The smartphone is essential for modern life.
Researching things, riding the train, keeping a diary—all of these can be done with a smartphone in this day and age.
If you have an iPhone, using the "Screen Time" feature, or if you have an Android, using the "Digital Wellbeing" feature, you can see your daily smartphone usage time and the breakdown of apps, which is interesting!
I bet many of you spend a lot of time gaming, right? The author certainly did!
Now, this is highly recommended for such mobile gamers!
We bring you a review of the "ROG Phone 8," the latest gaming smartphone developed by ASUS!
Reviewing the "ROG Phone 8"!
Ta-da!
The rectangular package looks like it could hold a fancy cookie can if it weren't a smartphone.
The logo of ASUS's gaming brand "Republic of Gamers (ROG)" and the text design of "ROG PHONE 8" build up anticipation.
I can't wait, so let's open it immediately!
Checking the Contents!
The contents are as follows:
- ROG Phone 8 unit
- Official clear case
- User manual (doubles as a product warranty)
- SIM eject pin
- AC adapter
- USB cable Type-C to Type-C
The heavy AC adapter allows for 65W rapid charging.
It's an excellent piece of hardware that can fully charge the large-capacity 5,500mAh battery in approximately 39 minutes.
Since compatible cases for the "ROG Phone 8" are unfortunately few, the included official clear case is also welcome!
By the way, the sticker with the serial number can be peeled off cleanly, so it's a good idea to remove it early on.
First, Observing the Unit
The unit purchased this time is the Rebel Grey "ROG Phone 8."
The model number is "ROG8-GY16R256."
In addition to the ROG logo, the design is simple yet incorporates messages like "GLHF (Good Luck Have Fun)" and "EST.2006."
Starting with the release of the first ROG motherboard, the "ROG Crosshair Extreme," in 2006, ROG has continued its journey as a leader in the gaming hardware industry to this day!
The recent ROG Phones seem to favor a simple design, giving a calm impression.
Perhaps this reflects the needs of daily use?
The rear camera has a triple-lens configuration, which consists of the following:
- 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)
They are arranged in a 1-by-2 shape rather than side-by-side.
Video shooting supports up to 4K (3,840 x 2,160)/60fps or 8K (7,680 x 4,320)/24fps!
Incidentally, the NFC/Osaifu-Keitai detection area is located just below this lens.
Yes! The "ROG Phone 8" is the series' first model compatible with Felica!
A gaming smartphone that can also hold transportation IC cards finally covers all aspects of daily use.
The Earphone Jack is Still Here!
This image shows the bottom side of the "ROG Phone 8" with the screen facing down.
The 3.5mm earphone jack, speaker, SIM card tray, USB Type-C port, and microphone are lined up.
The "ROG Phone 8" also focuses on sound quality, and the built-in dual speakers allow for a powerful stereo sound experience.
In addition, the 3D sound, which supports both wired and wireless connections via Dirac Virtuo, is Hi-Res compatible.
It is also equipped with a 3.5mm earphone jack, which is rapidly disappearing!
This is the left side.
It is assumed to be the front when held horizontally, and a second USB Type-C port is placed here.
And get this! This USB Type-C port supports USB Power Delivery 3.0 and DisplayPort Alternate Mode!
The charging speed is the same regardless of which USB port is used with the included AC adapter, but the ability to output video to a monitor could be useful for various purposes.
The right side is equipped with the volume button, power button, microphone, and AirTrigger touch sensors.
Despite the large 6.78-inch screen of the "ROG Phone 8," the volume and power buttons are located toward the center of the device, making single-handed operation easy.
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And AirTrigger is a key feature of the "ROG Phone."
You can assign controls just like the L and R buttons on a controller to play mobile games.
The top side only has a small microphone hole.
The camera, which sticks out approximately 3mm in actual measurement, is a bit noticeable.
The thinning of the smartphone body and the thickness of the lens due to the installation of a high-performance camera are conflicting elements.
Attaching the Included Official Case
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Here is what it looks like with the included official clear case attached!
It features a slightly flashy design that covers the simple design of the unit.
Of course, the AirTrigger and the side USB Type-C port can also be used without any issues.
Power On!
Thank you for waiting! Power on!
The Android OS starts up with the familiar cool sound effect unique to ROG products.
The "ROG Phone 8" comes pre-installed with Android 14 but features its own proprietary tuning called ROG UI.
Essentially, this means the UI becomes a cool gaming specification!
Specifically, the following are subject to UI changes:
- Volume adjustment mode
- Volume panel switching option
- Incoming call volume button option
- Incoming call display
- Lock screen clock display
- Quick setting panel style
- Power button menu
These can also be set individually for each item.
The author is particularly fond of the quick setting panel style!
The ROG UI allows you to set many icons on a single screen, making operation easy.
Be sure to place frequently used operations like Wi-Fi and mobile data on/off, as well as airplane mode, flashlight, and silent mode here.
Note that these can be changed at any time from “Settings > System Preferences.”
There Is Also a Tutorial
The "ROG Phone 8" is a gaming smartphone.
A tutorial is essential for the start of any game!
It begins after you finish the simple initial setup of the "ROG Phone 8"!
You can also learn about the key feature, AirTrigger, in this tutorial.
Although it is a sensor and not a physical button, the vibration response provides an excellent operational feel!
It should be particularly useful in shooting games.
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The home screen looks cool once the tutorial is finished!
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By the way, the design of the app icons can be changed from “Long press on the home screen > Icons”.
ASUS is also known for its utility software, "Armoury Crate," which allows for various settings such as lighting and performance!
Naturally, it is standard on the "ROG Phone 8," allowing for performance monitoring and changing operating modes.
Furthermore, if you set up the lighting...
The eye on the back lights up!
Those who think, "Well, what good is the back lighting up..." are mistaken!
The lighting settings can be set to light up in your preferred color or pattern based on conditions like incoming calls or receiving notifications.
In other words, you can know the smartphone's status even if it is placed face down on your desk!
Abundant AI Features
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The "ROG Phone 8" is also rich in AI features!
The AI can generate new wallpapers based on your selected theme, tone, or inspiration, and gallery searches can find hits even with vague words.
Furthermore, three titles—"Arena of Valor," "Genshin Impact," and "Honkai: Star Rail"—support the X Sense feature!
This feature can automatically collect treasure chests, auto-run, and automatically skip conversations.
You can use features that might make you wonder, Is this even legal?
A Gaming Smartphone for Daily Use
I have given a quick introduction, but you gradually learn how to use a new smartphone.
I intend to use it extensively from now on to delve deeper into its appeal!
The "ROG Phone 8" not only has high-end gaming performance but also fully covers daily use with its Felica support.
If you play mobile games often, you should consider it as an option!
The "ROG Phone 8" is available for 999.99 USD, and the "ROG Phone 8 Pro" is available for 1199.99 USD!
For detailed specifications, please refer to the respective product pages on the ASUS Store.
| Specs Overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | ROG Phone 8 | ROG Phone 8 Pro |
| Display | 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED | |
| Resolution | 2,400 x 1,080 dots (Full HD+) | |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | |
| OS | Android 14 | |
| Memory | 16GB | |
| Storage | 256GB | 512GB |
| Water/Dust Resistance | IP65/IP68 | |
| Battery Capacity | 5,500mAh | |
| Size | Height 163.8mm x Width 76.8mm x Depth 8.9mm | |
| Weight | Approx. 225g | |
