5 minutes to look over the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro

Hello, fans of video games! Do you recall the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate from the previous year? Undoubtedly, it resembled the rock star of gaming phones. However, let’s face it: it wasn’t exactly the most convenient everyday companion and came with a fairly high price tag.

Imagine being able to enjoy your favourite games without having to sacrifice your daily convenience or finances. Curious? Continue reading to learn about a clever workaround that enables you to have the desired gaming experience without compromising usability or affordability.
Despite its high price, the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is still a fantastic gaming phone. Now, what makes it unique is Asus’ new outlook, which also elevates it to the status of an excellent flagship smartphone.
The new look of the ROG Phone 8 Pro is way cooler now – it’s got a sleek design that’s not too flashy, making it perfect for everyone, not just hardcore gamers glued to Twitch. Plus, it’s not just about style – this phone has some cool upgrades that make life easier. Imagine this: it’s now water-resistant (IP68 rating) and has wireless charging. Yep, it’s got all those handy features we usually see in regular phones, but now it’s part of the gaming scene!
Presenting a superb new flagship feature: an excellent camera system! This camera is fantastic at capturing bright, clear images in a variety of settings. Even though it might not be the greatest for high-end photography, it’s more than adequate for casual photo shooting , which is quite significant—especially for a gaming phone.
Simply click the full screen button to explore an incredible world of pictures!
Cease to exist, chunky bezels! With its slimmer bezels, the newest phone offers greater screen real estate. There are no dual front-facing speakers this time, though, and there is a tiny punch-hole for the selfie camera.
Let’s now discuss performance. Despite being a powerful device, the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro can’t quite match the Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro’s continuous high-end performance. You can use the clip-on Aero Active Cooler X fan to level the playing field, but keep in mind that it is limited to the top model.
For the best smartphone experience, keep an eye on those bezels and take the cooling options into consideration if you’re all about that immersive display and excellent performance!

Alright, buckle up, because we’re diving into the world of gaming phones, and let me tell you, the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is a total game-changer! This bad boy is not just your average phone; it’s like a high-performance engine for your gaming adventures.
First things first, let’s talk speed. The ROG Phone 8 Pro is like the Usain Bolt of smartphones – seriously, it’s one of the fastest we’ve ever seen. And the cherry on top? The massive 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a mind-blowing 165Hz refresh rate. Translation: it’s big, it’s fast, and the colors are so on point that you’ll think you’re in a gaming wonderland.
But wait, there’s more! Asus didn’t stop at speed and a killer display. They sprinkled in some magic gaming dust with cool features like Air Trigger shoulder buttons that are as flexible as a yoga instructor and an extra USB-C port for all your gaming needs. It’s like they thought of everything!
Now, let’s get real here – Asus didn’t just create a gaming monster. They gave us a phone that’s not going to ditch you when you’re not in the gaming zone. The ROG Phone 8 Pro is like a trusty sidekick that’s awesome at gaming but won’t let you down when you’re tackling everyday stuff. And honestly, that’s a win in my book.
So, if you’re on the lookout for a phone that’s not just about raw power but also understands your life beyond the gaming realm, the ROG Phone 8 Pro might just be your new best friend. Game on!”
Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro, your new gaming buddy, which will retail for $1,099 / £949 (roughly AU$1,640) and will finally be available on store shelves and ship on January 16, 2024.

There are three versions of this incredible game, but anxiety not—such as, the purposes of this review, we’ll be treating them as one. At $1,099 / £949, the entry-level Asus ROG Phone 8 features 256GB of storage, 12GB of RAM, and standard RGB lighting for extra appeal.
In case you’re looking for a little extra power, the ROG Phone 8 Pro is a better choice. At $1,199 / £1,099 (approximately AU$1,790), you can get 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a switch for soft LED lighting on the rear. For the discriminating gamer, this is a stylish addition.
There’s more, though! The top model, called the ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition, goes one step further and is only accessible via the official Asus online store. With an MSRP of $1,499 / £1,299 (roughly AU$2,240), this version boasts an incredible 24GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, LED lighting, and an external AeroActive Cooler X fan packaged inside the box.
Let’s now discuss value; this gaming monster receives a strong 4 out of 5. With its remarkable features and multiple configurations to meet your gaming requirements, the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro caters to both casual and expert gamers. Prepare to reach new heights with your gaming experience!

Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro review: Design

• fresh, less “gamy” design
• Shoulder buttons for Air Trigger
• There are two USB-C ports.
• Design score: 4.5 / 5

  

When designing the ROG Phone 8 Pro, Asus adopted a novel strategy after realising that not everyone desires a flashy gaming phone that fits neatly in their pocket. As a matter of fact, even gamers would rather use a gadget that doesn’t shout “prototype” or look like it was drawn by an eleven-year-old.
The ordinary and subtle design of the ROG Phone 8 Pro is a game-changer. Even though it weighs 225g and has a thickness of 8.9 mm, it is comparable in size to other models such as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Red Magic 9 Pro. The Pro version has a sophisticated appearance that makes it appropriate for any social situation thanks to its tastefully rounded edges, subdued colour tones, and elegant shimmery finish.

