The ASUS ROG Phone was the first phone where every aspect was designed from the ground up with e-sport and hardcore gamers in mind. ROG Phone II continues the same journey . I spent considerable time with the device and here is my review of this phone.
ROG Phone II builds on the innovative gamer-centric design of the first-generation ROG Phone, and takes performance to an epic new level with the world’s first announced implementation of the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 855 Plus Mobile Platform, which is clocked at up to 2.96GHz. Graphics are provided by the new and enhanced Qualcomm® Adreno™ 640 GPU for pro-level gaming experiences and the uprated GameCool II multi-level cooling system with a large 3D vapor-chamber sustains full-speed performance for even longer.
The futuristic design returns on the ROG Phone 2 that comes with the ASUS’ aerodynamic system that started with the ROG Phone I. The chassis is made of stainless steel with Gorilla Glass 3 on the back. Below the glass back, very snazzy circuit-like lines run throughout the body of the phone,they actually shine in different colors of the spectrum as light falls on them. The ROG Phone II is a tad bit on the heavier side, weighing in at around 240g with a maximum thickness of 9.78mm. The right edge of the phone is home to Air Trigger II, which are two touch-sensitive areas that act as shoulder buttons. Very useful when gaming. Overall the ASUS ROG Phone II design has grown leaps and bounds over its predecessor and it gives the phone an ultra premium look and finish. The weight of the device is certainly not favorable for daily use, but when you think of it as a hand-held gaming accessory, it’s something you’ll be able to live with.
ROG Phone II also features the world’s first 120Hz/1ms 10-bit HDR 6.59-inch FHD+ AMOLED display, which offers a world-beating Delta-E <1 color accuracy and unrivaled touch response for a truly extraordinary visual experience.
Non-stop marathon gaming, multimedia usage is powered by the massive 6000mAh battery and the innovative side-charging design, supported with 30W ROG HyperCharge technology for safe, ultrafast direct charging. In my experience with the device, I found it to be a head turner that attracts attention in a crowd and a great gaming tool that gives you hours of immersive gaming without any lag or stutter. The best thing is that the phone runs cool most of the time when gaming for long duration.
ROG Phone II is designed from the ground up for fully immersive gaming, with its unique landscape-oriented design incorporating upgraded AirTrigger II ultrasonic sensors, Dual Surrounding Vibration technology, and powerful front-facing stereo speakers with DTS-X Ultra. Brand-new accessories include the TwinView Dock II for immersive dual-screen gaming, and the multi-configuration ROG Kunai Gamepad for the ultimate console-like gaming experience. The sound delivered fills a room and effectively compliments the whole gaming experience. When you add the accesories to the phone, it builds neatly into a whole gaming ecosystem and neatly substitutes a handheld console.
ROG Phone II delivers dominating performance in every arena, with no compromises. It’s the world’s first flagship smartphone to be powered by the new Snapdragon 855 Plus Mobile Platform, with the Qualcomm® Kryo™ 485 CPU clocked at up to 2.96GHz and teamed with up to 12GB LPDDR4X RAM for effortless gaming power. The special Adreno 640 GPU — 15% faster than the current Snapdragon 855 — offers faster display throughput and greater power efficiency, making ROG Phone II a graphics powerhouse that’s unfazed by today’s demanding visuals. The Snapdragon 855 Plus comes fully integrated with Qualcomm® Snapdragon Elite Gaming™, which provides gamers with a full arsenal of competitive features that are optimized for gaming.
To ensure maximum sustained performance, the second-generation GameCool II cooling system in ROG Phone II has a newly designed 3D vapor chamber that’s even more effective at removing heat from the phone. There’s also a new AeroActive Cooler II accessory featuring redesigned fan blades that deliver even more airflow into the ROG Aerodynamic System, and which can fit over the bundled ROG Phone Aero Case. The AeroActive Cooler II is now whisper-quiet, with a 24dBA noise level — 4X quieter than the original design.
The high-capacity of up to 512GB UFS 3.0, provides ultrafast data storage, and connectivity is supercharged with 4G LTE Cat 18 download speeds of up to 1.2Gbps[ii] (8GB/128GB variant supports Cat 15 – download speed up to 800Mbps), the fully integrated 4 antenna Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® subsystem delivers blazing-fast Wi-Fi (802.11ac) capabilities,. Gamers and Binge Watchers craving mind-blowing performance need look no further than ROG Phone II.
ROG Phone II takes gaming visuals to the next level with the world’s first 120Hz/1ms 10-bit HDR AMOLED display, a truly magnificent 6.59-inch FHD+ display that delivers unbelievably fluid, blur-free gaming and entertainment. Its world-beating color accuracy — with a Delta-E of less than 1 — ensures games look just like the developer intended, and the world-first 49ms touch latency delivers instant responsiveness for a competitive edge. To protect this state-of-the-art display, it’s covered with super-tough Corning® Gorilla® Glass 6.
ROG Phone II is engineered for victory from the ground up, with its pioneering landscape-oriented ergonomic design. Uprated AirTrigger II technology provides extra-precise ultrasonic touch controls with a vibration latency of just 20ms, and the Dual Surrounding Vibration technology creates a powerful 3D force-feedback experience. The unique side-mounted USB-C™ charging port and lets users keep their phone topped up without cramping their style during marathon sessions. And it doesn’t end there: the dual front-facing speakers are positioned at top and bottom of the phone for perfect stereo imaging in landscape mode, while the groundbreaking multi-antenna Wi-Fi is designed to deliver maximum landscape-mode performance.
The massive 6000mAh battery in ROG Phone II provides non-stop gaming and usage power anywhere. ROG HyperCharge direct-charging technology — which takes the charging circuitry out of the phone and puts it in the special 30W charger — gives ROG Phone II shorter, safer charge times (up to 66% charged in just 58 minutes). Support for PD charging means users can easily charge their phone with any USB Type-C™ (USB-C™) charger, or conveniently charge other devices with reverse charging functionality of their ROG Phone II.
The ROG Phone II sports a well-known SONY IMX586 flagship sensor with Quad Bayer technology, and with an aperture of F1.79 and with an effective pixel size of 1.6µm. This allows for a great flagship camera that works equally superb in both day-light and in low-light scenarios. The secondary camera is a 13MP ultra-wide camera with 125º FOV, that allows for impressive wide-angle shots of your world with great detail. It offers enhanced camera features like HDR+ Enhanced, and Super Night mode that capture the very best images with superb dynamic range and light composition. Main camera also supports Slo-mo up to 480fps, Panorama, and Pro Mode with up to 48MP.
On the front is a high-resolution 24MP camera with Quad Bayer technology for low light scenarios, and an aperture of F2.0 and an effective pixel size of 1.8µm that allows it to capture superb selfies. With gaming in-mind, the camera is strategically positioned to enable high-quality video streaming while gaming.
Here are a few pictures I took with the AUS ROG Phone II.
Verdict
The ASUS ROG Phone II is a gamer’s delight with a lot of spec beef and power. The fact that it starts at Rs 37,999/- makes it a great buy if gaming is your wheelhouse. This is a superphone in my books.
