Tag Archives: ASUS ROG Phone

ASUS ROG Phone 2 Global vs Tencent Edition Comparison!

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Worried that gamers are swarming for the highly-affordable ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition, ASUS urgently touted the advantages of the delayed ROG Phone 2 Global Edition.

Let’s compare the specifications of the ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition against the ROG Phone 2 Global Edition model!

Note : ASUS has since renamed the Global Edition as the Elite Edition, with a STRIX Edition as the “global version” of the Tencent Edition, with a 1TB Ultimate Edition.

 

ROG Phone 2 – Super Fast Phone, Super Slow Rollout

ASUS launched the ROG Phone last year, calling it the world’s first smartphone designed for mobile gaming. Unfortunately, they squandered that advantage with an ultra-slow rollout in a fast-moving industry.

More nimble, new competitors like Black Shark not only introduced their own gaming smartphones, they literally surged past them.

The Black Shark 2, for example, launched way back in April 2019 with the Snapdragon 855, and they launched the Black Shark 2 PRO that is powered by the same Snapdragon 855+ that the ROG Phone 2 uses… in JULY 2019.

Of course, the ROG Phone 2 boasts a 120 Hz display, with a 1 ms response time that totally crushes the likes of Black Shark 2 and Black Shark 2 PRO, and should guarantee silky-smooth gameplay, albeit at the expense of battery life.

That’s why ASUS gave it a massive 6,000 mAh battery – so it will last for quite a few rounds. The downside? It weighs almost a quarter of a kilo and is almost a full cm thick.

Of course, Black Shark has publicly pooh-poohed the usefulness of a 120 Hz display in this recent Q&A session :

Instead of a higher refresh rate, they opted to use DC dimming to reduce eyestrain, and an integrated DSP with MEMC (Motion Estimation, Motion Compensation) capabilities to eliminate unwanted judder and blur.

There is also the issue of ASUS quietly setting the ROG Phone 2 to use a 60Hz refresh rate instead, to improve battery life.

Recommended : ROG Phone 2 : How To Turn On 90Hz / 120Hz Refresh Rate!

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ASUS ROG Phone 2 Global vs Tencent Edition

Back in August 2019, ASUS and Tencent revealed the ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition in China, powered by the Snapdragon 855 Plus platform.

However, ASUS did NOT want anyone to think or talk about the Tencent Edition because it is MUCH CHEAPER, and is a darn better deal than the Global Edition that they only introduced in October 2019.

They urged their media friends to talk up the ROG Phone 2 Global Edition instead. But in our honest opinion, the Tencent version is a better deal for gamers. Here’s why!

Recommended : Why ROG Phone II Tencent Is Better Than The Global Edition!

For your convenience, we compare the specifications of both models in this table :

Specifications ASUS ROG Phone 2
Global Edition
 ASUS ROG Phone 2
Tencent Edition
Display 6.59-inch AMOLED display (1080 x 2340 pixels)
– 108% DCI-P3 colour gamut, 10,000:1 contrast ratio
– up to 120 Hz refresh rate, 1 ms response time
Chassis Glass Back Cover Glass + Metal Back Cover
System Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus
Processor 1 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold core (2.96 GHz)
3 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold cores (2.42 GHz)
4 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 640 (672 MHz)
RAM 12 GB LPDDR4X 8 GB LPDDR4X
Storage 512 GB / 1 TB UFS 3.0 128 GB UFS 3.0
Front Camera 24 MP front camera
Rear Cameras 48 MP main camera, with Sony IMX586 sensor, f/1.79 lens
13 MP ultra-wide camera, with 125-degree field of view
4G Network LTE Cat18
– 211 Mbps UL, 1.2 Gbps DL		 LTE Cat16
– 150 Mbps UL, 1.0 Gbps DL
Connectivity WiFi : 802.11ad, 4×4 MIMO
Bluetooth : BT 5.0		 WiFi : 802.11ac, 2×2 MIMO
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
Sensors Accelerometer, E-Compass, proximity sensor, Hall sensor, ambient light sensor, in-display fingerprint sensor, gyro, ultrasonic AirTrigger shoulder buttons
Audio Dual front-facing speakers with DTS:X Ultra
Battery 6,000 mAh battery
Charger 30 watt 18 watt
AeroActive Cooler Yes No
Bundled Case Aero Case Bumper Case
Box Type Six Prism Box Square Box
Dimensions 77.6 mm wide x 170.99 mm tall x 9.78 mm thick
Weight 240 g

 

Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus

In case you are wondering, the Snapdragon 855 Plus is just a speed-binned version of the regular Snapdragon 855. They are virtually identical.

