The great reference of the gaming cell phones is renewed in threefold. The new ASUS ROG Phone 5 is now official, along with the Pro and Ultimate versions. As expected, these are three phones with cutting-edge features for gaming, with the most powerful processor, a huge battery, and 144Hz AMOLED screens.
These are the features of the ROG Phone 5. Three phones whose differences lie mainly in RAM, storage, and features on the back, such as a PMOLED panel. Pay attention, because following their technical specifications these three real beasts in the world of smartphones.
ROG Phone 5, ROG Phone 5 Pro, and ROG Phone 5 Ultimate Datasheets
| ROG Phone 5 | ROG Phone 5 Pro | ROG Phone 5 Ultimate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions and Weight | 172.8 x 77.2 x 10.29mm; 238 grams | 172.8 x 77.2 x 10.29mm; 238 grams | 172.8 x 77.2 x 10.29mm; 238 grams |
| Screen | 6.78-inch AMOLED FullHD+ resolution (2,448 x 1,080 pixels) 144Hz HDR 10+ 300Hz sampling rate Gorilla Glass Victus | 6.78-inch AMOLED FullHD+ resolution (2,448 x 1,080 pixels) 144Hz HDR 10+ 300Hz sampling rate Gorilla Glass Victus | 6.78-inch AMOLED FullHD+ resolution (2,448 x 1,080 pixels) 144Hz HDR 10+ 300Hz sampling rate Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Processor | Snapdragon 888 GPU Adreno 660 | Snapdragon 888 GPU Adreno 660 | Snapdragon 888 GPU Adreno 660 |
| RAM | 8/12GB LPDDR5 | 16GB LPDDR5 | 18GB LPDDR5 |
| Internal Storage | 128/256GB UFS 3.1 External hard drive support | 512GB UFS 3.1 External hard drive support | 512GB UFS 3.1 External hard drive support |
| Battery | Dual 3,000mAH 6,000mAh in total 65W fast charge | Dual3,000 mAH 6,000mAh in total 65W fast charge | Dual 3,000mAH 6,000mAh in total 65W fast charge |
| Rear Camera | 64MP f/1.8, PDAF Wide angle 13MP f/2.5, 125º Macro 5MP f/2.0 Video 8K @ 30FPS | 64MP f/1.8, PDAF Wide angle 13MP f/2.5, 125º Macro 5MP f/2.0 Video 8K @ 30FPS | 64MP f/1.8, PDAF Wide angle 13MP f/2.5, 125º Macro 5MP f/2.0 Video 8K @ 30FPS |
| Front Camera | 24MP f/2.45 | 24MP f/2.45 | 24MP f/2.45 |
| Operating System | Android 11 with ROG UI | Android 11 with ROG UI | Android 11 with ROG UI |
| Connectivity | WiFi 6E 5G NSA and SA Bluetooth 5.2 GPS Dual nanoSIM USB Type C x2 Pogo PIN | WiFi 6E 5G NSA and SA Bluetooth 5.2 GPS Dual nanoSIM USB Type C x2 Pogo PIN | WiFi 6E 5G NSA and SA Bluetooth 5.2 GPS Dual nanoSIM USB Type C x2 Pogo PIN |
| Others | Quad DAC 4 x Noise Reduction Microphones Compatible with RGB LED Accessories Front Speakers | Quad DAC 4 x Noise Reduction Microphones Compatible with RGB LED Accessories Front Speakers Rear Touch Sensor PMOLED Display | Quad DAC 4 x Noise Reduction Microphones Compatible with RGB LED Accessories Front Speakers Rear Touch Sensor Monochrome PMOLED Display |
| Prices | From €799 (around $950 / £684 / AU$1,233) | €1,199 (around $1,426 / £1,027 / AU$1,849) | €1,299 (around $1,545 / £1,112 / AU$2,004) |
The latest from Qualcomm and dual battery
ASUS is looking to break records with its new ROG Phone 5, although we’ve already seen some competing smartphones beat it to the punch. With 18GB of LPDDR5 RAM, the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate is along with the Nubia Redmagic 6 Pro, the first mobile with this inordinate amount of memory.
The Pro version does not fall short, incorporating 16GB. Meanwhile, the standard ROG Phone 5 comes with different versions, starting from 8GB and reaching 16GB in its top model. For storage, both the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate and the Pro model incorporate 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage. This is not the case with the standard model, which starts at 128GB.
