ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro Review : A Powerful Smartphone for Gamers and Beyond

Comparos Rating:8/10

Overview

With its updated look and better cameras, the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro seeks to appeal to more people than just gamers while maintaining its distinctive gaming features that distinguish it from other high-end smartphones.

Design and Display

Comparing the ROG Phone 8 Pro to its forebears, it is thinner and more understated. It is 15% thinner and 9% lighter than the ROG Phone 7 at 225 grammes and 8.9 mm thick. Smaller and located in the upper right corner, the rear camera module gives a more modern appearance. Its less curved, satin-like back panel appeals to non-gamers as well. Chic black and lovely white versions are available.

One particularly noteworthy feature is the rear-mounted, customisable AniMe Vision lights, which use 341 programmable mini-LEDs grouped in an 11x31 grid. Via the Armoury Crate app, these lights can be customized for particular alerts. Furthermore, a version that keeps the traditional gaming aesthetics is available with RGB Aura lighting on the ASUS logo.

There are two USB-C connectors on the phone for charging and connecting external devices, AirTriggers integrated for a console-like gaming experience, and a rare 3.5mm audio jack. Better weight distribution would help the phone, which is still heavy even with its improvements. IP68 certification covers it from water and dust.

AMOLED display measuring 6.78 inches, it has 720Hz touch sampling rate, up to 165Hz refresh rate, and Full HD+ resolution. Super thin bezels and a 94% display-to-body ratio provide a clear and immersive viewing experience. Although the screen of the Victus 2 is exceptionally durable thanks to Gorilla Glass, scratches are still possible.

Performance and Gaming

Comprising up to 24GB of RAM and 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage, the ROG Phone 8 Pro is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. In benchmarks, such as Geekbench and AnTuTu, it outperforms every rival. Hardcore gamers will find the base model to be plenty with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

The phone performed admirably in gaming testing, keeping up steady frame rates and excellent graphics. With their seamless operation and haptic feedback, the AirTriggers greatly improve the game experience. Durante long gaming sessions, the AeroActive Cooler attachment keeps performance up.

Though the phone has a clean Android design that guarantees lag-free operation, it is devoid of several native AI and gen-AI capabilities that are better supported by the Pixel 8 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Cameras

The camera system of the ROG Phone 8 Pro has a 13MP ultra-wide camera, a 32MP telephoto camera with OIS and 3X optical zoom, and a 50MP primary camera with OIS. Its front camera is 32MP.

The rear cameras skillfully handle contrasts and shadows while delivering natural colors and a neutral white balance. Though they may not have much detail when enlarged, photos have very little noise. Good low-light performance, well balancing color and light without sacrificing detail. Good steadiness in full-HD but less so in 4K characterizes the passable video performance. A 30 frames per second 1080p recording is supported by the front camera.

Battery

The phone's battery capacity has dropped from 6,000mAh in earlier iterations to 5,500mAh. All the same, it has a good battery life—nearly ten hours in tests and a whole day with light use. Although it comes with a 30W charger, which takes around 50 minutes to charge from 20% to full, it can handle 65W charging.

Additional Features

Beyond its basic functionality, the ROG Phone 8 Pro has a number of options meant to improve user experience. Users of the Armoury Crate app can adjust touch sensitivity, haptic feedback, and performance levels among other gaming settings. Programming the AirTriggers for various actions in games adds a level of personalization that may provide players a competitive advantage.

Furthermore supported by the phone are Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 7, which guarantee quick and reliable connections for streaming movies and playing games online. The DTS:X Ultra capability improves the loud and clear audio produced by the two front-facing speakers even more.

During long gaming sessions, the ROG Phone 8 Pro's cooling system—which incorporates graphite sheets and a vapor chamber—helps dissipate heat, avoiding thermal throttling and guaranteeing steady performance.

Comparos Says

Both gamers and people who are performance-oriented will find the improved design and cameras of the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro appealing. Though its gaming-specific features keep it best suited for gamers, its overall performance, seamless scrolling, and well-considered design make it a formidable rival in the market.

Better options for individuals looking for a gadget with a lot of AI capabilities could be the Samsung Galaxy S24 or Google Pixel 8 Pro series. A decent camera gaming phone at a lower price point is the iQOO 12. Still, the ROG Phone 8 Pro shines out among its competitors if design and performance are your main concerns.

Both power users and gamers will find the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro to be a fantastic all-around smartphone with outstanding performance. Its special features—like AirTriggers and the AniMe Vision lights—set it apart from other cellphones available. It is still a strong competitor for people looking for the finest in gameplay and performance even with its size and restricted AI capabilities.