The only differences are the clock speeds of two parts in the Snapdragon 855 Plus :

  • its single high-performance Kryo 485 Gold core is clocked at 2.96 GHz, instead of 2.84 GHz.
  • its Adreno 640 GPU is clocked at 672 MHz, instead of 585 MHz.

In other words, its advantage in mobile gaming is a 4% increase in the short boost performance of the CPU, and a 14.9% increase in peak GPU performance.

Recommended : The Snapdragon 855 Plus vs Snapdragon 855 Comparison!

 

ROG Phone 2 Global vs Tencent : Price + Availability

ASUS finally released the Global Edition (now renamed Elite Edition) in the US and India in September 2019, with other countries like Malaysia receiving a limited number in mid-October 2019.

Based on the US, European and Chinese launch prices of $899, €899 and RMB 5,999, it is a whopping 23% more expensive than the Black Shark 2 PRO – an extra RM 700 / ~US$240 / ~£136 / ~A$249!

The ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition is much cheaper, of course. Its RMB 3,499 retail price in China translates into approximately RM 2,059 / ~US$499 / ~£399 / ~A$724!

That is 80% off the cost of the Global Edition, and 31% cheaper than the Black Shark 2 PRO!

Recommended : ASUS ROG Phone 2 vs Black Shark 2 PRO : Who Wins?

In the beginning, it was only available officially in China and India… and while you can purchase one off the grey market, you would not receive any warranty or even OTA updates for them.

But the good news is ASUS has finally released the STRIX Edition, which is basically the global version of the Tencent Edition.

Recommended : Why ROG Phone 2 STRIX Is BETTER Than Elite / Ultimate!

 

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ROG Phone 2 : How To Turn On 90Hz / 120Hz Refresh Rate!

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The ASUS ROG Phone 2 boasts an excellent 120Hz display, but did you know that ASUS secretly set it to just 60Hz?

In this guide, we will show you how to switch the ROG Phone 2 from 60Hz to 90Hz or 120Hz!

 

ROG Phone 2 : 120Hz Display Stuck At 60Hz

The ASUS ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU) comes with a really nice and large 6.59-inch AMOLED display.

Its 1080 x 2340 resolution is much lower than the likes of Samsung Galaxy Note10+ or Galaxy S10+, but it boasts a 108% DCI-P3 colour gamut and a 120Hz refresh rate.

Now, that 120Hz refresh rate is the ROG Phone 2’s key selling point. ASUS claims it gives gamers a real advantage against their opponents, as well as a nicer, silkier gaming experience.

However, unbeknownst to many – ASUS actually sets the ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU) to use a 60 Hz refresh rate, making it no different from its chief rival – the Black Shark 2 PRO (MY | SG | AU | UK).

Amazingly, many gamers and some reviewers were not aware of this. If you see people commenting on how smooth the ROG Phone 2 display looks, without mentioning they manually turned on the 120Hz refresh rate – that’s just the placebo effect! 😀

Recommended : ASUS ROG Phone 2 vs Black Shark 2 PRO : Who Wins?

 

Why Does The ROG Phone 2 Use 60Hz And Not 120Hz?

Simple – as we pointed out from the very beginning – the 120Hz refresh rate will use up a lot more power than 60Hz.

Both the Qualcomm Adreno 640 GPU and the ROG Phone 2’s AMOLED display, has to work twice as hard with a 120Hz refresh rate, compared to 60Hz.

That’s why ASUS gave the ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU) a large and heavy 6,000 mAh battery. The 120Hz refresh rate would have been murder on battery life.

But ASUS also knew that reviewers and early users would comment about the poorer battery life, even with such a large battery. So the solution was apparently to quietly set the AMOLED display to use a 60Hz refresh rate.

Recommended : Why ROG Phone 2 STRIX Is BETTER Than Elite / Ultimate!

 

ROG Phone 2 : How To Turn On 90Hz / 120Hz Refresh Rate!

Now, poorer ROG Phone 2 battery life aside, it would be really foolish to pay so much more for a 120Hz display only to have it run at 60Hz. That would be like buying a Porsche with a 80 km/h speed limiter installed.

So we created this video guide to help you switch your ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU) from its default 60Hz refresh rate to 90Hz or 120Hz.

ASUS offers a total of three ROG Phone 2 refresh rate options – 60Hz (default), 90Hz and 120Hz.

You can switch the refresh rate on-the-fly, but unfortunately, it’s not part of Quick Settings. ASUS buried it in the Display settings.

Here is the quickest way to switch the ROG Phone 2’s refresh rate :

  1. Swipe down from the top of the ROG Phone 2 display to access Quick Settings.
  2. Tap on the Settings icon at the lower right corner, to bring up the Settings screen.
  3. Tap on the Display option.

