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Asus’ ROG phone is more than just for gaming

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Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/business/01/22/20190122-asus-rog-back.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>The Asus ROG phone comes in gun metal gray, not the usual flashy gradient color.</figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA -- Asus’ ROG gaming smartphone has an edgy design, top hardware specs and unique innovations that will stoke gadget lust among hardcore gamers. But it’s also a very good everyday smartphone with great cameras and a big battery that gets you through most of the day.</p><p>Asus was the center of attention in last year’s Computex when it took the wraps off the ROG gaming smartphone. While there were other smartphones before it aimed at this hardcore niche market, Asus’ ROG brand carried weight in the gaming community that set it apart from other brands. </p><p>ROG, or Republic of Gamers, is a premium brand that is known for very high end laptops, desktops and peripherals. Expectations were thus very high about the ROG phone. And it delivers.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/business/01/22/20190122-asus-rog-front.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Asus banks on its premium ROG brand to carve a gaming niche in the smartphone market.</figcaption></figure></div><p>From its design alone, the ROG phone is a standout. While almost every other phone sports the notch-glass-metal-shimmering-gradient-color design, the ROG phone sports a gun-metal gray that makes it look more like a weapon than a gadget meant to displayed at coffee shops. </p><p>Like a lot of phones released last year, the ROG phone features a 18:9 screen on a glass and metal body. But unlike others from that batch, this does away with the notch, since gamers have no use for it anyway. </p><p>The 6-inch screen is a gorgeous super AMOLED with a 2160 x 1080 resolution. It also has a refresh rate of 90Hz, which is an important feature for gamers because it means the screen can output 90 frames per second instead of the standard 60 fps. Animation is incredibly smooth. The screen is definitely one of the best on a handheld device. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/business/01/22/20190122-asus-game-screenshot.jpg?ext=.jpg"/></figure></div><p>On the left are the dual SIM card tray and what look like dual USB-C ports. This strange-looking port is where the ROG’s AeroActive Cooler accessory plugs in. Since gaming causes phones to heat up, this accessory ensures that the handset doesn’t get too toasty. </p><p>Since most games are played in landscape orientation, charging the phone using the left side USB-C port makes it easier to hold while you are playing. Note though that if you want to charge the phone from this side, you need to plug it on the black pin and not on the orange one.</p><p>On the right side are the volume and power/lock buttons. At the bottom is another USB-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack--because a lot gamers invest in high end wired headphones.</p><p>The ROG phone really becomes distinctive at the back. Sharp diagonal lines recall user interfaces in video games, while the copper air vents signify the phone’s seriousness about keeping itself cool under gaming pressure. There’s also the ROG logo under the glass, which can be set to light up when you’re playing.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/business/01/22/20190122-asus-rog-acc.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>The included AeroActive clip provides extra cooling capabilities for long gaming sessions.</figcaption></figure></div><p>Dig into the ROG’s specs and you will see that it also pushes the envelope. It’s got 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage with an option for a full 512GB. </p><p>The Snapdragon 845 chipset, which is used in flagship phones, meanwhile has been overclocked to 2.96GHz from the normal 2.8GHz. While that may seem like a marginal gain, it’s a significant improvement for gamers who like pushing the limits of their hardware. </p><p>But it’s not just another phone with powerful specs. Catering to gamers accustomed to gamepads on consoles, the ROG features AirTriggers, which are touch-sensitive elements at the top and bottom of the right side of the phone&#x27;s frame. </p><p>These act like L and R triggers on a gaming controller and can be mapped to trigger any part of the screen. If you like playing shoot-em-up games, you will appreciate AirTriggers because they provide an extra level of control, are very responsive and keep the screen free of fingers and thumbs.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/business/01/22/20190122-asus-airtrigger.jpg?ext=.jpg"/></figure></div><p>If you’re a professional gamer who likes to livestream your games, the ROG phone also lets you broadcast your game to Twitch and YouTube Live by using the front camera to record yourself in a picture-in-picture window in the corner of your gameplay.</p><p>The speakers on the ROG are also top-notch, sounds remain clear even with the volume turned all the way up. But another great thing about it is that you can use wired headphones while playing.</p><p>Since games also drain battery quickly, the ROG features a 4000 mAh battery. It would have been better if Asus had placed a beefier 5000 mAh battery here, the same found in its Zenfone Max 2 Pro, but this battery is still pretty good. The phone can also be charged from zero to 100 percent in about an hour and 45 minutes. </p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1393714" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>Gaming for several hours can also make a handset hot, but the AeroActive cooler does a good job at dissipating the heat. You don’t feel like you&#x27;re holding something straight out of the oven at all.</p><p>Playing on the ROG phone is really several steps up in the gaming experience. While Android games were optimized to be playable across a variety of hardware configurations, even lower mid-range phones, the ROG’s crazy power and super smooth display just make everything feel better.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/business/01/22/20190122-asus-landscape-1.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>The ROG phone also has very good cameras.</figcaption></figure></div><p>But a surprising thing about the ROG is that it also takes really good pictures. On the rear is a 12MP main camera with a Sony sensor and f1.7 lens, paired with a wide angle 8MP secondary camera. In front, it has an 8MP F2.0 camera for selfies. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/business/01/22/20190122-asus-landscape-2.jpg?ext=.jpg"/></figure></div><p>We took this phone on a motorcycling trip in Tanay, and a biking trip through Marikina and San Mateo and the pictures came out better than expected. It’s not on the same level as the latest flagships, but the photos had great detail, accurate colors and very nice dynamic range. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/business/01/22/20190122-asus-interiors-wide-2.jpg?ext=.jpg"/></figure></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/business/01/22/20190122-asus-garden.jpg?ext=.jpg"/></figure></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/business/01/22/20190122-asus-painting.jpg?ext=.jpg"/></figure></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/business/01/22/20190122-asus-food.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption> </figcaption></figure></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/business/01/22/20190122-asus-interiors-wide.jpg?ext=.jpg"/></figure></div><p>All of these features however means that the ROG phone is anything but cheap. Its P49,995 price for the 8GB + 128GB option may seem steep for ordinary users. But it’s not a product for casual gamers but for people who spend P120K plus for high end gaming desktops and laptops.</p><p>Sales have been flat in the PC market for several years now, with only the niche gaming laptops and desktops showing growth. Mobile gaming revenue meanwhile is forecast to post an annual <a href="https://www.statista.com/outlook/211/123/mobile-games/philippines">growth rate</a> of 12.4 percent up to 2023 according to industry tracker Statista. </p><p>As cutthroat competition leads to razor-thin margins and flat sales for most smartphone makers Asus is betting that its premium ROG brand will keep it ahead in the growing gaming market. </p>

<p>While almost every other phone sports the notch-glass-metal-shimmering-gradient-color design, the ROG phone sports a gun-metal gray that makes it look more like a weapon than a gadget meant to displayed at coffee shops. </p>

While almost every other phone sports the notch-glass-metal-shimmering-gradient-color design, the ROG phone sports a gun-metal gray that makes it look more like a weapon than a gadget meant to displayed at coffee shops.

Asus’ ROG phone is more than just for gaming

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Asus’ ROG phone is more than just for gaming

Art Fuentes,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 22, 2019 03:12 PM PHT

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Updated Jan 22, 2019 09:25 PM PHT

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