Asus ROG Telephone 8 Professional
MSRP $1,199.00
“The Asus ROG Telephone 8 Professional is the most productive telephone you’ll purchase if you wish to play video games, but it surely seems it is also a super on a regular basis telephone.”
Execs
Nice gaming device options
AirTriggers paintings truly neatly
Vastly robust
IP68 score
Speedy stressed out charging
Cons
Fewer hardcore gaming options
Will get scorching when driven to its restrict
Is the Asus ROG Telephone 8 Professional nonetheless a gaming telephone? Finally, it’s an overly varied beast visually from the fashions we’ve noticed earlier than. Don’t fear — the ROG Telephone 8 Professional continues to be all about video games, however whilst the former fashions have been the telephone equivalents of a gaming PC, the ROG Telephone 8 Professional is extra like a PlayStation.
It nonetheless has the entire proper gaming credentials, however with out the entire bother. Has this transfer destroyed the entirety that made the ROG Telephone collection so distinctive? I’ve been studying.
Asus ROG Telephone 8 Professional: design
Andy Boxall / Virtual Tendencies
Asus has taken the ROG Telephone collection mainstream, or as mainstream because it’s ever prone to get. It claims the telephone is “now not only a gaming telephone, but additionally an all-round top rate telephone for on a regular basis use,” making it rather varied from the ROG Telephones that experience long gone earlier than it. During the last few weeks, I’ve been ready to check if it truly is a extra succesful on a regular basis tool, as it’s been my better half via an exceptionally busy duration when enjoying video games merely wasn’t going to occur, and calls, messages, and emails have been the concern.
I’d come to the telephone from the usage of the Not anything Telephone 2, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely, and the OnePlus 11 in fast succession, so it had so much to reside as much as. The excellent news is it’s been as succesful, handy, and dependable as any of them when used as a regular smartphone. If I have been the usage of the ROG Telephone 7 Final right through this time, I’m lovely positive I wouldn’t have felt the similar manner. The cause of that is Asus’s resolution to switch the whole design of the ROG Telephone.
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It has smaller bezels across the display, a extra standard form, a thinner 8.9mm profile, and a lighter 225-gram weight. The AirTriggers are nonetheless on each and every shoulder, however there are not more motorized vents, so it has received an IP68 water and dirt resistance score. The three.5mm headphone jack stays, as does a side-mounted USB-C charging port. It’s indisputably nonetheless extra fitted to gaming than maximum flagship smartphones, but it surely’s some distance much less compromised. It represents an enormous trade for the ROG Telephone collection, and a most commonly sure one, too.
Handiest most commonly? The issue is that the ROG Telephone 8 Professional isn’t as mad, or as absolutely gaming-centric, as earlier fashions. Neither is it as crowd pleasing. The rear panel at the Professional is all black, and the crisp and transparent LED array that brightly displays varied animations is fully hidden when it’s grew to become off. When it’s, the again of the ROG Telephone 8 Professional is shockingly unusual, even if the sophisticated sparkle and matte flashes do give it a visible spice up. Even the digicam module is a straightforward, sq. black segment within the most sensible nook that’s fairly raised.
The ROG Telephone 8 Professional is a at ease and handy on a regular basis spouse.
It’s obviously designed to present the telephone extra mass enchantment, along with making it extra usable, however there’s a possibility of turning the hardcore repeat ROG Telephone patrons off because it’s lacking a lot of what made the older fashions so varied. The ROG Telephone 8 Professional is a at ease and handy on a regular basis spouse once I’m now not enjoying video games, which will’t be mentioned about another ROG Telephones, however there’ll inevitably be some who’re fully grew to become off through that observation.
Asus ROG Telephone 8 Professional: gaming
Andy Boxall / Virtual Tendencies
Asus nonetheless insists the ROG Telephone 8 Professional is a gaming smartphone, regardless of it edging nearer to the mainstream than earlier than, so what’s it like while you do play video games? As discussed, the AirTriggers are nonetheless provide on each and every shoulder and will also be programmed to perform in any cell sport. Additionally, Asus’ X Mode is to be had to supercharge efficiency each time you wish to have whilst protecting it manageable to increase battery lifestyles while you don’t. I love that each and every of those options is definitely obtainable through long-pressing the Fast Settings button, and they’re fully customizable too.
