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While it probably won’t see the mainstream success of phones like the Galaxy S9, Huawei Mate 20 Pro, and OnePlus 6, the ASUS ROG Gaming phone is one of the more exciting phones of the year, purely for the fact that it is a little different.
The ROG Phone is designed for high-end gaming, with dedicated accessories such as the Mobile Desktop Dock, which allows you to hook the phone up to an external 4K monitor, mouse and keyboard. The screen itself is an AMOLED 6-inch running at 2,160 x 1,080 that supports HDR content,
The display runs at 90Hz which is considerably faster than normal phones, though slower than the 120Hz screen on the Razer phone. ASUS claims a 1ms response time, so it should feel pretty snappy and crisp as well.
Under the hood, the ROG phone is powered by a speed binned Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor that is overclocked at 2.96GHz. Speed binned is a term normally used in the PC market, and I can’t help but think this is just marketing fluff here.
It packs 8GB of RAM and comes in two options for internal storage — 128GB and 512GB. It also comes with the custom Optiflex, which is the company’s technology that speeds up the phone. On the back, it houses a 12MP Sony IMX363 f/1.7 primary sensor with 120-degree wide-angle lens and an 8MP secondary sensor with f/2.0 aperture. There’s an 8MP front-facing snapper for taking selfies and video calling.
The Asus ROG Phone has a special X Mode that can be activated by squeezing the sides of the phone. With the special X Mode, the phone stops all background tasks and directs all processing power to the game you are playing.
It is apparently being launched with Android 8.1 Oreo which is getting a little long in the tooth now Android Pie is landing. You get a sizable 4,000mAh battery with support for ASUS HyperCharge fast charging technology that can charge the device from 0 to 60 percent in just 30 minutes.
The ROG Phone will be available for pre-order on October 18th for a starting price of $899 for the 128 GB version. The 512 GB model will cost $1,099.
The Mobile Desktop Dock will set you back $230 while the TwinView Dock which adds a second screen to the phone will cost $400. The WiGig Dock turns the ROG Phone into a portable gaming console that you can hook up to your TV, with a physical controller in the Gamevice. The Gamevice Controller will cost $90, while the WiGig Dock will set you back $330.
Then there is a big screen dock with onboard Gigabit Ethernet which will cost $200, and finally, a dedicated ROG Phone case will be available for $60.
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
