Asus has remodeled its gaming smartphone. Like its predecessor, the ROG Telephone 8 makes use of the quickest {hardware} to be had available on the market, however has a brand new total center of attention in the case of idea of use.
The underlying center of attention continues to be on gaming, which is unmistakably mirrored within the ‘Republic of Avid gamers’ suffix. Then again, the gaming area of interest has turn out to be too small for the Asus smartphone, which is now meant to be a top class smartphone appropriate for the hundreds. Our evaluate finds whether or not Asus succeeds on this regard.
The ROG Telephone 8 is to be had in two style variants. The primary is just referred to as the ROG Telephone 8, whilst we reviewed the second one variant, the ROG Telephone 8 Professional. Each vary from every different in handiest two respects, specifically reminiscence and equipment.
Whilst the ROG Telephone 8 has 12 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256 GB of UFS 4.0 reminiscence, the ROG Telephone 8 Professional has as much as 24 GB of RAM and as much as 1 TB of garage. As well as, handiest the ROG Telephone 8 Professional comes with the AeroActive Cooler X lively fan, which docks onto the smartphone by the use of a 2nd USB port.
In the beginning look, one can not inform that the Asus ROG Telephone 8 Professional, which is handiest to be had within the Phantom Black colour, is a gaming smartphone. In contrast to the ROG Telephone 7 Final, there is not any longer the crowd pleasing two-color design. The ROG Telephone 8 Professional’s handiest stand-out element is a shiny black horizontal stripe at the again quilt.
The small further demonstrate at the again may be not visual. Even though it’s nonetheless there, it now stays invisible when notifications or different data don’t seem to be displayed. The Republic of Avid gamers emblem may be extra restrained. That is an unmistakable signal of the smartphone’s gaming DNA, not in a contrasting colour, however moderately in shiny black lettering at the matte glass again, making it a lot more discreet.
The ROG Telephone 8 Professional is an excessively well-made smartphone with flush or even gaps and looks like a top class telephone total. By contrast to its 239-gram predecessor, it has turn out to be noticeably lighter at 225 grams and may be slimmer at 8.9 millimeters (ROG Telephone 7 Final: 10.3 mm). This has no have an effect on on balance. The ROG Telephone 8 Professional didn’t give option to warping or denting in tension exams all over our evaluate. It is usually mud and water-resistant in keeping with IP68.
The OLED panel secure through Gorilla Glass Victus 2 has additionally been slimmed down. Its demonstrate edges have turn out to be narrower on all 4 facets, giving the ROG Telephone 8 Professional a more energizing glance than its predecessor. In numerical phrases, the display-to-surface ratio has progressed from 82% to 88%.
Asus provides the ROG Telephone 8 Professional in two configurations. The primary with 16 GB LPDDR5X of RAM and 512 GB of UFS 4.0 garage formally prices $1199. For the second one variant with 24 GB RAM and 1 TB garage, the ROG Telephone 8 Professional Version, Asus fees $1499. There is not any slot for microSD reminiscence playing cards.
The 2 USB-C ports are extraordinary for a smartphone. As standard, one is situated on the backside of the telephone, operates at USB 3.2 Gen.2 velocity and helps PD 3.0 along with Fast Fee 5.0. In our reproduction take a look at with the M2.SSD Samsung 980 Professional within the Asus ROG Strix Arion Case (USB 3.2 Gen. 2), the ROG Telephone 8 Professional accomplished a switch fee of 299.8 MB/s – certainly no longer a foul worth, however a bit deficient given the ten GBit/s bandwidth of the USB 3.2 Gen.2 port.
The second one USB-C port at the lengthy left facet is used to glue the exterior fan, however can be used to price the ROG Telephone 8 Professional whilst gaming. That is specifically sensible when keeping the smartphone in panorama layout. With a normal connection, the USB cable would get in the best way.
Charging by the use of the second one USB-C port additionally works when the AeroActive Cooler X is docked, as this in flip has a USB-C port. This may be crucial if the exterior fan is about to run on the most “Frozen” persistent degree, as the flexibility provide unit should be hooked up to its USB-C port.
The ROG Telephone 8 Professional is without doubt one of the few high-end smartphones with a three.5 mm jack connection. Two nano SIM playing cards are compatible into the SIM slot. An always-on demonstrate may be integrated and may also be displayed in an energy-saving approach due to the LPTO panel, preferably at a refresh fee of simply 1 Hz.