The amount of technology incorporated in these ROG Phone 5’s is very high, making their list of specifications very long. We can start with the processor, identical in all three versions: the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 manufactured in 5 nanometers and with eight cores up to 2.84GHz. ASUS further explains that the Adreno 660 GPU is ‘overclocked’ from the factory to offer 35% extra performance over the previous model.
Another highlight of gaming cell phones is the battery. Precisely games are what consume the most and here ASUS offers very competitive numbers. There is a total of 6000mAh, with an MMT design consisting of two 3,000mAh batteries. With this what they theoretically achieve is to reduce the charging temperature and optimize the cooling of the device. For fast charging, a system of up to 65W is chosen.
ASUS explains that the GameCool 5 cooling system has taken a huge step forward. The entire vapor chamber system and the motherboard have been restructured to significantly increase dissipation. According to ASUS, the surface temperature of the mobile is reduced by 15°C and the CPU by 10°C. In terms of connectivity, the ROG Phone 5 comes with WiFi 6E, aptX, and Bluetooth 5.2.
144Hz AMOLED panel with up to 800 nits
The display is one of the main elements for gaming and these ASUS ROG Phone 5 want to stand out here as well. It adds a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with 2,448 x 1,080 pixels for a density of 395 PPI. This is a panel manufactured by Samsung, certified for HDR10+ and with a brightness ranging from a minimum of 5 nits to 800 nits. According to the company, up to 23% brighter than the previous generation.
This is not the panel with the highest refresh rate, but it does incorporate an interesting 144Hz along with a touch sampling rate of 300Hz and a touch latency of 24.3 milliseconds. For protection, ASUS opts for Gorilla Glass Victus, which promises twice the resistance and drops of up to two meters. Also hidden under the display is the fingerprint reader.
For the sound experience, the ROG Phone 5’s come with front-facing speakers. Specifically two seven-magnet speakers with Cirrus Logic CS35L45 amplifiers. To complement this, a Dirac Research AB signal processor and a HyperStream II Quad Dac are incorporated. Not forgetting the 3.5mm jack port for those who want to connect their headphones and up to four microphones with noise reduction.
The body of the ASUS ROG Phone is the same in all three versions, at least in terms of dimensions and weight. This is not a lightweight phone, but we think the 238 grams are justified. On the side, there is a USB-C port for charging the phone in a horizontal position.
For the photographic section, a 64-megapixel IMX686 main sensor is added along with a 13-megapixel sensor for a 125-degree wide-angle and a third 5-megapixel macro sensor. On the front, a 24-megapixel sensor with an f/2.45 aperture lens is added. A triple camera configuration that allows obtaining videos in 8K resolution at 30 fps.
Rear PMOLED display and touch controls
The ROG Phone 5 software incorporates different modes to optimize the system when it comes to gaming. There are options to save battery, detect applications that are consuming, or an X mode to optimize performance.
Air Trigger 5 is the technology for enhanced sensitivity and gesture control. It offers up to 18 control points to quickly activate certain actions. A system that can also be used outside of games. From touching in the corners to swiping along the edge. The novelty comes with the ASUS ROG Phone 5 Ultimate that adds two extra touch areas in the rear area.
Both the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate and ROG Phone 5 Pro feature ROG Vision, a rear PMOLED display. The Pro model is in color, while the Ultimate version offers a monochrome version.
Gaming phones are not only focused on power but also control. That is why many opt for physical controls. This is the case with the ROG Phone 5, which comes with various accessories.
In the case of the ROG Phone 5, an updated ROG Gamepad is added, with two different sizes. A dock to add HDMI and two USB devices, the ROG Clip to incorporate the cell phone to the controllers of consoles such as PS4, Xbox, or Stadia controller, and a protective case.
Prices and Availability of ROG Phone 5, ROG Phone 5 Pro, and ROG Phone 5 Ultimate
The ASUS ROG Phone 5 will be available soon in two colors (‘Phantom Black’ and ‘Storm White’) and three different storage versions. Specifically, the most affordable version will be available from April.
- ASUS ROG Phone 5 (8/128GB): €799 (around $950 / £684 / AU$1,233)
- ASUS ROG Phone 5 (12/256GB): €899 (around $1,069 / £769 / AU$1,367)
- ASUS ROG Phone 5 (16/256GB): €999 (around $1,188 / £855 / AU$1,541)
The ROG Phone 5 Pro with its 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage will be available only in black color and in April for €1,199 (around $1,426 / £1,027 / AU$1,849). Meanwhile, the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate will be available in May in a limited edition and white color for €1,299 (around $1,545 / £1,112 / AU$2,004) in its 18GB RAM and 512GB storage version.
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