The "1-Minute" Review
Verdict
Combining top-tier performance with a brilliant display, loads of battery life, and a fun game-centric design, the ASUS ROG Phone 5 offers one of the most compelling mobioe gaming experiences on the market today.What's good
- Amazing battery life
- Lots of charging and performance options
- 144GHz display
What's bad
- Very heavy
- Disappointing camera
- Overkill for today's game requirements
ROG stands for Republic Of Gamers, which hints at what ASUS’ ROG Phone 5 is all about. They have been on a mission to make the best gaming phone on the market. How close does the ROG Phone 5 come to perfection?
Design
There's no denying the phone has a striking appearance. Reviewers compared it to something out of the '80s with its glowing hot pink logo on the back of the phone. However, the front doesn't look any different from its predecessors. It wasn't a complete redesign but more of a round of changes to an already decent gaming phone.
Reviewers loved the addition of air triggers that act as the shoulder buttons on a video game controller so that there is more of a gamer feel than a touch screen.
Display
Reviewers said that this is one of the best screens they've ever used -- as long as you don’t mind a huge display. It has a 144Hz refresh rate by default and adjusts to whatever app you're using to keep things looking silky smooth.
Performance
With 18GB of RAM at your disposal, it's pretty tricky -- maybe even impossible -- to slow the ROG Phone 5 down. However, reviewers said that it’s also overkill based on the apps and games available today. While it might seem unnecessary now, however, it should help the phone age well.
Software & Storage
The ASUS ROG Phone 5 runs Android 11 along with a custom ROG UI. Storage is a slight downside to the ROG Phone 5. It comes with a decent amount of internal storage, but reviewers were displeased that the phone doesn’t offer a MicroSD expansion slot given how big modern games can be.
Cameras
Photography isn’t a focus on this phone. Reviewers said the camera on the ROG Phone 5 was mediocre. It takes okay pictures, but they’re never excellent. That's the price paid for a niche phone focused on gaming it seems.
Battery Life
There are two batteries in the ROG Phone 5, each with a capacity of 3000mAh. This allows for a lot of game time. Unless you’re gaming all day long, you should have no trouble hitting a full day on a single charge.
Audio
The ASUS ROG Phone 5 has two front-facing stereo speakers. Reviewers loved the audio experience and thought the phone’s speakers are great.
Specs at a Glance
- Plastic chassis
- 6.78-inch AMOLED display
- Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 processor
- 8/12/16GB of RAM
- Android 11
- 256GB of storage
- 64MP camera
- (2) 3000mAh Batteries
Bottom Line
When it comes to gaming phones, ASUS continues to run the show. With some minor tweaks to the previous model, they've released a more than capable phone. Even with reviewers' drawbacks, the ASUS ROG Phone 5 is still the best gaming phone available today.
The Verge says, "This is ASUS' latest attempt (technically its fourth, but it's skipping that number in the name for superstitious reasons) at building a console-like experience into a phone for a niche but thriving global crowd of mobile gamers. It offers more power and customization than other large-screened phones, both in terms of hardware and software. It's a real spec sandwich."
Wired comments, "ASUS' new smartphone, the ROG Phone 5, makes mobile gaming more tactile and fun. Two built-in touch-sensitive buttons on the side of the phone improve the experience, as does helpful software that makes physical controllers compatible with any game—and custom accessories, like a clip-on fan to keep things cool."
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Aditya Shenoy, Gadgets 360The Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate is an all-out gaming smartphone with dedicated high-end hardware. Asus hasn't cut any corners when it comes to performance, and some might also find 18GB of RAM overkill. The crisp high-refresh-rate AMOLED panel, stereo speakers, and capacitive AirTriggers make gaming m...
- Daniel Schmidt, NotebookcheckThe Ultimate has a higher performance than the conventional ROG Phone 5 and is primarily aimed at fans of the series. The working memory upgrade is really good, with a total of 18 GB on the spec sheet, but it only offers little added value in everyday use. In contrast, the 512 GB UFS 3.1 storage off...
- Daniel Schmidt, NotebookcheckAsus' ROG Phone 5 Pro has surprisingly little added value for its rather steep surcharge. The Vision display on the back is certainly a nice gimmick, but it does not offer any added value in everyday use. The doubling of the memory and the additional frequency bands could be more interesting, and th...
- Michael Vane, Man of ManyThere’s a lot to like about the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate. The smartphone stands tall thanks to its unique design and impeccable performance. Still, its pricing falls in line with other premium phones that feature better cameras, wireless charging, stronger reputations and some form of water resistance.
- Subin B, BeebomROG Phone 5 is the phone to get if you are a serious mobile gamer who enjoys BGMI, Call of Duty, and other popular games, in India. With the flagship chipset, Air Triggers, and an excellent audio experience, the device doesn't fail to please hardcore fans. However, it's not a phone for everyone and...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
Asus ROG Phone 5 prices will vary depending on retailer, age, special offers and whether or not it's purchased with a service plan. If purchased with a 2 year service contract for example, you would likely pay much less for the phone itself up front. Asus's suggested retail price is $999.99. You can compare ROG Phone 5 prices from around the web here on The Informr.
Asus backs up the ROG Phone 5 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your ROG Phone 5 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Asus support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Asus's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
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