Operating the 3DMark benchmarking app’s Wild Existence Excessive Tension Check published the telephone will get extremely popular with such remedy, in particular at the aspects of the chassis. It’s in those exhausting scenarios the place you’ll want to use the AeroCooler X fan accent that clips at the again to help cooling with its bodily fan. It provides a couple of customizable buttons as neatly. It additionally turns on X Mode Plus at the telephone to squeeze much more efficiency out of the tool. Beneath customary instances, complete cooling strategies, starting from copper and graphite sheets to boron nitrate injected into cavities, stay it working at a smart temperature.
Andy Boxall / Virtual Tendencies
You take a look at a 6.78-inch versatile AMOLED display with a 1-120Hz refresh price, which robotically boosts to 165Hz when enjoying suitable video games. Disappointingly, the solution is 2400 x 1080 pixels, which means it’s now not rather as excessive as some players might need, but it surely suits earlier variations of the telephone. It has a top brightness of two,500 nits, and even if it hasn’t been sunny or shiny whilst I’ve been trying out the telephone, it hasn’t ever been an issue to peer the display outdoor. I’ve additionally discovered the automated brightness adjustment to be correct and dependable.
You’ll realize the bezels on the most sensible and backside of the display were gotten smaller in comparison to the ones at the ROG Telephone 7 (down from 5.65mm to one.65mm), so you might be gripping the display extra when enjoying video games in panorama. For the video games I play, this isn’t a subject, however it will worry some folks. It’s additionally any other of the extra hardcore gaming concerns which were got rid of from the bundle to make it extra appropriate for on a regular basis use through extra folks.
Andy Boxall / Virtual Tendencies
What’s it like enjoying video games at the ROG Telephone 8 Professional? It’s like enjoying them on each different massive flagship on the subject of the way you hang it and the way it feels, however the AirTriggers are incredible — correct and simple to arrange — and do separate this telephone from its competitors. Alternatively, you’ll wish to play video games that truly get pleasure from them to note they’re there in any respect. X Mode and the loads of customization make video games play and perform the precise manner you wish to have. this telephone is made through individuals who truly perceive cell gaming, which is helping make sure the ROG Telephone 8 Professional will have to be the telephone of selection for the devoted cell gamer.
The ROG Telephone 8 Professional is unquestionably a step up from enjoying video games on a Galaxy S23 Extremely or Google Pixel 8 Professional because of the digital buttons, X Mode, never-ending customization choices, and the AeroCooler X accent. The variation is that you just’re reminded much less ceaselessly that it is a gaming smartphone than you have been when enjoying at the ROG Telephone 7 Final.
Asus ROG Telephone 8 Professional: battery lifestyles and call efficiency
Andy Boxall / Virtual Tendencies
Asus needs you to make use of the ROG Telephone 8 Professional each day, so is that possible? The telephone itself is not any larger or heavier than the Xiaomi 13 Professional or a Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely, so supplied you’re fantastic with one thing of this measurement and weight, you received’t to find it any varied. I’ve additionally discovered calls sound very good, and the AI Noise Aid has successfully got rid of background sound in busy environments for the opposite birthday celebration. The telephone has pulled in 5G alerts with out factor, however there have been a couple of proceedings that my voice used to be on occasion garbled right through telephone calls — even in spaces with a good sign.
Because of my utilization necessities during the last few weeks, I’ve ceaselessly simplest used the telephone for roughly an hour an afternoon, and only for the fundamentals like calls, messages, and emails. It’s most commonly been hooked up to a mobile sign relatively than Wi-Fi. It has additionally been hooked up to a Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Professional right through this time. When used like this, the 5,500mAh battery’s lifestyles is exceptional, and it has now not dropped underneath 75% after a complete day from round 7 a.m. to middle of the night. I may now not price it in a single day, and it might nonetheless simply closing 3 and even 4 days. The low energy potency of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 seems to be very good.
