The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro debuted in India on January 08, 2024, and people are wondering if it's still a gaming phone. Unlike the ancestors, this new model looks quite different. Even with the new look, the 8 Pro keeps its focus on gaming without making things complicated. However,  this flagship smartphone's performance has changed a bit though. The previous ROG phones used to work like a gaming PC. Interestingly, the latest 8 Pro serves in simpler and easier ways like a PlayStation. Let’s take a look at the detailed review of the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro.

Key Features and Specifications of ROG Phone 8 Pro

Design

The ROG Phone 8 Pro brings some notable changes to the table, introducing an edge-to-edge screen that enhances its aesthetic appeal. However, this design shift comes with trade-offs, such as the removal of dual front-facing speakers, impacting the immersive gaming experience. 

The incorporation of a pinhole camera in the screen raises concerns for a gaming device, disrupting the seamless display. Despite losing some distinctive features that set the ROG Phone apart, it retains the headphone jack and gains an IP68 rating, a positive addition given its open ports. The transition from a glass to a plastic back raises concerns about slipperiness, emphasising the need for a protective case. 

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The device maintains its off-centre USB-C, but a secondary USB-C on the side proves handy for charging during portrait-mode gaming. Notably, the pixel-like LED effects on the back, customizable to display various information, provide a unique touch and contribute positively to the gaming aesthetics, standing out from typical RGB implementations.

Weighing 225g, 8 Pro’s dimensions are 163.8 mm by 76.8 mm by 8.9 mm. It is available in Phantom Black colour.

Display

The ROG Phone 8 Pro maintains a 6.78-inch FHD OLED display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. It features 2,500 nits of peak brightness 

It lacks the QHD resolution seen in the contemporary Android flagships. The display supports an adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rate for regular use, with a fixed 165Hz rate for specific games, enhancing smoothness during gameplay. 

Read more: Asus ROG Phone 8 Review: 2024’s First Flagship Gaming Device

In comparison to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the ROG Phone 8 Pro excels in key metrics/ However, 8 Pro faces tough competition from the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which offers remarkable brightness and color accuracy. 

Notably, the ROG Phone 8 introduces a unique always-on display called Screen Light, utilizing tiny icons for charging status and essential information due to the absence of a thick top bezel. While functional, there's room for improvement, such as a scaling feature for better readability from a distance.

Camera

Asus aims to defy the gaming phone stereotype of subpar cameras with the ROG Phone 8, making significant upgrades to its camera setup. Replacing the ROG Phone 7's 5MP macro camera, the new model features a robust camera system, including a gimbal-stabilised 50MP main camera, a 32MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, a 13MP ultrawide camera, and a 32 MP selfie camera. 

This places the ROG Phone 8 Pro in direct competition with top camera phones, like the Galaxy S23 Ultra. In photo comparisons, the ROG Phone impresses with vibrant colours, but struggles in night mode, lacking the sharpness and appeal of the Samsung counterpart. The gimbal-stabilised camera proves advantageous for both stills and video, offering steadier footage than the Galaxy S23 Ultra. 

Notably, the ROG Phone's 32MP telephoto and selfie cameras employ pixel-binning, impacting image quality compared to the higher-resolution sensors in the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Despite some differences, the ROG Phone 8 Pro's camera upgrades mark a notable step forward for gaming phones in the photography realm.

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Performance and Hardware

The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro packs the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, delivering a good performance backed by 16GB of RAM in the standard Pro and a remarkable 24GB in the Pro Edition. 

Benchmarks show the ROG Phone outperforming the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in CPU and GPU, with X Mode enabling even higher performance, surpassing the iPhone 15 Pro Max in certain aspects. Despite trailing in single-core Geekbench 6 scores, the ROG Phone showcases its gaming prowess, holding back full power in the initial results. Storage options are generous, with 512GB by default and 1TB on the Pro Edition, catering well to the substantial space demands of mobile games, setting the ROG Phone 8 Pro apart in the gaming phone realm.

Software and Other Features

The ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro runs on Android 14 out of the box but disappoints with a limited update schedule, offering only two full Android updates and four years of security updates. However, it compensates with an array of gaming-centric features through the Armory Crate app, providing shortcuts to games and specific ROG gaming options. 

Notably, the capacitive AirTriggers enhance gaming experiences, offering tactile feedback and customization options. The AI Grabber feature facilitates quick Google searches for on-screen text without exiting games. Machine learning-powered noise cancellation, AI features for specific games, Dirac Virtuo spatial audio, and a reworked cooling system contribute to an immersive gaming experience. 

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The optional AeroActive Cooler accessory, included with the Pro Edition, adds physical triggers, RGB lighting, and cooling features, enhancing the ROG Phone's capabilities, though its regular use may be limited to professional gamers.

Battery and Charging

The ROG Phone 8 Pro packs a 5,500 mAh battery, slightly smaller than its predecessor due to a redesigned body but still larger than most Android phones with 5,000 mAh cells. Despite this reduction, Asus assures that it won't significantly impact battery life, and in testing, the ROG Phone 8 Pro outperforms the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate with an impressive endurance of 18 hours and 48 minutes in automatic refresh rate mode, beating out competitors like the Galaxy S23 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

The included 65W wired charger provides rapid charging, reaching 36% in 15 minutes, 71% in 30 minutes, and a full charge in 50 minutes. Additionally, the introduction of 15W Qi wireless charging adds a convenient feature absent in previous ROG Phones. Overall, the ROG Phone 8 Pro stands out as a battery life champion with efficient charging options.

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Pros and cons of Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro

Pros

- Exceptional speed
- Unmatched battery longevity
- Abundant gaming features
- Added telephoto camera
- Enhanced, water-resistant design

Cons

- Subpar photography
- Higher cost compared to alternative gaming phones.

Read more: Asus ROG Phone 7 Review: Does it offer value for money?

Price of ROG Phone 8 Pro

The ROG Phone 8 Pro is equipped with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage and it comes with a price tag of Rs 94,999 or BDT 1,25,565. The conversion rate here is INR 1 = BDT 1.32.

Conclusion

The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro strikes a balance between gaming features and regular premium smartphone capabilities. While gamers seeking aggressive designs and RGB lighting might find it less exciting, the phone competently caters to a broader audience. Its performance strengths remain notable, making it recommendable even for those less focused on gaming.

However, potential buyers are advised to wait for the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, considering Samsung's strong camera track record. Alternatively, the more budget-friendly RedMagic 9 Pro offers comparable gaming features.

For users valuing exceptional battery life and making extensive use of the Armory Crate's gaming-centric features, the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro uniquely bridges the gap between gaming and premium phone experiences.

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