Though the ‘Challenge yourself to win’ decals are still present on the back, Asus has made them less bold this time around with smaller, darker text. If you choose the Pro model, RGB lighting is gone and is replaced by a discrete AniMe Vision area on the back cover with 341 soft white LEDs. These LEDs are integrated into the phone’s design and are off by default. When turned on, they offer helpful alerts that can be customised via the Armoury Crate app, including the time, charging status, incoming notifications, and more. The ROG Phone 8 Pro is the ideal combination of a potent gaming device and a fashionable daily phone.

Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro review: Display

• 6.78-inch LTPO OLED with FHD+ resolution and ultra-fast refresh rates up to 165Hz
• Display score: 4.5 / 5

The ROG Phone 8 Pro is equipped with a brand-new 6.78-inch E6 OLED display from Asus. With a resolution of 1080 x 2400 (FHD+), it might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, especially when compared to other Android phones that cost roughly $1,199 / £1,099 in comparison. However, what’s the deal? I have no real complaints.
With a stated peak brightness of 2,500 nits in HDR scenarios and 1,600 nits in high brightness mode, the display is truly stunning. It will therefore have your back when you step outside on a sunny day with auto-brightness turned on.
Even if you disable auto-brightness, you can still achieve an impressive maximum brightness of about 775 nits. As a point of comparison, the Red Magic 9 Pro was only able to capture 445 nits. Therefore, we applaud Asus for brightening our screens!
The ROG Phone 8 Pro’s display truly caught my attention. When I changed the colours from the default Optimal setting to Normal mode, they appeared incredibly true to life.

This phone is really cool because it has an LTPO panel, which allows it to change the refresh rate based on your activity from 1 to 120 Hz. This helps you save energy while also providing you with a smooth experience when performing routine tasks.
Now, the refresh rate can increase to as much as 165Hz when you switch to gaming mode. Even though very few games use more than 120Hz, it’s great to know that the ROG Phone 8 Pro is ready for any that do!

Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro review: Cameras

Significantly enhanced 1/1.56-inch primary camera with gimbal 13-inch ultra-wide lens with freeform
Lastly, a 32MP 3x telephoto dedicated camera

• Camera score: 4 / 5

The stylish appearance is cool when it comes to upgrading your gaming phone, but if you want it to be a top contender, the camera quality needs to be excellent. Fortunately, Asus got it perfected!
Let’s discuss the upgraded primary camera, which is revolutionary. It is a powerful device, sharing the same 1/1.56-inch Sony IMX890 sensor as the OnePlus 11. However, the next-generation 6-axis Hybrid Gimbal stabilizer—which is also present in the Asus Zenfone 10—takes it to the next level. Unlike other optical image stabilisation (OIS) systems, this stabiliser maintains extremely stable images.
In a variety of lighting scenarios, these fantastic components combined with Asus’s contrasty image science produce jaw-dropping photos. Because of the larger sensor and the gimbal system’s ability to maintain stability over longer shutter times, night shots are particularly impressive.
In a variety of lighting conditions, these fantastic components combined with Asus’s contrasty image science produce jaw-dropping photos. Because of the larger sensor and the gimbal system’s ability to maintain stability over longer shutter times, night shots are particularly impressive.
The gimbal is also a great tool for filming footage, so it’s not just about getting those perfect nighttime shots. You can rely on the gimbal to maintain extreme stability as long as you keep the dot inside the circle, according to a neat user interface feature that lets you know it’s working. With Asus’s impressive advancements in camera technology, your gaming phone can now rival flagship devices and be both fashionable and competitive.

Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro review: Performance

• features the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip along with 12GB, 18GB, or 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage available.

Meet the stylish and powerful Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro, where aesthetics meet outstanding performance. Let’s dive into the heart of this device, because, trust us, it’s more than just a pretty face.
Underneath the sleek exterior, the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro packs a punch with its cutting-edge features. The star of the show is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, set to be the go-to chip for 2024. Pair that with up to 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM in the top Pro Edition, and you’ve got a gaming powerhouse in your hands. While 24GB might sound like overkill in a regular phone, for a high-end gaming device like this one, it’s a perfect match.
Asus has truly cranked up the performance to the max with these top-notch components. Running my Geekbench 6 CPU benchmark tests, I found a multi-core score of around 7,200. To put it into perspective, this performance is on par with, if not surpassing, results from other gaming heavyweights like the Red Magic 9 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro.
So, if you’re looking for a phone that not only looks good but also delivers a gaming experience like no other, the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is the one to watch. It’s a beast under the hood and a beauty on the outside, making it a perfect companion for your gaming adventures.
In the world of gaming smartphones, the ROG Phone 8 Pro and Red Magic 9 Pro faced off in a series of GPU-focused benchmarks, and the results are quite interesting. When it comes to on-screen tests, the ROG Phone 8 Pro outshone the Red Magic 9 Pro, but in off-screen tests, they were pretty evenly matched. One notable factor influencing this difference could be the higher screen resolution of the Red Magic 9 Pro.
However, the Red Magic 9 Pro makes a strong comeback in sustained performance, marking a significant victory. The 3DMark Solar Bar Stress Test, which simulates prolonged high-intensity 3D gameplay, revealed some noteworthy findings. The ROG Phone 8 Pro maintained a commendable 92.2% score, showcasing consistent performance throughout the 20-minute loops.
While this is already better than the typical flagship phones that usually score in the 70 to 80% range, the Red Magic 9 Pro takes the lead with an impressive 99.7%. The key to its success is likely its integrated fan cooling system, a feature the ROG Phone 8 Pro lacks. Interestingly, when the AeroActive Cooler X is attached to the back of the ROG Phone, its score in the same test jumps to 98.3%.
So, in the world of gaming performance, both phones bring unique strengths to the table. The ROG Phone 8 Pro showcases solid on-screen performance and a respectable score in sustained gameplay, while the Red Magic 9 Pro excels in this endurance test thanks to its effective cooling system. Ultimately, the choice between them depends on your gaming priorities and preferences.

Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro review: Software test

• Adjust gaming settings with the ROG UI Armour Crate app on Android 14
• four years’ worth of security updates and at least two OS updates

With its minimal tinkering, Asus’s custom user interface (UI) stands out in the Android market. With Asus’s user interface (UI), in contrast to Nubia’s Red Magic OS 9.0, I had no trouble setting it up or running into any bugs as I did with the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate.

The joyous experience starts at the outset, as Asus provides you with a more Classic (stock) home screen layout in addition to the choice to select between the stock Android and the Asus Optimised quick settings panel. Actually, I wish more Android manufacturers would have adopted this strategy.
In essence, the ROG UI is similar to the Zen UI found on the Zenfone 10. Along with a few ‘gamers’ wallpapers (which may not be to everyone’s taste), there are some cosmetic changes made to the Google formula and a few extra pre-installed apps like Gallery and the Link to Windows app. It’s not overbearing or obtrusive; there are a few third-party apps preinstalled as well, like Facebook and Instagram.
the incredible features that meet your gaming needs on the ROG Phone 8 Pro. The Armoury Crate app is a useful tool for gamers. You can quickly set up Air Trigger configurations, performance modes, and even load up shared custom macros for all of your favourite games with this app.
Not only that, but just picture being able to swipe down from the top corner of your screen to bring up the Armoury Crate user interface directly over whatever game you are playing. This is useful, particularly if you want to map the Air Trigger controls for the best possible gameplay experience.

With a guarantee of at least two significant OS updates, Asus has your back. As a result, the ROG Phone 8 Pro will continue to run Android 16 updates. You’ll get four years of updates to keep your device secure, so don’t worry about security.
In terms of updates, the ROG Phone 8 Pro may not be at the top of the pack among high-end Android phones, but the hardware is unquestionably future-proof. Although it is unfortunate, don’t let that stop you from taking advantage of the amazing gaming experience this device has to offer!

Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro review: Battery

• The 5,500mAh battery is less than what it was before, but it’s still not the most durable for gaming phones.
  charging at 65 W wired and 15 W wireless
• The battery of the new Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is slightly smaller than that of the ROG Phone 7, coming in at 5,500mAh instead of 6,000mAh. This change was made to give the phone a sleeker appearance. You may be surprised by this because you would think that gaming phones would be more advanced and larger.
• To offset the smaller battery, Asus says they upgraded the chip and display technology.
• The catch is that, even they, admit that the new phone might not survive as long as the previous one did. Not precisely the way you’d want a gaming phone to go, where you’d normally expect advancements
• Here’s a brief analogy: With a 6,500mAh battery, the Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro is noticeably larger than the ROG Phone 8 Pro.Therefore, in my own testing, the ROG Phone 8 Pro’s battery life was not quite as good as that of its less expensive rival. After four hours of screen time on average, I would have slightly less than 50% battery life left at the end of the day. It’s not bad, but with 65% remaining, the Red Magic 9 Pro easily defeats it.
• One interesting feature that sets the ROG Phone 8 Pro apart from other gaming phones is its support for 15W wireless charging. This makes it incredibly practical for daily use and easy to use on a daily basis.

Should you buy ?

yes if you.?
Looking for a gaming phone that delivers the same level of functionality and style? The ROG Phone 8 Pro is the only device you need! This stylish gadget has an elegant design that is anything but gaudy or cheap, in addition to offering excellent gaming performance.

Don’t buy it if…

Looking for a gaming phone that won’t break the bank? Well, the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro might not be the most budget-friendly option out there. There are other gaming phones that offer a pretty good gaming experience at a much lower cost.
If you prefer your phones to be slim and lightweight, the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro might not be the perfect fit for you. Despite its sleek design, it’s still on the chunkier side.
Planning to keep your phone for the long run? It’s worth noting that Asus is committing to providing major Android updates for the ROG Phone 8 Pro for only two years. If long-term support is a priority for you, you might want to consider other options.