Andy Boxall / Virtual Tendencies
Andy Boxall / Virtual Tendencies
Andy Boxall / Virtual Tendencies
Andy Boxall / Virtual Tendencies
I admire this isn’t customary use, particularly for a gaming telephone, so what about when driven tougher? Ranging from 100% within the morning for a complete display time of four-and-a-half to 5 hours right through the day, the battery depletes to about 30% through 11 p.m. That is with a mixture of GPS navigation, 90 mins of YouTube streaming at 1440p (which takes round 8% by itself), 3DMark benchmarking to constitute very high-level gaming, combined gameplay together with Asphalt 9: Legends and Pocket Town, and a few social networking and common app use.
Recharging choices are extra complete than earlier ROG Telephones, because it now comprises wi-fi Qi 1.3 charging at the side of Asus’ 65-watt stressed out HyperCharge machine, which takes the battery to 100% in 40 mins. This brings the ROG Telephone 8 Professional in step with maximum different flagship telephones, and the decent stressed out speedy charging manner it’s as flexible and handy because the OnePlus 11 and Galaxy S23.
Asus ROG Telephone 8 Professional: device, velocity, and safety
Andy Boxall / Virtual Tendencies
Android 14 is put in with Asus’ personal interface, and there are two choices for it. One comprises the entire standard gaming telephone visible results and customized icons, whilst the opposite is a straightforward, blank possibility. In my opinion, I to find the Asus model too busy, but it surely doesn’t perform any otherwise from the blank model, so that you’ll be unfastened to select the visible taste you favor. I haven’t any drawback with the device in any respect, and to find the ROG Telephone 8 Professional an overly delightful telephone to make use of at all times.
A large number of that is right down to the sheer velocity of the machine basically, as there’s no lag, no hesitation, and no frustrating pauses. If you wish to have the quickest smartphone in the market, the ROG Telephone 8 Professional will greater than fulfill you. This may be obtrusive when enjoying video games — proper from the instant you open the app. All of it occurs straight away, and video games completely fly, making them extra relaxing and the revel in extra fluid.
The ROG Telephone 8 Professional I’ve been trying out has a frankly insane 24GB of RAM, which unquestionably is helping give it this astonishing flip of velocity — however I’d believe the 16GB model is hardly ever missing. All this provides as much as being a large a part of the ROG Telephone 8 Professional’s enchantment as a video games gadget, because it’s about as excessive efficiency as smartphones get.
I’m the usage of the ROG Telephone 8 Professional forward of release with out the general device put in, but it surely has now not proved to be unreliable, and no main insects have proven up. There are some things to indicate, although. I’ve discovered the display may be very delicate, and it again and again registers multiple faucet, leading to double letters or numbers showing. That is irritating when inputting passwords or telephone numbers.
Andy Boxall / Virtual Tendencies
I additionally to find the notification color isn’t very responsive and wishes an overly obtrusive digital tug to get it to tug down. Those problems could be fastened within the ultimate device replace, which is due earlier than unencumber. The in-display fingerprint sensor is speedy, however now not as speedy because the face free up machine, so that you would possibly not even get to make use of it if each choices are lively.
Out of doors of Asus’ gaming modes, there are some AI options which can be new for the ROG Telephone 8 Professional. The AI Noise Cancellation labored neatly on calls, and likewise operates right through in-game chats and video calls. There’s an AI-powered seek function and more than a few in-game AI equipment as neatly. Those come with auto-pickup, auto-run, and auto-skip for cutscenes. These kind of do reinforce the ROG Telephone 8 Professional’s gaming credentials, however are simplest to be had in Genshin Affect and Honkai Famous person Rail for now, proscribing the quantity of people that will to find it helpful.
