Asus ROG Phone 5 Could Be The Most Powerful Gaming Smartphone In 2021

Asus finally unveiled its fourth-generation gaming smartphone. Surprisingly, the company has decided to call the flagship device lineup ROG Phone 5, skipping a number that is believed to be unlucky. The new handset is packed with premium specifications and comes in three models: ROG Phone 5, ROG Phone 5 Pro and ROG Phone 5 Ultimate.

Internally, Asus refers to these three models' SKUs as "A," "B" and "C," a report from GSMArena said. Although they share similar hardware, there are key differences that consumers should take note of, including internal storage and RAM configurations.

In addition, the range-topping models ship with exclusive functionalities. Aside from the overall improvements, the manufacturer opted not to integrate a memory card slot like the past two generations.

Asus is likewise promoting a collection of gaming accessories that are compatible with the Asus ROG Phone 5 series. In fact, all three variants come with the Aero case and HyperCharger in the box. As for optional add-ons include, consumers can choose from the ROG Clip, ROG Kunai 3 Gamepad, Mobile Desktop Dock and more.

Both the Pro and Ultimate come bundled with the AeroActive Cooler 5, which will reduce surface temperature by 59 degrees Fahrenheit and chipset temperature by 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Other than cooling, it adds two physical trigger buttons and a kickstand.

Asus ROG Phone 5

This is the entry-level model of Asus' latest gaming smartphone. Three RAM/storage options are available: 8 GB/128 GB, 12 GB/ 256 GB and 16 GB/256 GB. At the rear, users will find an RGB backlit Republic of Gamers emblem. Pricing in USD has not been listed yet, but based on the European MSRP, it will retail for $950, $1,065 and $1,185, respectively. These are slated to release later this month.

Asus ROG Phone 5 Pro/Ultimate

These two have the range-topping specifications in the catalog. Like the base-tier ROG Phone 5, the back panel features a visual element in the form of a secondary PM-OLED touch-enabled display dubbed the "ROG Vision." Oddly enough, the Pro touts a colored one, while the Ultimate has it in monochrome instead.

The former boasts 16 GB of RAM with a 512 GB storage setup in a glossy black colorway and is expected to cost $1,420 when it goes up for sale next month. The latter hits markets in May and comes in matte white with 18 GB RAM and 512 GB of internal memory which will carry a $1,540 price tag, according to CNET.

Shared Specifications

All models under the Asus ROG Phone 5 banner have a 6.78-inch 2448 x 1080 AMOLED panel that comes with a 144 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ and a 300 Hz touch sampling rate. A 24-megapixel front-facing camera sits on the top bezel, as two front-firing stereo speakers grilles line the top and bottom sections of the frame. Biometric security is provided by the under-display fingerprint sensor.

Meanwhile, the main imaging module houses 64-megapixel (wide), 13-megapixel (ultra-wide) and 5-megapixel (macro) lenses. According to Asus, the smartphone can capture video in 8K.

Inside each unit is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC on a motherboard that sits between two 3,000 mAh lithium-ion batteries for a total of 6,000 mAh with support for 65W fast-charging technology.