The ROG Telephone 8 Professional runs Android 14 at the side of the producer’s personal person interface ROG UI. Asus plans to supply its smartphone with updates and a couple of OS improve over a length of four years. On the time of evaluate in early February, the ROG Telephone 8 Professional won an replace that introduced its Android safety patches as much as the date of December 1, 2023.
With the exception of the futuristic usual Shadow Elite design, the ROG UI is in large part no other from inventory Android. Customers too can make a selection the usual Android theme at any time.
Some gaming options are built-in into the ROG UI. The perfect efficiency mode, X Mode, is displayed immediately within the best line subsequent to the time. Along with the efficiency modes, the Armory Crate app can be used to configure all essential smartphone elements such because the AirTrigger, the again quilt demonstrate and the exterior fan. And customers can use a different overlay to optimize recreation settings immediately whilst gaming.
The Asus ROG Telephone 8 Professional could be very effectively located in the case of mobile frequency protection. With 25 4G bands and 20 5G bands, you will have to have the ability to get a sign nearly any place. Bluetooth 5.3 and NFC additionally shape a part of the smartphone’s communique {hardware}.
The Asus smartphone helps WiFi 7, alternatively, we have been not able to check the smartphone’s WiFi 7 speeds because of a loss of corresponding routers. Nonetheless, switch charges with WiFi 6E are spectacular, with as much as 1734 MBit/s in sending and a height worth of 1505 MBit/s in receiving. The high-end comparability gadgets all succeed in very equivalent switch charges.
For localization, the ROG Telephone 8 Professional makes use of satellite tv for pc navigation services and products starting from GPS (L1, L5), Galileo (E1, E5a), Glonass (L1), Beidou (B1, B2a) to QZSS (L1, L5), which is nearly continually completed in dual-band. Open air and indoors, our location is established at an accuracy of 3 meters.
On a brief motorcycle journey, we when compared the smartphone’s positioning abilities with the ones of the Garmin Venu 2, which presentations that the ROG Telephone 8 Professional is definitely fitted to navigational duties. For probably the most phase, it data the direction simply as exactly because the health smartwatch.
The Asus ROG Telephone 8 Professional has house for 2 nano SIM playing cards. Each may also be decided on as the most well liked SIM card for voice calls, SMS or knowledge services and products. VoLTE and WLAN calls are supported. Then again, we didn’t to find an choice for eSIM activation.
With its 3 microphones, the ROG Telephone 8 Professional guarantees just right voice high quality. The built-in noise suppression successfully filters out ambient noise, which additionally works effectively in hands-free mode.
Asus has given its smartphone a big digital camera replace, which was once additionally vital with a view to are living as much as its personal top class declare, as cameras typically handiest play 2nd mess around on gaming smartphones. Even though the ROG Telephone 7 Final provides cast fare, it can not compete with different flagship telephones in the case of symbol high quality. The ROG Telephone 8 Professional does some issues higher, however no longer sufficient for the perfect honors this time both.
The selfie digital camera stays unchanged at 32 MP and shoots 8 MP pictures by the use of 4-in-1 pixel binning, however takes higher footage, particularly in tricky lighting fixtures prerequisites. With its 90° box of view, the digital camera is definitely fitted to staff selfies. You’ll be able to transfer between a 1x zoom and a nil.7x ultra-wide-angle view as required. The selfie digital camera data movies in most Complete HD at 30 frames in keeping with 2nd.
The Sony IMX890 replaces the Sony IMX766 for the 50-MP major digital camera. The picture sensor in 1/1.56″ layout may be discovered within the Not anything Telephone (2) and works with an f/1.9 aperture, which corresponds to a full-frame identical of 23.8 millimeters. When taking pictures, the primary digital camera makes use of 4x pixel binning as usual and is supported through gimbal stabilization, which goes with movies as much as Complete HD and 60 FPS. However, the whole 50 MP can be used for pictures.
The primary digital camera takes just right footage in sunlight which can be characterised through natural-looking colours and a excessive degree of symbol sharpness. The very quick shutter lag may be spectacular. Then again, for those who glance intently, the pictures are on occasion closely sharpened and not glance specifically lifelike. This may also be obviously noticed, for instance, at the lakeshore in the second one sunlight picture or typically with object edges. In our low-light photographs, the primary digital camera visibly struggled to supply well-lit and sharp pictures and likewise garnished them with a slight blue solid.
