From packaging to camera prowess, the ASUS ROG Phone 8 didn’t come here to win; it’s here to dominate!
Among many “gaming” phones out there, only a handful can truly deliver exceptional performance. This year, ASUS is giving us the next-generation ROG Phone 8.
The handset is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC for blazing performance. But in this unboxing, we highlighted what’s inside the box, the phone’s display and design, ergonomics, build quality, and camera capabilities.
Yes, the ASUS ROG Phone 8 has a surprisingly great camera system that will let you capture moments at impressive quality.
What’s in the Box?
The ASUS ROG Phone 8 comes in a black box with the imposing text “Dare to Play For Those Who Dare” to tell you that it is a gaming phone. While it isn’t a portable console, it certainly can deliver unquestionable gaming performance that topples pretenders in the market.
Besides the gaming phone itself, the packaging also includes the card tray ejector pin, charging brick, charging cable, some paperwork, and Aero Case. It’s worth mentioning that the charging cable is a USB-C to USB-C, much faster in terms of charging and data transfer.
The Aero Case isn’t just your typical phone case. This one is specifically molded for the ASUS ROG Phone 8 and it’s sturdier than a jelly case. However, it’s up to you to use it since the gaming phone has an incredible design to ignore.
Leaving it bare is definitely the best route to show off your ROG phone.
Display and Design
The ASUS ROG Phone 8 sports a 6.78-inch display panel with a resolution of 1080p. This panel is a flexible AMOLED with LTPO technology, which allows ASUS to maximize the display and minimize the unwanted bezel. Don’t fret about bright lights because this panel supports up to 2500 nits at peak brightness.
This phone’s display bezel is 1.67mm – around 14% thinner than its predecessor. Everything looks clear and crisp since it’s made of AMOLED, where blacks are true, colors are better, and the contrast is higher.
Another thing is the punch hole cutout at the upper center of the screen for the selfie camera. This is a 32MP RGBW selfie camera, included in this unboxing and first impressions article.
For the design, the backside of ASUS ROG Phone 8 screams pure gaming. You can find the illuminating RGB lights. You can customize this Aura Lighting to express what you feel or what you’re doing.
We also noticed the separator at the back. It may just be an accent for some but this simple design streak is a signature visual element for many gaming devices. It gives off that sophisticated division between two worlds regardless of the color variant your ASUS ROG Phone 8 has.
Comfort and Grip
Aesthetics are good and all but ergonomics is another story. Unlike its predecessor, the ASUS ROG Phone 8 is 15% thinner and 9% lighter, increasing overall comfort when you hold it for long periods. This is a major upgrade for nonstop gaming.
The physical keys and ports do matter in comfort and grip. Annoying placements will definitely impact how you grab and hold your phone.
The volume rockers and power button are at the right side are flanked by pressure trigger zones: capacitive buttons added for better gaming experience.
Ports like the USB-C, card tray, speaker grille, and the much-loved 3.5mm headphone jack are found at the bottom of the phone. Another USB-C port is found at the left side for extended functions.
For example, you can power up the AeroActive Cooler X (fan accessory) on the left-side USB-C so your hands can hold the device in landscape without obstructions.
Build Quality
Despite being a gaming phone, the ASUS ROG Phone 8 isn’t fragile. It has the hardware to let gamers play their favorite titles rain or shine.
This phone’s panel is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 to resist drops and scratches. The Gorilla Glass Victus 2 also includes an improved drop performance versus asphalt, concrete, and other rough surfaces.
Not even rain can stop gamers as the ASUS ROG Phone 8 comes with IP68 dust and water resistance rating. You won’t have to worry when surprise splashes hit the screen, or dust collecting inside thanks to this certification.
Keep in mind, though, that this is a gaming phone with a degree of resistance, not rugged one.
Camera Capabilities
In some cases, brands may have to sacrifice the camera in favor of the processor on gaming phones, but ASUS didn’t do that on its ROG Phone 8. This gaming phone has a triple-rear camera setup with a 50MP main sensor, 13MP ultrawide lens, and 5MP macro lens. It also comes with a 32MP selfie camera.
You can’t belittle the rear cameras because the 50MP sensor is a Sony IMX890 with a large 1/1.56” sensor, an aperture of f/1.9, and the 6-axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer 3.0. This means you can record videos with much less shakes from movement.
We took some photos using the ASUS ROG Phone 8 to see its camera capabilities. One noticeable upside is the more natural implementation of HDR.
Images won’t go “boom” like magic but instead go for the meaning of HDR: balancing bright and dark areas to bring details into the surface. Here are some of the samples:
The macro lens did a good job as well. Although the blurring is slightly off, the details are rendered very well. Colors are impressive too; not oversaturated or overprocessed.
Another amazing factor is the lack of noise on the macro pic. It isn’t noticeable even if you zoom the dark areas of the image.
The ASUS ROG Phone 8 features a gimbal OIS to greatly reduce shakes, very useful when video recording. Check out the HyperSteady capture in 1080p at 60 FPS:
Final Thoughts
The ASUS ROG Phone 8 is not a pretender. It’s built differently compared to those mock-ups in the market. This gaming phone is superior across the board, from hardware to overall build. It’s ready to take on challenges in photography, video recording, gaming, editing, etc, indoor or outdoor.
Although this gaming phone is special in the hands of a true gamer, the ASUS ROG Phone 8 is made for everyone. So, if you’ve been saving up for a top-tier and versatile smartphone, then this ROG handset could be the one for you.
