Smartphones are an essential part of modern life. Whether you are doing research, riding the train, or keeping a diary, you can do it all with your smartphone. We live in an age where everything can be done with a smartphone. It is interesting to use the "Screen Time" function for iPhone users and the "Digital Wellbeing" function for Android users to see how much time you spend on your smartphone each day, as well as a breakdown of the apps you use! I bet you play a lot of games, don't you? I know I did, didn't I? Well, this time, I recommend it to such smartphone gamers! This time, we will be reviewing the latest gaming smartphone from ASUS, the " ROG Phone 8 "!
ROG Phone 8 review!
Don!
If it weren't a smartphone, it would look like it was filled with yokan jelly. The ASUS gaming brand "Republic of Gamers (ROG)" logo and the "ROG PHONE 8" text design are sure to raise expectations.
I couldn't wait to get my hands on it, so I opened it right away!
Check out the contents!
- ROG Phone 8
- Genuine clear case
- User manual (and product warranty card)
- SIM eject pin
- AC adapter
- USB cable Type-C to Type-C
Contents are as shown below.
The heavy AC adapter can charge the battery at 65W. It can fully charge a large-capacity 5,500mAh battery in about 39 minutes.
Unfortunately, there are only a few cases that are compatible with the ROG Phone 8, so we are happy to see a genuine clear case that can be used for the time being! By the way, the sticker with the serial number on it can be removed cleanly, so remove it before you start.
First, let's observe the main unit
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I purchased a "ROG Phone 8" in Level Gray. The model number is "ROG8-GY16R256".
In addition to the ROG logo, "GLHF (Good Luck Have Fun)" and "EST.2006" are simple, but the design contains a message. Starting with the first ROG motherboard "ROG Crosshair Extreme" in 2006, ROG has been a leader in the gaming hardware industry...! ROG Phone has been trying to keep the design simple, and the recent ROG Phone has a calm and relaxed impression. Perhaps reflecting the needs of everyday use?
As for the rear camera...
- 13-megapixel ultra wide-angle camera (35mm equivalent: 12.7mm / F value 2.2)
- 50-megapixel wide-angle camera (35mm equivalent: 23.8mm / F value 1.9)
- 32-megapixel telephoto camera (35mm equivalent: 65.3mm / F value 2.4)
The triple-lens configuration is arranged in a one-to-two configuration, rather than side-by-side. Movies can be shot at 4K (3,840 x 2,160)/60fps or 8K (7,680 x 4,320)/24fps!
Incidentally, there is an NFC/Osaifu-Keitai detection area just below this lens. Yes, that's right! The ROG Phone 8 is the first model in the series to support Felica! A gaming smartphone that can also be equipped with a transportation IC, finally covering all of your daily needs.
The earphone jack is still available!
This image shows the underside of the ROG Phone 8 with the screen down. It shows the 3.5mm earphone jack, speaker, SIM card tray, USB Type-C port, and microphone.
"ROG Phone 8" is also focused on sound quality, with dual built-in speakers for a powerful stereo sound experience. The 3D sound, both wired and wireless, by Dirac Virtuo is also high-resolution. It also features a 3.5mm earphone jack, which is on the decline!
This is the left side. The second USB Type-C port is located on the left side of the phone, which is supposed to be in the front when held horizontally. And what a surprise! This USB Type-C port supports USB Power Delivery 3.0 and DisplayPort Alternate Mode! The speed will be the same regardless of which USB port you use if you are charging with the included AC adapter, but the ability to output video to a monitor will be of some use.
On the right side are the volume buttons, power button, microphone and AirTrigger touch sensor. Although the "ROG Phone 8" has a large 6.78" screen, the volume and power buttons are located near the center of the device, making it easy to operate with one hand.
The AirTrigger is the centerpiece of the ROG Phone. You can play smartphone games by assigning controls as if they were the LR buttons on a controller.
The top side has only a microphone with a small hole. The camera, which sticks out about 3 mm in actual measurement, is a bit conspicuous.... The thinning of the smartphone body and the thickness of the lens due to the high-performance camera are inextricably linked.
Attaching the included genuine case
This is what it looks like with the included genuine clear case! It features a slightly flashy design to cover the simple body design. Of course, AirTrigger and the USB Type-C port on the side can be used without any problem.
Power on!
Thank you for your patience! Power on!
The Android OS will boot with the familiar " Shakin" sound of ROG products. The Android OS starts up with the familiar "shakin" sound of ROG products.
The ROG Phone 8 comes with Android 14 by default, but it has its own tuning called ROG UI. In short, the UI becomes a cool gaming spec! Specifically...
- Volume control mode
- Volume panel switching option
- Volume button option for incoming calls
- Incoming call display
- Clock display on lock screen
- Quick settings panel style
- Power button menu
The UI can be changed for each of these items. These can be set individually for each item.
The author especially likes the Quick Settings panel style! The ROG UI allows many icons to be placed on one screen, making operation easy. In addition to turning Wi-Fi and mobile data on and off, you can also place frequently used operations such as Airplane mode, flashlight, and manner mode.
These can be changed at any time from [Settings] > [System Preferences].
Tutorials are also available
The ROG Phone 8 is a "gaming" smartphone. A tutorial is essential at the beginning of a game! It will start when you finish the simple initial setup of the "ROG Phone 8"!
In this tutorial, you will also learn about the main feature, the AirTrigger. It is a sensor, so it does not have physical buttons, but the vibration response makes it feel very responsive! It will be especially useful in shooting games.
After the tutorial, you will be taken to a cool home screen!
By the way, you can change the design of the app icon from [long press on home screen]>[icon].
ASUS is well known for its utility software "Armoury Crate" that allows users to configure various settings such as lighting and performance! Of course, the ROG Phone 8 also comes standard with Armoury Crate, which allows you to monitor performance and change operation modes. And with the lighting settings...
!
The eyes on the back light up! If you're thinking, "No, no, the back doesn't light up..." you're naive! The lighting settings can be set to glow in any color or pattern you like based on conditions such asincoming phone calls ornotifications. In other words, you can see the status of your smartphone even when it is placed face down on your desk!
Full AI functionality
"The ROG Phone 8 has a full range of AI features! Select a theme, tone, or inspiration and AI will generate a new wallpaper for you, and the gallery search will hit even obscure words.
In addition, three titles, "Arena of Valor," "Genshin Impact," and "Collapse: Star Rail," support the X Sense function! You can automatically collect treasure chests, auto-run, skip conversations, etc.... You may be thinking, "Is it safe? ", you can use these features.
A gaming smartphone for everyday use.
We have introduced the ROG Phone 8 in a brief introduction, but new smartphones are something that you gradually learn how to use. We will be using it hard from now on, and will be going deeper into its charms! The "ROG Phone 8" has high-end gaming performance, of course, but with its Felica compatibility, it also covers all aspects of everyday use!
The "ROG Phone 8" is available for 159,800 yen (including tax) and the "ROG Phone 8 Pro" for 179,800 yen (including tax)! For detailed specifications, please refer to the respective product pages on the ASUS Store.
| Specifications | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | ROG Phone 8 | ROG Phone 8 Pro |
| Display | 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED | |
| Resolution | 2,400 x 1,080 pixels (Full HD+) | |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | |
| OS | Android 14 | |
| Memory | 16GB | |
| Storage | 256GB | 512GB |
| Water and dust resistance | IP65/IP68 | |
| Battery capacity | 5,500mAh | |
| Size | Height 163.8 mm x Width 76.8 mm x Depth 8.9 mm | |
| Weight | Approx. 225g | |
Sorry, this article is only available in Japanese. at the moment.