The 13-MP ultra-wide-angle digital camera delivers first rate symbol high quality in just right lighting fixtures prerequisites, however not anything particular, particularly for the associated fee vary wherein the ROG Telephone 8 Professional operates. The telephoto digital camera, which takes after the macro digital camera of the ROG Telephone 7 Final, additionally delivers usual fare. The telephoto lens has a answer of 32 MP, 3x optical zoom, optical symbol stabilization and takes cast footage.
The most important development within the digital camera module is the video recordings, as those are stabilized excellently through the built-in gimbal. General, the ROG Telephone 8 Professional makes a lot better movies than the ROG Telephone 7 Final and is handiest simply at the back of the flagship pageant in the case of element and symbol sharpness. Movies are recorded at as much as 8K at 24 frames in keeping with 2nd. Switching between the 3 lenses is conceivable as much as a most of 4K at 30 FPS.
Beneath managed lighting fixtures prerequisites, the primary digital camera captures colours very exactly if the ambient gentle is true. At 1 lux of residual gentle, alternatively, the photographs within the picture lab are bluish and the take a look at chart can handiest be identified with issue.
The Asus ROG Telephone 8 Professional comes with a 65-watt persistent adapter, a USB-C cable, a clear protecting case, a SIM instrument, a handy guide a rough get started information and a guaranty card. The 24GB/1TB model additionally comprises the AeroActive Cooler X lively fan and a protecting case.
Asus additionally provides the ROG Tessen Recreation Controller for the ROG Telephone 8 Professional. Just like the exterior fan, it connects to the smartphone by the use of USB-C and transforms it right into a hand-held software. Then again, the sport controller was once no longer but to be had on the time of evaluate.
Asus supplies a 24-month guaranty at the ROG Telephone 8 Professional.
The ROG Telephone 8 Professional’s capacitive touchscreen responds extraordinarily temporarily and exactly to the touch. The similar applies to menus, apps and video games. With the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and a whopping 24 GB of RAM below the hood, the ROG Telephone 8 Professional handles all inputs and swipe gestures with none extend. This excessive degree of efficiency didn’t exchange in any respect all over our exams, regardless of what number of apps we opened or how a lot we used the smartphone. The X-axis linear motor supplies tough comments.
The ROG Telephone 8 Professional may also be unlocked biometrically by the use of the optical fingerprint sensor built-in into the demonstrate, which additionally does its process in no time and reliably. However, the selfie digital camera can be utilized to arrange 2D facial reputation, which isn’t fairly as safe.
The programmable secondary demonstrate at the again quilt is named AniMe Imaginative and prescient and will demonstrate animated data by the use of its 341 mini LEDs (akin to incoming calls, battery standing, time, new notifications and so on). What precisely will have to be displayed may also be configured by the use of the Armory Crate app. There, customers can make a choice from predefined animations, however too can create their very own animations.
The 2400 x 1080 pixel answer LTPO OLED panel of the ROG Telephone 8 Professional helps HDR10 in addition to HDR HLG and runs at a refresh fee of as much as 165 Hz. Within the default surroundings, that is routinely adjusted to the content material being displayed. Then again, it can be set manually to 60, 120 or 165 Hz.
The answer and body fee have remained nearly the similar as within the predecessor – the ROG Telephone 7 Final has a answer of 2448 x 1080 with the similar shape issue, which is handiest moderately upper. Then again, the OLED panel of the ROG Telephone 8 Professional has progressed considerably in the case of brightness.
With a natural white background, the display screen shines at a median of 1698 cd/m². With a good distribution of sunshine and darkish symbol spaces (APL18), the brightness even will increase to 2502 cd/m² and thus exactly meets the producer’s specification of 2500 nits. The luminance of HDR content material is roughly the similar (2596 cd/m²). In the event you regulate the brightness manually with the brightness sensor deactivated, you’ll be able to get a most of 806 cd/m² out of the demonstrate. On the lowest brightness surroundings, we nonetheless measured 6.39 cd/m², which is relatively vivid and will seem fairly evident, particularly at the hours of darkness.