  1. Under Display settings, tap on the Refresh rate option.
  2. You will see that your ROG Phone 2 is set to use 60 Hz by default.
  3. You can now select either 90 Hz or 120 Hz.

Just select the refresh rate you prefer, and the display will flicker a little as it changes the refresh rate.

That’s it – you are ready to go! Enjoy the higher refresh rate!

Recommended : Why ROG Phone II Tencent Is Better Than The Global Edition!

 

ASUS ROG Phone 2 : Where To Buy

Here are online purchase options for the ASUS ROG Phone 2 :

You can also purchase the much cheaper ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition in the grey market. *

* Please note that if you purchase a grey market Tencent unit, you will not be entitled to warranty outside of China.

 

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ASUS ROG Phone 2 vs Black Shark 2 PRO : Who Wins?

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Now that both the ASUS ROG Phone 2 and Black Shark 2 PRO are out and competing with each other, the question mobile gamers are asking – which is the better gaming smartphone?

In this article, we will compare both the ROG Phone 2 and the Black Shark 2 PRO, and see which is the better gaming device!

 

Gaming Smartphones?

Both the Black Shark 2 PRO and ASUS ROG Phone 2 claim to be gaming smartphones. What’s the difference between these two “gaming” smartphones and “regular” smartphones?

While ALL smartphones can handle games pretty well, especially if they are flagship devices, gaming smartphones claim to offer an edge to serious mobile gamers, like :

  • really fast CPU and GPU, with high-speed memory and storage
  • better cooling system to sustain gaming performance
  • large display with a high refresh rate, or low latency, or both
  • better wireless connectivity to ensure no lag during gameplay
  • large battery for longer gameplay
  • better audio for more enjoyable gameplay
  • special controls or buttons, or gamepad add-ons

Of course, many flagship-class smartphones already offer many of those features, which is why some argue that gaming-specific smartphones are merely a way for some brands to carve a niche to survive in the ultra-competitive smartphone market.

But we digress… let’s compare the two top gaming smartphones that are coming, or will soon come to a store near you – the Black Shark 2 PRO (MY | SG | AU | UK) and the ASUS ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU).

 

ASUS ROG Phone 2 vs Black Shark 2 PRO Specifications

Let’s start with a quick comparison of their key specifications.

Specifications Black Shark 2 PRO ROG Phone 2
Display 6.39-inch AMOLED display
– 1080 x 2340 pixels
– 108.9% DCI-P3 colour gamut
– 60 Hz refresh rate		 6.59-inch AMOLED display
– 1080 x 2340 pixels
– 108% DCI-P3 colour gamut
– up to 120 Hz refresh rate
System Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus
Processor 1 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold core (2.96 GHz)
3 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold cores (2.42 GHz)
4 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 640 (672 MHz)
RAM 8 GB / 12 GB LPDDR4X
Storage 128 GB / 256 GB UFS 3.0 512 GB / 1 TB UFS 3.0
Front Camera 20 MP with f/2.0 aperture 24 MP front camera
Rear Cameras 48 MP Sony IMX586 sensor, with f/1.75 aperture
12 MP telephoto camera, with f/2.2 aperture		 48 MP Sony IMX586 sensor, with f/1.79 aperture
13 MP ultra-wide camera, with 125-degree field of view
Connectivity 4G : LTE Cat18 – 211 Mbps UL, 1.2 Gbps DL
WiFi : 802.11ac, 4×4 MIMO
Bluetooth : BT 5.0		 4G : LTE Cat18 – 211 Mbps UL, 1.2 Gbps DL
WiFi : 802.11ad, 4×4 MIMO
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
Special Sensors ForceTouch Sensors Ultrasonic AirTrigger
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, In-Display Optical Sensor
Audio Dual front-facing speakers Dual front-facing speakers + DTS:X Ultra
Battery 4,000 mAh battery 6,000 mAh battery
Charger 27 watt fast charger 30 watt fast charger
Dimensions 75.0 mm wide
163.6 mm tall
8.77 mm thick		 77.6 mm wide
170.99 mm tall
9.78 mm thick
Weight 205 g 240 g

 

ASUS ROG Phone 2 vs Black Shark 2 PRO

Although there are quite a few more differences between the two models, we are going to focus mainly on the gaming and mobility aspects in this comparison.

Performance : Tie

Both Black Shark 2 PRO (MY | SG | AU | UK)) and ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU) have the same performance.

They both use the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus mobile platform, and come with 8 GB or 12 GB of LPDDR4x memory.

Recommended : The Snapdragon 855 Plus vs Snapdragon 855 Comparison!

