8 are not going to be the top priority for most of its customers, but it doesn’t hurt to have a phone that can work well outside of the gaming realm as well. The device features three rear cameras in total, the main one being a 50 MP lens with a 6-Axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer 3.0 that should allow you to take more steady photos and videos. The other two are a 13 MP ultrawide camera and a 32 M telephoto lens with 3X optical zoom. It’s quite a decent offering by the Asus device.
Hitting another mark with its AI capabilities, the device has a few interesting features designed with gamers in mind. The AI tools do help with the camera as well, neatly integrated into the AI Object Sense feature as well as the light train mode. For gaming, the Asus ROG Phone 8 features the X Sense 2.0 which applies pattern recognition AI which can “detect key events, automatically collect items, proceed conversations,” and more.
Another neat use of AI on the ROG Phone 8 is semantic search.
This runs on-device and helps you search through your photos, settings, and apps. pic.twitter.com/jRORzZzlBy
— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) January 9, 2024
The AI can record key events of your performance in-game and its background mode will help your app run passively for the more pesky dungeon runs on games that allow auto-combat. The AI Grabber feature is also quite interesting as it can pick up keywords from your game screen to make it easier to search online, whether it’s the unpronounceable name of a new boss or the title of an overly complex quest that you need a guide on.
Asus ROG Phone 8 Price
The ROG Phone 8 is by no means an “affordable” device. The ROG Phone 8 is priced at $1,099.99 and is equipped with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The Asus Phone 8 Pro is priced at $1,199.99 with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The most expensive alternative, the Phone 8 Pro Edition is $1,499.99 and comes with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. The Asus Phone 8 Pro seems like a good middle spot if you’re considering a new purchase.
Overall, the Asus ROG Phone 8 is definitely interesting and has a lot of features that should come in handy for pro gamers who want a flawless gaming experience. It should also be a useful investment for casual gamers who want a phone that will last longer for the 1-2 intense games they get into. There’s something to look forward to for anyone who is considering a purchase.
