Since its inception in 2006, the Republic of Gamers brand (ROG) has pursued a mandate to push boundaries to deliver a better gaming experience. It started with motherboards, DIY desktop components, and gaming laptops for the past decade. Now, the time is right to introduce the ROG Phone. The brand’s first Android device combines special Snapdragon silicon with innovative cooling to produce silky frame rates gamers can actually sustain.
Its uncompromised display blends blistering speed with beautiful high dynamic range (HDR) visuals, while programmable AirTriggers and tactile enhancements heighten your physical connection and comfort. There are other upgrades throughout, and the phone is joined by a collection of transformative accessories for docking with a desktop, doubling up on screens and batteries, and adding console-like controls alongside a wireless display.
Like other flagships, the ROG Phone is based on Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 845 SoC, whose eight Kryo CPU cores and Adreno 630 graphics have ample horsepower for the latest games. Rather than the standard processor, Asus obtained a binned version selected for its ability to run at faster frequencies. Exclusive to the ROG Phone, this chip clocks up to 2.96GHz, nearly 200MHz higher than stock, making it Qualcomm’s fastest mobile platform!
The ROG Phone also needs to last all day, so the Snapdragon 845 aggressively reduces clock speeds during idle periods, and balances workloads between high-performance and power-efficient CPU cores. While these measures dramatically improve battery life, they can also introduce small delays that slow many games down. To prevent interruption, Asus has developed X Mode, which raises the minimum clock speed to keep the CPU on its toes, and confines tasks to the chip’s four fastest cores to ensure maximum performance.
This mode can be enabled instantly from the Quick Settings menu or configure Game Center to activate it automatically when running on the latest games and any other apps that need a boost. The new GameCool system improves thermals with a copper heat spreader and 3D vapor chamber that efficiently transfer heat away and into the body.
If an extra kick is needed, the optional AeroActive Cooler blows air over the back to accelerate heat dissipation into the air. This auxiliary cooler comes in the box and lowers the phone’s surface and processor temperatures enough to improve sustained performance for extremely strenuous gaming sessions. Effectiveness and efficiency are both at its best!
Better performance means more frames per second, but a higher refresh rate is required to actually see them. The ROG Phone’s 6” display refreshes at 90Hz, allowing it to draw 50% more frames than typical smartphones. The graphics and gameplay look and feel much smoother in games optimized for high refresh rates. The ROG phone uses an ultra-fast AMOLED whose one-millisecond response time matches the ROG Swift PG258Q esports monitor. The graphics are crystal clear even in fast-paced games with lots of movement.
Rather than stationing the ROG Phone at a desk, the TwinView Dock takes it on the road in a handheld package complete with another screen. The TwinView Dock is great for live-streaming, especially since it prevents your fingers from blocking the front-facing camera. It also takes gaming further into console territory with physical trigger buttons and dual haptic feedback engines. Enhanced cooling keeps performance on point, while a massive 6,000mAh auxiliary battery extends the run time for all player’s mobile adventures.
