Asus ROG Phone 8 is official: Sleeker, lighter, and packed with power،
, and the company has just added a new addition to its ROG phone lineup. THE
now has a successor.
The ROG Phone 8 brings a new and sleeker design compared to its predecessors: it is more compact, thinner and lighter. This smartphone steps up its game with an improved camera setup. The big news? It features a 3x 32MP telephoto lens, a first for the ROG Phone series.
Gamers who push their phones to the extreme will be excited about Asus' latest update. The ROG Phone 8 features a new cooling system that directly and effectively keeps the chipset cool. And about that chipset, it is the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Now let's see what else this new phone from Asus brings.
Asus claims the ROG Phone 8 is a game-changer: it's 17% smaller, 15% thinner, and 9% lighter than the ROG Phone 7. The company has kept the cool RGB lighting on the back. You can customize the ROG eye logo with a bunch of solid colors or preset lighting patterns. Additionally, the phone comes with an IP68 rating, making it dust and water resistant.
Image credit–Asus
The ROG Phone 8 features a 6.78-inch Samsung AMOLED display with LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) technology. This combo not only offers stunning visuals but also energy efficiency. The cool side of LTPO? It can change the screen refresh rate on the fly, depending on what you're watching or playing.
The ROG Phone 8 steps up its game with up to 165Hz refresh rate for smooth gaming experiences. Its touch sampling rate reaches a remarkable 720 Hz, ensuring ultra-fast responsiveness. Additionally, with a peak brightness of 2,500 nits, you can game or watch movies even under direct sunlight without any issues.
The ROG Phone 8 has slimmed down its bezels, achieving a 94% screen-to-body ratio. And for added durability, the screen is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, making it more resistant to scratches and drops.
Packed with a key feature for gamers, the ROG Phone 8 includes an eye protection mode. This reduces blue light, which is known to cause eye strain and disrupt sleep patterns. This is an important feature, especially for long gaming sessions.
ROG Phone 8 camera capabilities revealed
Image credit–Asus
Take the AI Object Sense feature, for example: it divides the image into sections – like sky, sea and sand – and adjusts the contrast and saturation for each, promising more vibrant but more natural shots.
Experience the gaming prowess of ROG Phone 8
Image credit–Asus
Let's dive into the ROG Phone 8 performance, a crucial aspect of everything gaming phone. At its base is the Snapdragon 8 generation 3 chipset, supported by Asus' cutting-edge cooling technology.
Asus introduces the SoC 360° Gen 2 cooling system. It features a rapid cooling conductor strategically placed between the SoC and the metal back of the phone, ensuring even heat distribution across all thermal layers.
When you add the AeroActive Cooler X, it aligns with the rapid cooling driver, directly cooling the chipset for optimal performance. Additionally, AeroActive Cooler X brings two additional physical buttons for an enhanced gaming experience. There are also built-in AirTrigger controls that mimic a console with support for various gestures such as double action, tap and lift, and gyroscope aiming.
Asus offers the ROG Phone 8 in three storage options: 12GB/256GB, 16GB/512GB, and a 24GB/1TB version exclusive to the Pro model. It comes with Android 14 and ROG UI, packed with gamer-centric software features like Background Mode, allowing you to run games in the background to continue your quest even when you're not actively playing.
On the sound side, the phone steps up its game by integrating Dirac Virtuo technology. Dirac, a Swedish audio technology company known for its digital sound optimization, brings spatial sound to any type of headphones – wired, Bluetooth or USB-C. This means you can expect a cinema-like audio experience, whether gaming, streaming movies, or listening to music.
What about the ROG Phone 8 battery and charging?
With all its power, you're probably wondering about the battery life of the ROG Phone 8. It packs a 5,500mAh battery, supporting both fast and wireless charging. Asus claims it can go from 0% to 100% in around 39 minutes. The battery is said to last up to 3.4 hours of intense gaming, 23 hours of video streaming, or 17 hours of Instagram browsing. Of course, you will have to test the phone to verify these figures.
What is the price and when will it be available?
Asus has set the starting price of the ROG Phone 8 at $1,099.99 for the base 12GB/256GB model. There is, however, a special pre-order offer, dropping the price to $999.99. If you're considering the beefier ROG Phone 8 Pro with 16GB/512GB, that'll cost you $1,199.99.
Launch is planned for February in the UK and Europe. As for when it will hit US shelves, that remains under wraps, with Asus planning to announce the date later.
