The new Asus ROG Phone 8 is still a gaming phone, but this time Asus has designed it with everyday usability in mind. It’s smaller and lighter than before, and has a decent dust and water resistance rating of IP68 (versus his IP54 on last year’s model).
The bigger changes include a 32MP 3x telephoto camera and improved main cam stabilization (Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer 3.0). Wireless charging (15W) is also now possible, but the battery capacity has been slightly reduced (5,500mAh is not small at all).
As a gaming phone, it takes advantage of the new variable refresh rate (1-120Hz) enabled by the LTPO panel. You’ll also get a 165Hz mode for some games, but even the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 doesn’t have the ability to hit that goal with more demanding titles.
The Asus ROG Phone 8 is available for pre-order in Europe, with the base model priced at €1,100 (12/256GB). In the US, this same model costs $1,100.
There is also a Pro model with a mini LED matrix on the back, which costs 1,200 euros for 16/512GB. The Pro Edition model has 24 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage and costs 1,500 euros. The Pro is also available in India and is priced at 95,000 ₹ and the Pro Edition is priced at 120,000 ₹.
The Red Magic 9 Pro also has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip but lacks an LTPO display. Also, since it has a built-in cooling fan, it is not waterproof. On the plus side, international models are much cheaper, with a 12/256GB unit costing just $650/€650 and a 16/512GB unit $800/€800. However, this model does not have a telephoto camera or wireless charging.
With the new design philosophy, ROG Phone 8 also competes with regular flagship models. The OnePlus 12 will go on sale worldwide later this month, the Samsung Galaxy S24 launch is coming, and the Xiaomi 14 should be available outside of China sooner or later (though the 14 Pro won’t be).
What do you think about the Asus ROG Phone 8? Is this your next phone? Or is the company missing the point? By the way, we have a ROG Phone 8 and 8 Pro in our office and are already working on a review. , stay tuned for more information on ASUS’ latest gaming phone.