The OLED panel makes use of pulse width modulation to keep watch over brightness, however sparkles at a relatively excessive frequency of 485 Hz, which will have to even be effective for delicate folks. Flicker coverage can be activated within the demonstrate settings, which reduces the PWM flickering at low brightness.
How the ROG Telephone 8 Professional shows content material may also be adjusted by the use of a complete of five image modes. The default surroundings is Optimum, however we get the most productive image high quality in Herbal. On this mode, the OLED panel ratings with a colour and grayscale demonstrate within the ideally suited vary and likewise meets image parameters akin to colour temperature and gamma nearly completely.
The ROG Telephone 8 Professional continually stays simple to learn outdoor, even on vivid days, so there are not going to be any obstacles in summer season. The wintry gentle prerequisites prevailing on the time of evaluate didn’t pose any demanding situations for the viewing-angle-stable OLED panel.
Within the graphics exams, the ROG Telephone 8 Professional as soon as once more stocks the lead with the Nubia RedMagic 9 Professional and the Xiaomi 14 Professional. However due to its refresh fee of 165 Hz, the Asus smartphone is forward within the GFXBench onscreen exams. General, the Apple iPhone 15 Professional Max can not do a lot in opposition to such a lot GPU persistent.
Browser efficiency at the ROG Telephone 8 Professional is superb and may also be noticed in on a regular basis use on very instant web sites that may be scrolled thru temporarily. Then again, the Asus smartphone handiest ranks within the higher midfield within the browser benchmarks.
UFS 4.0 garage offers the Asus smartphone an excessively excessive knowledge throughput. Even huge apps set up temporarily and cargo very quickly in any respect.
The Armory Crate app acts as a keep watch over heart for all gaming settings. On the similar time, it can be displayed as an overlay within the recreation and offers direct get right of entry to to the present efficiency mode, in addition to options akin to macro recording, a do-not-disturb mode and an FPS counter.
The ROG Telephone 8 Professional’s gaming repertoire additionally comprises AI-powered options akin to X Sense 2.0 and AI Grabber. The previous routinely alternatives up pieces in supported video games akin to Genshin Have an effect on, whilst the AI Grabber acknowledges key phrases in dialogues and begins a Google seek on request. This permits you to seek for answers to a quest immediately within the recreation, for instance, or to retrieve different guidelines related to the sport.
The AirTriggers recognized from the Asus ROG Telephone 7 Final also are at the ROG Telephone 8 Professional. The AirTriggers are two ultrasonic sensors situated at the corners of the lengthy proper facet of the smartphone and serve as as further L and R controller buttons. If the telephone is held in panorama layout, each may also be simply reached with the index palms. With the Armory Crate app, the AirTrigger buttons may also be dragged over the controls within the recreation UI and will then cause movements akin to calling up the menu or converting guns.
The ROG Telephone 8 Professional can run in 3 efficiency modes. Essentially the most tough is named X Mode (or X Mode+ with the AeroActive Cooler X docked) and may also be activated immediately by the use of the notification display screen. Different efficiency modes come with Dynamic (balanced settings for on a regular basis use) and the power-saving Extremely Sturdy mode. The efficiency settings may also be adjusted for my part for every mode.
In checking out, the ROG Telephone 8 Professional ran video games very easily. Even graphically very hard titles akin to Genshin Have an effect on run easily around the display screen at most settings. Then again, the Asus smartphone refused to paintings with our Gamebench take a look at instrument, which we typically use to decide body charges. However, we used the Perfdog instrument.
Perfdog registered the utmost framerate of 60 FPS within the HRD/Excessive surroundings at the ROG Telephone 8 Professional; in UltraHDR/Extremely, the perfect selectable surroundings, this was once 40 FPS. In each circumstances, the body fee is probably restricted for energy-saving causes. The smartphone handiest provides a 90 FPS mode within the lowest graphics mode. Genshin Have an effect on ran at a relentless 60 FPS on the perfect element degree. Extra is also conceivable right here, however the recreation is curtailed through the smartphone.
With the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the ROG Telephone 8 Professional has to chill a high-end SoC that produces a large number of waste warmth. Within the 1-hour tension take a look at with the hard Burnout benchmark, it pulls thru with out crashes or any error messages, in contrast to competition such because the Xiaomi 14 Professional. Then again, the smartphone heats as much as 46.8 °C and will get uncomfortably heat in puts.