Storage : ROG Phone 2

Both Black Shark 2 PRO and ASUS ROG Phone 2 use UFS 3.0 storage, which is about 2X faster than UFS 2.1. This is the key point.

The ROG Phone 2 comes with twice as much storage as the Black Shark 2 PRO. However, 256 GB is more than what most gamers will ever use – even PUBG Mobile takes up only 1.54 GB of space!

Honestly, paying extra for 512 GB of storage or even 1 TB is just pointless for gamers. But we will give the advantage to the ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU), if only for the bragging rights.

Cooling : Black Shark 2 PRO

The Black Shark 2 PRO (MY | SG | AU | UK) features a Mille-Feuille full area liquid cooling system that, according to them, is far superior to that of the ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU).

Device CPU Temp. GPU Temp. RAM Temp. Chassis Temp.
Black Shark 2 PRO 65.7 °C 51.2 °C 52.0 °C 35.7 °C
ASUS ROG Phone 2 77.5 °C 54.6 °C 55.0 °C 47.1 °C
Difference + 11.8 °C + 3.4 °C + 3.0 °C + 11.4 °C

Display : Tie

The ASUS ROG Phone 2 boasts a 120 Hz display, while the Black Shark 2 PRO (MY | SG | AU | UK) only has a 60 Hz display.

However, Black Shark has publicly pooh-poohed the usefulness of a 120 Hz display in this recent Q&A session :

Instead of a higher refresh rate, they opted to use DC dimming to reduce eyestrain, and an integrated DSP with MEMC (Motion Estimation, Motion Compensation) capabilities to eliminate unwanted judder and blur. So we think this counts as a tie.

Do note too that a 120 Hz refresh rate uses up significantly more power, which is why ASUS actually set it to 60 Hz by default!

Recommended : ROG Phone 2 : How To Turn On 90Hz / 120Hz Refresh Rate!

Touch Screen : Black Shark 2 PRO

Black Shark also focused on reducing the latency of the touch screen display, with 240 Hz report rate even with three fingers. This is, arguably, far more important for competitive gaming than a 120 Hz display.

Touch Report Rate Black Shark 2 PRO ASUS ROG Phone 2 Difference
1 Finger 240 Hz 195 Hz – 45 Hz / 18.75 %
2 Fingers 240 Hz 145 Hz – 95 Hz / 39.58 %
3 Fingers 240 Hz 135 Hz – 105 Hz / 43.75%

They also claim that the Black Shark 2 PRO (MY | SG | AU | UK) has a significantly lower touch latency than the ROG Phone 2.

Touch Latency Black Shark 2 PRO ASUS ROG Phone 2 Difference
Not Shooting 30.7 ms 41.6 ms + 10.9 ms / 35.5 %
Shooting 48.6 ms 70.0 ms + 21.4 ms / 44.0 %

Battery : ROG Phone 2

The ROG Phone 2, on the other hand, boasts a 6,000 mAh battery that is 50% larger than the Black Shark 2 PRO‘s battery. This means you will get to play longer on the ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU).

Portability : Black Shark 2 PRO

This may not be important to everyone, but if you want to be able to carry your gaming smartphone in your pocket, the Black Shark 2 PRO (MY | SG | AU | UK) is both smaller and lighter than the ROG Phone 2.

Availability : Black Shark 2 PRO

This may not seem important, until you decide you want to buy one.

The Black Shark 2 PRO (MY | SG | AU | UK) was available to purchase for weeks before the first batch of ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU) was released.

ASUS has always had a reputation for a slow roll-out, and that hasn’t changed with the ROG Phone 2 – even after it was launched, quantities were limited.

Price : Black Shark 2 PRO

Here is a quick comparison table to show the price difference between the two models :

Countries Black Shark 2 PRO
 (12 GB + 256 GB)		 ASUS ROG Phone 2
(12 GB + 512 GB)		 Difference
Malaysia RM 2,999 RM 3,499 + RM 500 (16.7%)
Singapore S$869 S$1,299 + S$430 (49.5%)
United States ~$729 $889 + $160 (21.9%)
United Kingdom £560 £1,149 + £589 (105.2%)
Australia ~A$1,059 A$1,964 + A$905 (85.5%)

Recommended : Why ROG Phone II Tencent Is Better Than The Global Edition!

 

So Which Is Better?

Frankly speaking, you can game without any issue on any decent smartphone these days. But if you are a serious or professional gamer, a gaming smartphone could give you the competitive edge you need.

