The Asus ROG 5 has set itself up to be one of the best gaming smartphones on the market. While Asus is most definitely not known for smartphones, this one is putting them on the map in the world of handheld devices.
The ROG 5 isn’t just great for gaming either; it has great specs, a good camera, and most definitely performs well as a smartphone. Here are the reasons why the Asus ROG 5 is such a great device.
Table of Contents
Design
While the look of the phone may not be for everyone, it does have a game-like aesthetic. The big logos and bright colors set on a black base resemble a gaming keyboard or mouse design. It is also a very large device – depending on your hands, you might find it uncomfortably large.
However, the 6.78-inch screen is almost a necessity for a “gaming smartphone”, and the minimal bezels combined with the large screen give you a handheld gaming device that feels right out of the box.
The phone is fitted with front-facing stereo speakers, which are also some of the best speakers you’ll ever hear on the phone. It is also fitted with a headphone jack and shoulder triggers that can be mapped to actions in a game, really rounding off the gaming device feel and design.
Performance
Performance is where the ROG 5 aims to set itself apart from the competition. It is a phone designed for the ultimate gaming experience, so it needs hardware to make that happen. To start with, it is fitted with a Snapdragon 888 chip, and while the A14 Bionic from Apple is better, this 888 is the best you can get on an Android device.
The phone also comes with 8GB, 12GB, or 16GB worth of RAM, depending on which model you pick up. The phone is also able to run almost every game seamlessly, giving you top-tier performance and frame rates.
While it does struggle to run smoothly on max settings in some games, it will still give you a world-class gaming experience no matter what you play.
Special Features
The Game Genie is a feature of the ROG Phone 5 that any gamer is bound to love. This menu is found by dragging from one side of the screen and gives you access to everything from refresh rates to the shoulder button mapping options and gives you a stats overview of your CPU, temperatures, clock speed, etc.
The phone also allows users to choose from one of three different modes. X-Mode is designed to give you the best performance possible while gaming and sets the phone up with the maximum settings.
Dynamic Mode is a mode that adjusts to your wants and needs, and the third is Ultra Mode is designed to give you increased battery life. There is also a custom mode if you want to get into and change each setting individually.
A port also allows you to connect a cooling accessory called the AeroActive cooler. This can be used to cool down your device and protect the battery and internals. It is a strange addition, but when you think of the fact that PCs and gaming consoles have fans, it does make sense.
Battery
If you have a device that prides itself on being the ultimate gaming smartphone, it will need a battery to match. Luckily, the Asus ROG 5 can back this up, with its 6000mAh battery setup.
You can get almost two days of consistent use out of the battery before it needs to be charged again. If you are going to be using it for the game for a few hours, you can expect to get 10 hours out of it.
Most impressively, the battery can be charged from 0% to 70% in about 30 minutes, with many tests showing it reaches about 45% in 15 minutes. You can also change the amount of battery you want to be charged, which can help extend the battery’s life.
Price
The ROG 5 comes in at about €800 and goes up to about €1100. It is most definitely on the pricier side, but for the first time in a very long time, if ever, you are getting a phone that is certainly a two-in-one.
If you view it as a device that is both a smartphone and handheld gaming device, it is well worth the money. The multiple RAM and storage options are great for varying budgets, and the SD slot allows for more memory.
The ROG 5 is certainly at the forefront of gaming smartphones and sets a very high bar for future devices in this niche. It does a brilliant job at being a phone, and an even better job at being a gaming device. If you are a game lover and looking for a new phone, the ROG 5 should be on your radar.