Asus ROG Telephone 8 Professional: digicam
Andy Boxall / Virtual Tendencies
The ROG Telephone 8 Professional has a 50-megapixel primary digicam with the 6-axis gimbal stabilization machine noticed at the Zenfone 10, plus a 13MP f/2.2 wide-angle digicam and a 32MP telephoto digicam with a 3x optical zoom. A 32MP selfie digicam completes the lineup, making it essentially the most comprehensively specced-out digicam on an ROG Telephone but.
Whilst the digicam continues to be now not the rationale you’ll wish to purchase the ROG Telephone 8 Professional, it’s now not a reason why now not to shop for it. It takes colourful, shiny, and a laugh pictures, and there’s sufficient versatility to stay you and concerned. There’s a good point of consistency between the principle and wide-angle cameras, however the 2x hybrid and 3x optical zoom produce rather different-looking photographs. The standard is respectable, however should you glance very seriously, there’s some edge enhancement, plus some textures do glance a bit pixelated.
Portrait mode works in various scenarios and offers a noticeable impact, and while you get in shut, there’s a delightful herbal bokeh to varied photographs. It doesn’t go back essentially the most herbal colours, however they indisputably pop and are perfect for sharing on-line with out a lot modifying. The gimbal stabilization isn’t one thing you’ll use at all times, and function seems to be very similar to the Zenfone 10. Bearing in mind that is essentially a gaming smartphone and that earlier ROG Telephone cameras were moderate at easiest, the ROG Telephone 8 Professional’s digicam is a huge step ahead for the variety.
Asus ROG Telephone 8 Professional: value and availability
Andy Boxall / Virtual Tendencies
The ROG Telephone 8 Professional will price $1,199 for the 16GB/512GB fashion, whilst a Professional Version fashion with a large 24GB of RAM and 1TB of cupboard space — plus the $100 AeroCooler X incorporated within the field — will also be yours for $1,499. The discharge date has now not been showed on the time of writing, however it’ll be offered within the U.S. quickly.
At this value and with its extra mainstream intentions, the ROG Telephone 8 Professional is going up towards the Galaxy S23 Extremely, the Pixel 8 Professional, and the iPhone 15 Professional. It’ll even be a really perfect selection to the Galaxy S24 Extremely. It arguably at all times has been, however there used to be a selected reason why to select the ROG Telephone over them, which has been fairly eroded with the 8 Professional.
You’ll nonetheless wish to be a large cell gaming fan to truly need it, however now not rather up to earlier than. Whether or not that suggests you might be with one among its competition might come right down to how ceaselessly you are taking pictures.
Asus ROG Telephone 8 Professional: verdict
Asus ROG Telephone 7 Final (left) and ROG Telephone 8 Professional Andy Boxall / Virtual Tendencies
I’ve used each ROG Telephone since the first actual, and the ROG Telephone 8 Professional is the primary one the place I haven’t felt the wish to come with a caveat in my evaluation through pointing out once or more that you need to be a hardcore gamer to truly experience it. The design, IP score, efficiency, charging, and digicam are all adapted to customary, on a regular basis use, and this is a a lot more uncomplicated telephone to reside with than it’s possible you’ll be expecting given its pedigree.
It’s much less bother and there are fewer compromises, so extra folks can benefit from the monster efficiency on be offering, however there’s nonetheless sufficient of Asus’s gaming experience within to make it higher than different flagships for gaming — simply. Make no mistake, it will glance somewhat extra unusual this time, however at its center, the ROG Telephone 8 Professional is an absolute powerhouse and can obliterate any process — now not simply video games — in document time whilst apparently now not breaking a sweat. When all of the global of gaming telephones goes via a significant trade, it’s the practical direction for Asus to take.
The Asus ROG Telephone 8 Professional is a gaming smartphone wrapped up in a friendlier bundle that has the possible to enchantment to extra folks, whether or not they’re informal players or budding pros. It’s a PlayStation 5 and now not a gaming PC, and that’s fantastic through me, however the true hardcore ROG Telephone fanatics who spend hours enjoying cell video games each day might to find it’s been watered down just a bit an excessive amount of.
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