But between the two models, we personally prefer the Black Shark 2 PRO (MY | SG | AU | UK) for these reasons :

  • its better cooling system will maintain gaming performance, while keeping the chassis cooler to touch
  • a low latency touch display is arguably more important for gaming, than a high refresh rate display
  • even though the ROG Phone 2 has a larger battery, the 120 Hz display significantly limits its battery life
  • the Black Shark 2 PRO is MUCH CHEAPER than the ROG Phone 2 Global Edition

Recommended : Black Shark 2 PRO In-Depth Review : A Real Gaming Beast!

 

Black Shark 2 PRO : Where To Buy

Here are online purchase options for the Black Shark 2 PRO :

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Malaysia

Singapore

United Kingdom

Australia

 

ASUS ROG Phone 2 : Where To Buy

Here are online purchase options for the ASUS ROG Phone 2 :

You can also purchase the much cheaper ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition in the grey market. *

* Please note that if you purchase a grey market Tencent unit, you will not be entitled to warranty outside of China.

 

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ROG Phone 2 US Elite Edition vs. Tencent Edition Compared!

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The ASUS ROG Phone 2 US model is finally available… two months after ASUS launched the ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition in China!

Here is EVERYTHING you need to know about the ROG Phone 2 US model in the United States – its specifications, price, and availability!

 

ROG Phone 2 – Super Fast Phone, Super Slow Rollout

ASUS keep boasting that they are the first to launch a Snapdragon 855 Plus smartphone, but what’s the point if they cannot deliver the actual devices?

More nimble, new competitors like Black Shark keep passing them by. The Black Shark 2, for example, launched way back in April 2019 with the Snapdragon 855, and they started selling the Black Shark 2 PRO with the Snapdragon 855 Plus last month!

Recommended : The ASUS ROG Phone 2 vs Black Shark 2 PRO Comparison!

It took them more than two months to introduce the ROG Phone 2 to the US market, and even then, they are only offering A SINGLE MODEL.

While the Indian market will receive a low-cost variant similar to the ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition, ASUS is only introducing what they call the ROG Phone 2 Elite Edition.

Here is a short summary of how the Elite Edition differs from the Tencent Edition, and similar low-cost variants :

  • It comes with 12 GB of memory (which is pointless), instead of “just” 8 GB
  • It comes with 512 GB of storage, instead of 128 GB
  • It comes with faster LTE and Wi-Fi speeds (also pretty pointless)
  • It comes with a 30 W fast charger, instead of an 18 W fast charger
  • It comes with an AeroActive Cooler II, which is basically a bolt-on fan

ASUS says that they are planning to introduce the Ultimate Edition later, with a faster Cat20 LTE modem and 1 TB of UFS 3.0 storage.

 

ROG Phone 2 Elite Edition – Price & Availability In The US

In the US, ASUS will eventually introduce two high-spec models, but only the Elite Edition is available with 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage :

  • ASUS ROG Phone 2 Elite Edition (12 GB + 512 GB) : $899.99

Recommended : Why ROG Phone II Tencent Is Better Than The Global Edition!

 

ROG Phone 2 US Elite Edition vs Tencent Edition

Last month, ASUS and Tencent revealed the ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition in China, powered by the Snapdragon 855 Plus platform.

However, ASUS does NOT want you to think about the Tencent Edition because it is MUCH CHEAPER, and is a darn better deal than the Elite / Global Edition that they are offering in most countries.

They have been urging their media friends to talk up the Elite / Global Edition. But in our honest opinion, the Tencent version is a better deal for gamers. Here’s why!

For your convenience, we compare the specifications of both models in this table :

Specifications ASUS ROG Phone 2
(United States)		 ASUS ROG Phone 2
Tencent Edition
Display 6.59-inch AMOLED display (1080 x 2340 pixels)
– 118% DCI-P3 colour gamut, 10,000:1 contrast ratio
– up to 120 Hz refresh rate, 1 ms response time
System Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus
Processor 1 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold core (2.96 GHz)
3 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold cores (2.42 GHz)
4 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 640 (672 MHz)
RAM 12 GB LPDDR4X 8 GB LPDDR4X
Storage 512 GB UFS 3.0 128 GB UFS 3.0
Front Camera 24 MP front camera
Rear Cameras 48 MP main camera, with Sony IMX586 sensor, and f/1.79 lens
13 MP ultra-wide camera, with 125-degree field of view
LTE Speeds 1.2 Gbps DL, 211 Mbps UL 1.0 Gbps DL, 150 Mbps UL
Connectivity WiFi : 802.11ad, 2×2 MIMO
Bluetooth : BT 5.0		 WiFi : 802.11ac, 2×2 MIMO
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
Sensors Accelerometer, E-Compass, proximity sensor, Hall sensor, ambient light sensor, in-display fingerprint sensor, gyro, ultrasonic AirTrigger shoulder buttons
Audio Dual front-facing speakers with DTS:X Ultra
Battery 6,000 mAh battery
Charger 30 watt, with USB-C to USB-C cable 18 watt, with USB-A to USB-C cable
AeroActive Cooler Yes No
Bundled Case Aero Case Bumper Case
Box Type Six Prism Box Square Box
Dimensions 77.6 mm wide x 170.99 mm tall x 9.78 mm thick
Weight 240 g
Price $899.99 Approx. $499.99

 

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ROG Phone 2 India Models vs. Tencent Edition Comparison!

