Asus ROG Phone 5 review: On top of its game

The ROG Telephone 5 begins at Rs 49,999. (Picture credit score: Saurabh Singh/Monetary Categorical)

In a world stuffed with execs, maxes, and ultras, it was stunning Asus chose to go vanilla with the ROG Phone 3. Its follow-up spawns three fashions — regular, pro and ultimate — collectively known as the ROG Telephone 5 collection: the purpose being Asus desires to supply extra option to the client so in the event that they select to improve to a better specced variant (and if their finances permits it) they’re getting greater than only a reminiscence increment. What a distinction a 12 months could make.

Additionally Learn | ROG Phone 5 maker Asus on building a holistic flagship, hardware overkill, benchmark scores and competition

The ROG Telephone 5 begins at Rs 49,999 for the bottom variant with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage going as much as Rs 57,999 for the top-end variant with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, same as the ROG Phone 3 which is outstanding, contemplating how a lot issues have modified within the final one 12 months. The professional variant of the telephone with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage has been launched at a worth of Rs 69,999. Chip in Rs 10,000 extra and you may get your self the top-of-the-line “final” variant with 18GB RAM and 512GB storage — that’s a primary for any smartphone in India.

The ROG Telephone 5 is a far cry from the unique. (Picture credit score: Saurabh Singh/Monetary Categorical)

Fortunately, you might be getting the identical {hardware} whatever the variant you select. The variations (other than the reminiscence bump) are largely beauty and their usefulness utterly subjective. You should buy the common ROG Telephone 5 over the last word version and it’ll not make a lot of a distinction a minimum of so far as efficiency is worried. The whole lot past that’s pure indulgence.

Lengthy story brief, simply because Asus has launched an ROG Telephone price Rs 70,000 this 12 months, it doesn’t imply you might be getting a lesser package deal for Rs 50,000. Let’s dig in and discover out if that package deal is any good.

ROG Telephone 5 {hardware}

The fourth gen ROG Telephone is a far cry from the unique — and even the one after that — in aesthetics. It doesn’t have the identical gamer-y vibe anymore. You will get it in new colors (black/white) and kinds (shiny/matte) certain, however you possibly can inform Asus desires this factor to mix in slightly than stand out, which type of deviates from the principle plot. Solely Asus is making “actual” devoted rigs at present and the way in which that it appears actually units the ROG Telephone other than the wannabees. Why change that?

The facet port is USB Kind C 3.1. Backside port sticks with 2.0. (Picture credit score: Saurabh Singh/Monetary Categorical)

Very similar to some other telephone at its worth level, the ROG Telephone 5 has glass on the again. Plenty of it. That is Corning Gorilla Glass 3 although for some curious cause identical because the ROG Telephone 3 and ROG Telephone II earlier than it, so not the most recent and best from Corning, Victus. That is reserved for the entrance. There are fewer strains, streaks, and counters, those who shaped bulk of earlier fashions. There are not any vents on the skin, not even faux ones, to intensify its rugged enchantment. By the way in which, there’s nonetheless no IP score on this telephone (wi-fi charging neither) to accommodate the bevy of connectivity ports these telephones have develop into synonymous with. The outer body is made from metallic.

Asus has borrowed a web page from the ROG Zephyrus G14 laptop and tried to imitate its dot matrix design within the ROG Telephone 5. That is solely in spirit since that expertise appears far-fetched to duplicate at this scale, nonetheless, it’s the solely main visible change we’re getting this 12 months — and I’m all for it. The ROG brand has obtained a recent coat of paint with the power to show two colors resulting in a gradient impact. That is additionally customisable with as much as 8 totally different lighting schemes. The professional and supreme fashions swap this ROG brand with a PMOLED show for fast notifications. A novelty characteristic, however cool, nonetheless.

The headphone jack makes a return. (Picture credit score: Saurabh Singh/Monetary Categorical)

There’s gazillion adjustments on the within largely to do with conserving the telephone from overheating (additionally for battery longevity). Guess, Asus acquired the memo from Qualcomm upfront and to tame the beast — Snapdragon 888 — it has break up the battery into two and positioned the PCB within the center however seemingly on the expense of structural integrity. I haven’t tried to consciously break the telephone or something, however as @ZacksJerryRig advises in his teardown video, try to be cautious about conserving it in your again pocket and sitting on it. I do have my reservations to say it’s constructed like a tank, one thing I might say with confidence concerning the previous fashions.

The re-engineered internals entail a extra even distribution of weight which is good. Higher than some other ROG Telephone. It’s stunning that the ROG Telephone 5 has the identical dimensions and the identical 6,000mAh battery because the ROG Telephone 3 and but it feels sleeker to carry. (Simply to be clear, that is relative to previous ROG Telephones solely. Relative to all the things else, it stays huge and hulking.) It has extra display screen actual property too and as much as 25 % slimmer bezels. All this and the ROG Telephone 5 continues its legacy of providing high-end audio with simply the very best sounding stereo audio system (and among the finest haptics) on any telephone out there in the present day. If that wasn’t sufficient, Asus has additionally introduced again the headphone jack on this technology.

The AirTriggers now pack extra sensors. (Picture credit score: Saurabh Singh/Monetary Categorical)

The opposite huge improve comes by means of AirTriggers. They pack extra sensors (9 over 7 in ROG Telephone 3), lie nearer to the sting of the telephone and within the case of the last word mannequin, can map as much as 18 particular contact factors on the display screen concurrently (with some assist from the upgraded Asus AeroActive Cooler accent that bundles two extra buttons). The common ROG Telephone 5 can map as much as 14 particular contact factors solely.

