Asus launches ROG Phone 8 Series: Fully gaming beast, now also for Everyday Use

Asus has launched the latest ROG Phone 8 series. This new line-up is not just an upgrade but a complete redesign, aiming to blend the best of gaming with the practicality of a daily driver.

There are three versions of the phone, but the differences are mostly cosmetic. With launch of ROG Phone 8, we now have phone launch as well at CES 2024 which is currently being dominated by laptops and monitors launches.

Specification of Asus ROG Phone 8 series

Design and Build

The ROG Phone 8 series has undergone a significant makeover, now slimmer and lighter than its predecessor. It measures a sleek 8.9mm in thickness and weighs 225g, a notable decrease from the ROG Phone 7’s 10.3mm and 239g. This design refinement, however, comes with a slight reduction in battery capacity to 5,500mAh (ROG 7 had 6,000mAh battery). Despite this, optimized hardware ensures battery life remains comparable to the previous model.

When looking at the back of the phone, we can see the difference between ROG Phne 8 and Phone 8 Pro/edition.

While ROG Phone 8 features Aura RGB Lighting logo, ROG Phone 8 Pro / Pro Edition has Anime Vision Mini-LED display. AniMe Vision is a 341-element display that can display preset or user-created animations, and users can also unlock secret animations by touching their phone back-to-back with another ROG Phone 8 Pro / Pro Edition.

Display Enhancements

Featuring a 6.78” display like its predecessor, the ROG Phone 8 boasts slimmer bezels and a punch hole camera, replacing the top bezel-embedded selfie cam of the older model. The phone’s overall dimensions are now more compact at 163.8mm by 76.8mm.

The display maintains a 165Hz refresh rate, but the introduction of an LTPO panel allows variable refresh rates between 1Hz and 120Hz. Another improvement is the peak brightness, which has been ramped up to an impressive 2,500 nits.

Performance Upgrades

Under the hood, the ROG Phone 8 series is powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. It offers configurations up to 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage. The base model starts with a 12GB RAM and 256GB storage configuration.

Cooling System

The cooling system has been revamped from convective cooling to conduction cooling, using a copper block through the motherboard. This is complemented by the AeroActive Cooler X, which is more efficient and compact than its predecessor.

The use of the new cooling system allows the ROG series 8 to be smaller and even water resistant. It is rated IP68 (up from just IP54 on its predecessor). Asus claims ROG 8 to be the world’s first IP68-compliant gaming smartphone.

Camera Capabilities

Asus has made significant strides in the camera department. The main 50MP camera with a Sony IMX890 sensor now features a 6-axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer 3.0, enhancing both video and images stability.

There is also the addition of a 3x telephoto lens with a 32MP sensor featuring OIS and 4-in-1 pixel binning technology. The front-facing camera also gets an upgrade to a 32MP sensor.

Connectivity and Additional Features

Asus has added 15W Qi wireless charging to the ROG Phone 8, alongside the existing 65W HyperCharge feature.

There is also Microsoft Phone Link Support, which ensures seamless integration with PCs.

Gaming Features

Asus has integrated AI to assist gamers, with features like Auto Pick Up and Fast Forward in games like Genshin Impact. The phone also supports Microsoft Phone Link for seamless integration with PCs.

Pricing and Availability

The ROG Phone 8 series starts at $1,099 in the US, the Pro is €1,199 (16GB/512), while the Pro Edition costs €1,499 (24GB/1TB). Pre-orders in Europe have already begun.

ROG AeroActive Cooler X,

Indian Pricing and availability

During the launch event, Asus only disclosed about US and Europe pricing and availability. But now we know about Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro Indian pricing details as well.

The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro comes in a single Phantom Black color with two memory options –

• 16GB/512GB priced at INR94,999 and
• 24GB/1TB, at INR119,999. This 24GB RAM version, is called called Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition, will come bundled with the ROG AeroActive Cooler X, which will also be available for purchase separately for INR5,999 ($70/€65).
• The pricing for Asus ROG phone is still not known

The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro will be sold in India through the company’s official website, Asus stores, and Vijay Sales. However, the brand is yet to announce the sale date.

ASUS’s vision of blending high-end gaming specifications with the practicality of a daily driver is commendable. This series could very well redefine what users expect from a gaming smartphone, merging the best of both worlds. Asus has adopted the same strategy with their latest 2024 ROG Zephyrus G16 and G16 series laptops.

I will not be surprised if Asus somehow merges ROG phone series with Asus Zenfone series in manner like both phone having same base with only certain niche level changes.

Nevertheless, the ROG Phone 8 series, caters so effectively to both gamers and general users, which is rare. ASUS has struck a fine balance, making the ROG Phone 8 series a compelling choice for anyone seeking top-tier performance in a more accessible format.