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India is getting both the Tencent Edition, and the Global Edition, of the ROG Phone 2… with prices to match!

Let’s compare their specifications against the ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition, as well as their prices!

 

India Gets Two DIFFERENT ROG Phone 2 Models

ROG Phone 2 (8 GB + 128 GB) For India

Basically, the ROG Phone 2 (8 GB + 128 GB) is the Tencent Edition for India. Here are the differences :

  • It has a slightly slower LTE download speed, compensated by slightly faster LTE upload speed
  • It comes with an Aero case
  • It is slightly – about 10% – more expensive than the Tencent Edition

The ROG Phone 2 (8 GB + 128 GB) is priced at ₹37,999 / ~US$529 / ~£429 / ~A$799 / ~RM 2,249

Recommended : The ASUS ROG Phone 2 vs Black Shark 2 PRO Comparison!

ROG Phone 2 (12 GB + 512 GB) For India

In addition, ASUS will also introduce the far more expensive Global Edition to cater to the richer segment of the Indian population.

  • It comes with 12 GB of memory (which is pointless), instead of “just” 8 GB
  • It comes with 512 GB of storage, instead of 128 GB
  • It comes with faster LTE and Wi-Fi speeds (also pretty pointless)
  • It comes with a 30 W fast charger, instead of an 18 W fast charger
  • It comes with an AeroActive Cooler II, which is basically a bolt-on fan

Now, here’s the kicker – this model costs 58% more than the 8 GB + 128 GB model.

The ROG Phone 2 (12 GB + 512 GB) is priced at ₹59,999 / ~US$849 / ~£689 / ~A$1,259 / ~RM 3,559

Again, we would like to point out that, for gamers, the Tencent Edition and similar variants are definitely A MUCH BETTER DEAL than the high-end / Global Edition ROG Phone 2.

Recommended : Why ROG Phone II Tencent Is Better Than The Global Edition!

 

ROG Phone 2 India Models vs. Tencent Edition

To make it easy for you to determine which is a better model for you, we compare the two ROG Phone 2 India models against the Tencent Edition.

Specifications ROG Phone 2
(12 GB + 512 GB)
 ROG Phone 2
(8 GB + 128 GB)
 ROG Phone 2
Tencent Edition
Display 6.59-inch AMOLED display (1080 x 2340 pixels)
– 108% DCI-P3 colour gamut, 10,000:1 contrast ratio
– up to 120 Hz refresh rate, 1 ms response time
System Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus
CPU 1 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold core (2.96 GHz)
3 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold cores (2.42 GHz)
4 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
System Platform Qualcomm Adreno 640 (672 MHz)
RAM 12 GB LPDDR4X 8 GB LPDDR4X
Storage 512 GB UFS 3.0 128 GB UFS 3.0
Front Camera 24 MP camera with f/2.0 aperture
Rear Cameras 48 MP main camera, with Sony IMX586 sensor, and f/1.79 lens
13 MP ultra-wide camera, with 125-degree field of view
LTE Speeds 1.2 Gbps DL, 211 Mbps UL 800 Mbps DL, 211 Mbps UL 1 Gbps DL, 150 Mbps UL
Connectivity Wi-Fi : 802.11ad, 4×4 MIMO
Bluetooth : BT 5.0		 Wi-Fi : 802.11ac, 2×2 MIMO
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
Sensors Accelerometer, E-Compass, proximity sensor, Hall sensor, ambient light sensor, in-display fingerprint sensor, gyro, ultrasonic AirTrigger shoulder buttons
Audio Dual front-facing speakers with DTS:X Ultra
Battery 6,000 mAh battery
Charger 30 W, USB-A to USB-C 18 W, USB-A to USB-C
AeroActive Cooler Yes No No
Aero Case Yes Yes No
Dimensions 77.6 mm wide x 170.99 mm tall x 9.78 mm thick
Weight 240 g
Price ₹59,999 ₹37,999 Approx. ₹34,599

 

ROG Phone 2 Availability In India

The ROG Phone 2 (8GB + 128GB) model will start selling at 12 AM, on 30 September 2019.