Talking of which, the ROG Telephone 5 has a 6.78-inch Samsung-made AMOLED show with HDR10+ help, 144Hz refresh charge (with 300Hz contact sampling charge and 24.3ms contact latency) and 1080p decision.

It has extra display screen actual property and as much as 25 % slimmer bezels. (Picture credit score: Saurabh Singh/Monetary Categorical)

Rounding off the package deal are 5G help, LPDDR5 RAM, non-expandable UFS3.1 storage, Android 11-based ROG UI, quad microphones with OZO noise discount expertise, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, triple rear cameras consisting of a 64MP essential (Sony IMX686), 13MP ultra-wide angle, and one other 5MP macro digital camera plus a 24MP entrance digital camera, and 65W quick charging.

A day within the life with ROG Telephone 5

Through the years, Asus has meticulously crafted its ROG telephones to keep up a level of consistency whether or not it’s in styling or person expertise whereas refining a lot of the areas that wanted rapid fine-tuning, one thing that has been effectively artriclauted in each person and significant evaluations. There was no rush, or hurry so as to add options only for the sake of it. The ROG Telephone is sort of unorthodox in that sense for the reason that ingredient of shock just isn’t its essential USP, slightly it’s the familiarity.

The ROG Telephone 5 can also be a really acquainted telephone however Asus in its personal manner, has dropped refined indicators that it marks the start of a brand new chapter. Launching multiple variants is of course, one trace. Then there’s the truth that Asus has not launched any new gaming accent (other than the quilt and AeroActive Cooler) this 12 months whereas ending help for the TwinView Dock and Cell Desktop Dock citing poor gross sales. And we’re nonetheless to listen to any concrete plans on developer partnerships to jump-start the ecosystem.

Armoury Crate provides PC-like management of the SoC. (Picture credit score: Saurabh Singh/Monetary Categorical)

There isn’t any denying that it desires non-gamers to really feel at house too, presumably the principle cause behind the telephone’s toned-down appears. All for good cause. You possibly can select to disable all its gaming shenanigans and use this factor as a daily Android telephone. You possibly can’t do this with a Black Shark or Lenovo Legion and even the Pink Magic with out drawing pointless consideration. At a time when OnePlus is advertising and marketing the OnePlus 9R as a gaming telephone — of all issues — can you actually blame Asus for stepping in and setting the document straight? There are additionally manufacturers like iQOO launching close to similar gaming rigs at much more inexpensive costs that most individuals can be blissful to choose. It’s all related.

Downside with Asus’s present strategy is that it isn’t taking a number of dangers. Neither is it giving consumers any incentive. Despite the fact that it has a really succesful product in its kitty.

The ROG Telephone 5 lives as much as its {hardware}. (Picture credit score: Saurabh Singh/Monetary Categorical)

With the type of {hardware} that the ROG Telephone 5 comes with, it’s anticipated to have:

• A terrific, color correct show which is each quick and clean.
• Prime-notch efficiency, clear person interface with none duplicate apps or adverts, Armoury Crate for PC-like management of the SoC.
• Nice battery life.

The ROG Telephone 5 lives as much as its {hardware}, however it might have carried out higher had Asus:

• Cranked up the decision to Quad-HD (a minimum of, within the professional and supreme fashions).
• Equipped the AeroActive Cooler accent within the field with the common ROG Telephone 5 freed from cost or for early chicken consumers (professional and supreme fashions ship with one) to make sure extra folks might get pleasure from “throttle-free” sustained efficiency. As a lot as Asus would have you ever consider it has managed the thermals effectively, the ROG Telephone can get toasty actually quick much more so throughout unforgiving Indian summers.
• Let customers really profit from 65W quick charging since all of the fashions ship with a paltry 30W charger within the field.

Cameras stay unchanged. (Picture credit score: Saurabh Singh/Monetary Categorical)

If you’re questioning why I didn’t point out the cameras, effectively, that’s as a result of Asus selected to not change them in any respect this 12 months. They have been barely serviceable last year anyway, and competitors has solely acquired higher in all this time. If there’s one factor that Asus must work on instantly, that is most positively it.

ROG Telephone 5 is on prime of its sport however at what value?

ROG Telephone 5 with AeroActive Cooler 5 accent. (Picture credit score: Saurabh Singh/Monetary Categorical)

There isn’t any doubt that the ROG Telephone 5 is the very best gaming telephone within the Indian market in the present day, however it’s not the last word gaming telephone round. Earlier than you ask, this isn’t a intelligent wordplay — the ROG Telephone 5 Final isn’t the last word gaming telephone both although I have to say, all the additional goodies that Asus is bundling with it (contemplating it’s a restricted version) are tempting. Asus has priced these telephones effectively conserving them extra inexpensive than a Samsung Galaxy S21 Extremely or iPhone 12 Professional Max and even the OnePlus 9 Professional for that matter. However to be utterly sincere, the last word gaming telephone not exists in India.

Query is with increasingly more manufacturers breaking the ceiling for high-end gaming on a finances, what number of can be keen to take the leap of religion for the ROG Telephone 5.

Execs: Nice, color correct show, Quick efficiency, Advert-free software program, Gaming chops work effectively, Nice battery life

Cons: Large and hulking, Heats up when harassed, Common cameras, No 65W charger in field

Additionally Learn | Asus ROG Phone 5 first impressions: We spent some time with “India’s fastest Android phone”