As 3DMark’s Wild Existence tension exams display, the ROG Telephone 8 Professional is not able to deal with its efficiency below steady load, however nonetheless accomplished just right effects with a balance rating of 77% and 79.2%, respectively. In on a regular basis use, customers is not going to realize any thermal throttling since the Asus smartphone nonetheless provides a number of efficiency, even with the handbrake moderately implemented.
Within the tension take a look at, it makes a large distinction whether or not we run it without or with the exterior fan. When the AeroActive Cooler X is hooked up to the smartphone, the stableness ratings of the 3-d Mark Wild Existence tension take a look at strengthen to 92.7% and 90.8%, respectively. For customers who play for lengthy sessions of time and wish to squeeze out most efficiency, the fan is your best option. The fan can routinely adapt its cooling mode to the present gadget load, however it does get fairly loud at upper speeds.
The stereo audio system of the ROG Telephone 8 Professional provoke with tough sound, wherein even bass tones may also be heard. Even with out headphones, the sound enjoy is fairly just right.
Exterior audio gadgets may also be hooked up to the smartphone by the use of the very low-noise 3.5 mm audio jack (SNR: 100.75 dBFS) or by the use of Bluetooth 5.3. The ROG Telephone 8 Professional helps Bluetooth formats starting from AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LDAC, LC3 to Opus.
The ROG Telephone 8 Professional is characterised through low persistent intake. Its total persistent intake is 20% less than that of different reviewed smartphones, which additionally use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
The 5500 mAh battery may also be charged with as much as 65 watts by the use of the equipped persistent adapter. In checking out, a complete recharge takes 48 mins. The ROG Telephone 8 Professional helps wi-fi charging in keeping with the Qi usual with as much as 15 watts.
Just right battery lifestyles rounds off the ROG Telephone 8 Professional’s options. The smartphone persevered a just right 15.5 hours of simulated internet browsing, which we performed with the demonstrate brightness adjusted at 150 cd/m². When enjoying movies in a continuing loop, it even lasts nearly 25 hours.
General, the battery lifestyles is on a par with the contest. The relatively deficient end result below load may also be dismissed, as we carried this take a look at out with the Burnout benchmark instead since the ROG Telephone 8 Professional refused to put in the fewer hard Steadiness Check, which we use as usual.
The ROG Telephone 8 Professional is an excessively cast smartphone that impresses with extraordinarily complete options. Highlights come with the lightning-fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, a most of 24 GB of RAM and 1 TB of garage, WiFi 7, lengthy battery lifestyles and the OLED LTPO demonstrate, which will succeed in as much as 2500 cd/m² and easily regulate its body fee between 1 Hz and 165 Hz.
Asus is breaking new floor with its high-end smartphone as a result of, in contrast to its predecessor, it’s not purely a gaming smartphone, however now appeals to a wider goal staff due to its delicate look and progressed {hardware}. As well as, its fine quality glass casing has turn out to be noticeably thinner and lighter and is now additionally mud and water-resistant due to IP68 certification. Nonetheless, the ROG Telephone 8 Professional nonetheless has gaming DNA and continues to satisfy its position as a gaming smartphone rather well.
The Asus ROG Telephone 8 Professional effectively manages the balancing act between gaming smartphone and top class telephone. Then again, it isn’t reasonable.
A couple of disadvantages save you the ROG Telephone 8 Professional from attaining the perfect honors. The most important level of complaint is that it does no longer come on the subject of the cameras of different top class smartphones, however handiest provides a degree of high quality that may be described as simply above moderate at easiest. The choice of activating an eSIM may be missing. In a different way, the ROG Telephone 8 Professional leaves little to be desired.
Choices to the Asus ROG Telephone 8 Professional come with the Nubia RedMagic 9 Professional, which is in the similar efficiency magnificence and may be geared in opposition to gaming. The Xiaomi 14 Professional, is in a similar way tough and, just like the Nubia RedMagic 9 Professional, is to be had for not up to $800.
On Asus’ webstore, the Asus ROG Telephone 8 Professional prices $1199 for those who go for 16 GB RAM and 512 GB garage. Our evaluate software model, with 24 GB RAM and 1 TB garage, prices $1499. On the time of evaluate, the smartphone is but to succeed in different shops akin to Amazon.
Allow 48h for review and removal.