The 12GB + 512GB is not available yet, but will be “coming soon” like someone who has jerked off way too often.

This is not surprising, because ASUS has a history of super-slow rollouts.

They may boast of being the first to launch a Snapdragon 855 Plus smartphone, but what’s the point if they cannot deliver the actual devices?

More nimble, new competitors like Black Shark keep passing them by. The Black Shark 2, for example, launched way back in April 2019 with the Snapdragon 855, and they started selling the Black Shark 2 PRO with the Snapdragon 855 Plus last month!

 

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The ASUS ROG Phone – Everything You Need To Know!

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ASUS just revealed the long-awaited ROG Phone – arguably the world’s first smartphone designed specifically for mobile gaming.

Here is everything you need to know about the ROG Phone – the official tech briefing, its key features and specifications… and its price list and pre-order deals!

 

The ASUS ROG Phone Revealed!

Powered by specially speed-binned 2.96 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoCs, the new ROG Phone boasts a unique GameCool vapor-chamber cooling system, with a detachable AeroActive Cooler for an extra cooling boost. This ensures that the ROG Phone can sustain hours of non-stop mobile gaming without burning your fingers!

It also boasts a top-of-the-line AMOLED display with a blazing 90 Hz refresh rate and a 1 ms response time to ensure a blur-free gaming experience. On top of that, it is capable of delivering HDR visuals with a very wide colour gamut which is in excess of DCI-P3!

The ROG Phone includes gaming-centric features like unique side-mounted ports, and the enhanced, ultra-responsive game controls — including two programmable ultrasonic AirTriggers and advanced force-feedback haptics.

For greater gaming enjoyment, ASUS also create a range of expansion accessories :

  • the TwinView Dock for dual-screen handheld mode;
  • the Mobile Desktop Dock for desktop-style gaming; and
  • the Gamevice controller with WiGig Dock using 60 GHz Wi-Fi for big-screen gaming.

 

ASUS ROG Phone Specifications

SpecificationsASUS ROG Phone
Display6.0-inch AMOLED display
- 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 aspect ratio
- 550 nits brightness, 108.6% DCI-P2 colour gamut
- 90 Hz refresh rate, 1 ms response time
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6
Operating SystemAndroid Oreo 8.1
PlatformSpecially-binned Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
Processor8 x Qualcomm Kyro 385 cores (2.96 GHz)
Graphics ProcessorQualcomm Adreno 630
Memory8 GB LPDDR4X memory
Storage128 GB or 512 GB internal flash storage (UFS 2.1)
NO microSD card slot
Front Camera8 MP sensor with f/2.0 lens
Main Rear Camera12 MP Sony IMX363 sensor with f/1.7 lens
- 4-axis, 4-stops optical image stabilisation (OIS)
- Dual Pixel with PDAF capability
Secondary Rear Camera120° wide-angle camera
Connectivity4G : LTE Cat13 UL (150 Mbps), Cat18 DL (1.26 Gbps)
WiFi : 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz)
Bluetooth : BT v5.0
SIM CapabilityDual SIM, Dual Standby
- 4G capable on both nano SIM cards
AudioDual front-facing 5-magnet speakers
- with dual NXP 9874 smart amplifiers
- supports Hi-Res Audio and DTS:X Ultra
GPSGPS / GLONASS / Beidou / Galileo / QZSS
NFCYes
Battery4,000 mAh
- supports 30 W fast charging
Dimenions76.16 mm wide
158.83 mm tall
8.3 mm thick
Weight200 grams

 

The ASUS ROG Phone Price + Pre-Order Deals Revealed!

In this video, Leo Tseng, Country Manager of ASUS Malaysia, reveals the ASUS ROG Phone price list and pre-order deals!

Here are the official ASUS ROG Phone price list, including its accessories :

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  • ROG Phone (128 GB) : RM 3,499 / ~US$ 875
  • ROG Phone (512 GB) : RM 3,999 / ~US$ 1,000
  • ROG Phone Case : RM 199 / ~US$ 50
  • ASUS Professional Dock : RM 299 / ~US$ 50
  • Gamevice for ROG Phone : RM 349 / ~US$ 75
  • Mobile Desktop Dock : RM 599 / ~US$ 150
  • ROG Suitcase : RM 599 / ~US$ 150
  • ASUS WiGig Display Dock : RM 899 / ~US$ 225
  • TwinView Dock : RM 999 / ~US$ 250

The ROG Phone is available for pre-order from 22 October to 4 November 2018. Its accessories will only be available in November.

