Asus ROG Phone 5
Verdict
Combining top-tier performance with a brilliant display, loads of battery life, and a fun game-centric design, the ASUS ROG Phone 5 offers one of the most compelling mobioe gaming experiences on the market today.
Key specs
Critic consensus
“Besides still being the best gaming smartphone, it is an excellent all-round flagship phone, with unique versatility under its collar. Of course, no one phone is perfect and there are plenty of drawbacks to consider as well.”
“The Ultimate has a higher performance than the conventional ROG Phone 5 and is primarily aimed at fans of the series. The working memory upgrade is really good, with a total of 18 GB on the spec sheet, but it only offers little added value in everyday use. In contrast, the 512 GB UFS 3.1 storage offers a lot of space for numerous games and other data. Like the Pro model the Ultimate also comes with the AeroActive Cooler 5, but Asus also adds a fan box. The monochrome ROG Vision display is probably a matter of taste, but the two additional rear touch sensors work well, but are a bit too far away from the AirTriggers for small hands. Overall, the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate is still a bit better than its siblings, although the core features are identical.”
“Asus' ROG Phone 5 Pro has surprisingly little added value for its rather steep surcharge. The Vision display on the back is certainly a nice gimmick, but it does not offer any added value in everyday use. The doubling of the memory and the additional frequency bands could be more interesting, and the AeroActive Cooler 5 is included, which would otherwise also cost 60 Euros (~$70). Nevertheless, the ROG Phone 5 Pro remains the best gaming smartphone at the moment, with a strong configuration. Besides the 144 Hz AMOLED display, the performance-stable processor, additional ultrasonic sensor keys, two USB ports, and the broad support of games with 120 and 144 Hz are particularly important.”
“Technology-wise, the Asus smartphone features state-of-the-art components in most areas. You only have to make some compromises when it comes to the display, since it lacks adaptive refresh-rate control and a higher resolution. It's questionable whether the latter is relevant for gaming, though. The AirTriggers have been further improved, and they offer a real added value. It's just a shame that the new rear display and the additional touch elements are reserved for the more expensive models. As a result, users who already own an ROG Phone 3 will have little incentive to switch to the cheapest version, especially since battery life is worse than on the predecessor and fewer accessories are included in the box.”
In Depth
ROG stands for Republic Of Gamers, which hints at what ASUS’ ROG Phone 5 is all about. They have been on a mission to make the best gaming phone on the market. How close does the ROG Phone 5 come to perfection?
Design
There’s no denying the phone has a striking appearance. Reviewers compared it to something out of the ’80s with its glowing hot pink logo on the back of the phone. However, the front doesn’t look any different from its predecessors. It wasn’t a complete redesign but more of a round of changes to an already decent gaming phone.
Reviewers loved the addition of air triggers that act as the shoulder buttons on a video game controller so that there is more of a gamer feel than a touch screen.
Display
Reviewers said that this is one of the best screens they’ve ever used — as long as you don’t mind a huge display. It has a 144Hz refresh rate by default and adjusts to whatever app you’re using to keep things looking silky smooth.
Performance
With 18GB of RAM at your disposal, it’s pretty tricky — maybe even impossible — to slow the ROG Phone 5 down. However, reviewers said that it’s also overkill based on the apps and games available today. While it might seem unnecessary now, however, it should help the phone age well.
Software & Storage
The ASUS ROG Phone 5 runs Android 11 along with a custom ROG UI. Storage is a slight downside to the ROG Phone 5. It comes with a decent amount of internal storage, but reviewers were displeased that the phone doesn’t offer a MicroSD expansion slot given how big modern games can be.
Cameras
Photography isn’t a focus on this phone. Reviewers said the camera on the ROG Phone 5 was mediocre. It takes okay pictures, but they’re never excellent. That’s the price paid for a niche phone focused on gaming it seems.
Battery Life
There are two batteries in the ROG Phone 5, each with a capacity of 3000mAh. This allows for a lot of game time. Unless you’re gaming all day long, you should have no trouble hitting a full day on a single charge.
Audio
The ASUS ROG Phone 5 has two front-facing stereo speakers. Reviewers loved the audio experience and thought the phone’s speakers are great.
Specs at a Glance
- Plastic chassis
- 6.78-inch AMOLED display
- Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 processor
- 8/12/16GB of RAM
- Android 11
- 256GB of storage
- 64MP camera
- (2) 3000mAh Batteries
Bottom Line
When it comes to gaming phones, ASUS continues to run the show. With some minor tweaks to the previous model, they’ve released a more than capable phone. Even with reviewers’ drawbacks, the ASUS ROG Phone 5 is still the best gaming phone available today.
The Verge says, “This is ASUS’ latest attempt (technically its fourth, but it’s skipping that number in the name for superstitious reasons) at building a console-like experience into a phone for a niche but thriving global crowd of mobile gamers. It offers more power and customization than other large-screened phones, both in terms of hardware and software. It’s a real spec sandwich.”
Wired comments, “ASUS’ new smartphone, the ROG Phone 5, makes mobile gaming more tactile and fun. Two built-in touch-sensitive buttons on the side of the phone improve the experience, as does helpful software that makes physical controllers compatible with any game—and custom accessories, like a clip-on fan to keep things cool.”
What people actually want to know
When was the Asus ROG Phone 5 released?
The Asus ROG Phone 5 was released on March 22, 2021.
How long does the battery last on the Asus ROG Phone 5?
The Asus ROG Phone 5 has a 6,000 mAh battery.
Does the Asus ROG Phone 5 support wireless charging?
No, the Asus ROG Phone 5 does not support wireless charging.
Does the Asus ROG Phone 5 have a headphone jack?
Yes, the Asus ROG Phone 5 has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Does the Asus ROG Phone 5 have NFC?
Yes, the Asus ROG Phone 5 has NFC. You can use Google Wallet, Apple Pay, and tap-to-pair with Bluetooth accessories.
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