Next Page > ASUS ROG Phone Key Features + Accessories

 

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ASUS ROG Phone Key Features

Here is a summary of the ROG Phone’s key features, as explained by ASUS (with most of the marketing hyperbole edited out) :

Gaming Performance

ROG Phone runs on a specially-selected octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chip that is speed-binned for maximum performance — delivering sustained clock speeds of up to 2.96 GHz. It is paired with  8 GB of RAM and either 128 GB or 512 GB of fast UFS 2.1 flash storage.

To prevent thermal throttling, the ROG Phone features an exclusive GameCool cooling system that uses a highly-efficient 3D vapor-chamber with a 16X-larger surface area for heat dissipation. It is paired with a copper heat spreader and carbon cooling pads on the circuit board for maximum cooling performance.

It also comes with a detachable external AeroActive Cooler for an extra cooling boost when the going gets really tough.

The ROG Phone also comes with a special X Mode. A single tap frees up all background RAM and dedicates it to your game, optimizes game-data processing performance, and maximizes the efficiency of the AeroActive Cooler. X Mode also prevents RAM-eating and battery-sapping app activity, based on a customizable list of apps.

90 Hz AMOLED Display

The ROG Phone features a large 6-inch AMOLED display with a 90 Hz refresh rate and a 1 ms pixel response time for blur-free gaming. It also boasts a wide 108.6% DCI-P3 color gamut, with high-dynamic-range (HDR) capability and a 10,000:1 contrast ratio. To protect your investment, this AMOLED display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 6.

Gaming Controls

The ROG Phone is designed to give gamers total control and a more console-like experience, with three unique ultrasonic AirTrigger touch sensors.

Two of these AirTrigger sensors are optimized as left / right triggers at the top of the display for landscape-mode gaming (the third is designed for use in portrait mode), and they’re fully programmable to activate any available on-screen action: aiming, firing, inventory selection.

Gamers can now free up two extra fingers to control gameplay, giving them the edge over their thumb-bound rivals. AirTriggers use ultrasonic technology, so they only need a feather-light touch — just 20 grams compared to rival touch-sensitive controls that need up to 4X the force. An advanced haptic actuator provides a powerful force-feedback system for a more immersive gameplay.

Charging Convenience

Charging a smartphone while playing can make gaming impossibly awkward. It has an optimised layout for landscape-mode gaming. There’s an additional side-mounted custom USB-C connector that supports direct charging, HDMI output, gigabit LAN and headphones.

And when the AeroActive Cooler is deployed, it provides a side-mounted USB-C port and 3.5mm headphone jack for unhindered gameplay. The side connector’s also used for the exclusive expansion modules, including the Mobile Desktop Dock and TwinView Dock.

ASUS Aura RGB Lighting

This is ASUS’ first smartphone to feature their proprietary ASUS Aura RGB lighting. Its illuminated rear ROG logo can display a whole rainbow of lighting schemes: static, breathing, strobing or color cycling. Lighting effects can be triggered with phone events such as incoming calls, notifications and more.

Gaming Audio

It has two front-facing speakers that are driven by individual smart amplifiers to maximize volume and minimize distortion. It is powered by an audio engine that supports 24-bit/192Khz Hi-Res Audio playback. DTS Headphone:X provides theater-quality virtual surround-sound over headphones, and there’s support for high-definition audio via Bluetooth.

Long-Lasting Battery

Powering all that is a high-capacity 4,000 mAh battery. The bundled power adapter supports ASUS HyperCharge, a direct-charge technology that delivers more power (up to 20 W) for shorter, safer charge times. It also lets the ROG Phone stay cooler when it’s charging.

 

ASUS ROG Phone Accessories

TwinView Dock

The TwinView Dock turns it into a dual-screen console for the ultimate gaming and live-streaming experience. It has a 6-inch AMOLED (2160 x 1080) auxiliary screen that’s great for split-screen live-streaming, extended game display or group communication.

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It also packs a front-facing quad-speaker system, two extra physical trigger buttons, dual-haptic force-feedback engine, an enhanced cooling system and a high-capacity 6000 mAh extended battery pack.

Mobile Desktop Dock

The Mobile Desktop Dock allows gamers to connect ROG Phone to an external 4K UHD monitor, mouse and keyboard. ROG Phone can be used as an auxiliary display, hooked up to a wired gigabit LAN and drive a 5.1-channel surround-sound system via the SP/DIF output.

Gamevice + WiGig Dock

With the Gamevice controller and the WiGig Dock — using 60GHz 802.11ad Wi-Fi — it morphs into a portable console with a full inventory of physical gaming controls and ultra-low-latency wireless display connectivity.

It packs dual analog joysticks, left and right fire triggers and bumpers, a D-pad, along with A,B,X,Y and L3, R3 buttons.

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