Taiwanese tech giant ASUS recently launched the ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED in India. The base model comes equipped with Intel Core i7 and is available for Rs 2,39,990 Whereas, the second and the variant featuring Intel Core i9 is available for Rs 2,79,990.00. While we wait to review it, here are some interesting facts about the laptop:
It gets a 15.6-inch OLED 4K UHD NanoEdge touch-enabled display.
The display has a 178-degree viewing angle and 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage.
Asus has also given the laptop a 14.1-inch ScreenPad secondary display.
Gamers will be highly pleased with the 8GB GDDR6 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 GPU that it comes with.
The laptop also has a solid 32 GB DDR4 RAM.
I/O ports include two USB-Cs, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, an HDMI 2.1, a 3.5 mm audio jack and a MicroSD reader.
The ZenBook Pro Duo is engineered with the new Active Aerodynamic System Plus system, which uses the ErgoLift hinge and tilting ScreenPad Plus mechanisms to increase overall cooling airflow by up to 49 per cent.
Surprisingly, all this performance is packed in a body that weighs roughly 2.34 kg.
Needless to say, Asus has made a sleeper laptop that can outmatch flagship models across various segments. That said, its compact form factor and attention to portability might hinder its capabilities. How it performs and how convenient it is to use shall remain to be seen.
When ASUS sent the ROG Phone 5 for review, there was something that said it wasn’t a typical gaming phone. Be it its suave packaging or its sheer presence; the ROG Phone 5 enamoured us even before we booted it up. Having experienced ROG Phone 3 prior to this, we knew we were in for a treat. Nevertheless, after thoroughly examining it and testing its limits, here’s our review of the ASUS ROG Phone 5:
First impressions:
The phone reeks of performance, and it is made clear right from the get-go. It is equipped with heavy-duty machinery explicitly designed for gaming. It gets a 6.78” HDR10+, 144Hz, AMOLED display custom made for ROG Phone 5 by Samsung. It is one of the fastest displays available. The display is 23% brighter than the previous ROG Phone while allowing a minimum brightness of only five nits. The ROG Phone 5 gets a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G Mobile Platform paired with up to 16GB of RAM. It is accompanied by an overclocked Adreno 660 GPU that delivers 35% better performance than the last generation of the ROG Phone.
Performance:
As if those specifications didn’t speak for themselves, the phone is a monster in gaming. It utilises an MMT design consisting of two 3000mAh batteries that allow for 65W charging while discharging will produce less heat during demanding tasks such as gaming. The 2-cell design also makes it possible to position the motherboard in the middle of the frame, creating a perfect weight balance and superior cooling solution. This ensures extended hours of gaming without the phone becoming a microwave oven!
The highlight of the phone is the AirTrigger 5 – Invisible ultrasonic buttons and Motion sensor trigger. It offers better sensitivity, better positioning (closer to edge for smaller hands) and plenty of new motion control gestures. Up to 18 specific touchpoints on the screen can be mapped (with the AeroActive Cooler 5 and ROG Phone 5 Pro or Ultimate). Owners can even use the AirTrigger 5 system outside of games to activate beneficial actions or apps with a simple squeeze motion while in portrait mode.
Verdict:
While the phone demands a respectable starting price tag of Rs 50,000, it is undoubtedly one of the best gaming devices available on the market. Although it has drawbacks such as a heavy body and an average camera, an ardent gamer would be more than happy with the performance that the ROG Phone 5 offers!
The ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced a new range of PC lineups featuring the latest AMD Ryzen 5000 Series Mobile Processors in India. The new range of laptops includes ROG Strix SCAR 15/17, Strix G17/G15, TUF A15 and ROG Strix Desktop GA35, which feature the art technology state and are designed to give the best gaming experience to consumers. These machines are engineered from the ground up to provide esports players and enthusiasts with an uncompromising gaming experience in competitive tournaments.
The flagship Strix SCAR 15 and Scar 17 integrate the latest innovations to keep the most demanding gamers at the top of their game. It introduces a fast laptop display with a 300Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time. They come further equipped with powerful new GeForce RTX 30 Series GPUs and Ryzen 5000 H-Series Mobile Processors that help the hardware reach its full potential with radically redesigned fans and other cooling upgrades.
Both Strix SCAR 15 and 17 are the first in the Strix series to come with an optical-mechanical keyboard, delivering rapid response and high durability at the same time. While a higher screen-to-body ratio puts the user closer to the action, a smaller footprint and a bigger battery with Type-C charging support maximise portability. Laptops are built with quad speakers backed by Dolby Atmos technology to offer a more immersive audio experience, while the Two-Way AI Noise Cancellation processes both input and output audio to make your chats crystal-clear and disturbance-free.
ROG today also launched the ROG Strix G15 and ROG Strix G17, which incorporate the new ROG gaming laptop DNA, making stylish designs accessible to all gamers. These systems complete a 2021 ROG Strix family engineered to enhance the everyday gamer experience and give serious esports players the edge they need to succeed.
Today, ASUS ROG also introduced the ROG Strix GA35 gaming desktop for those looking for extra power and the freedom to upgrade and customise. The device’s top variants come with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card and AMD’s 12 core Ryzen R9-5900X CPU. The cabinet has been designed to maintain optimal airflow to keep the device cool.
In addition to the Strix range, ASUS ROG also introduced its brand new TUF A15, featuring AMD’s latest Ryzen 5000 H-series Chipset, and it is equipped with a Ryzen 7 mobile CPU built with cutting-edge 7nm technology. The device is built to handle any workload, from gaming and game streaming to content creation. The laptop is also equipped with up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU with real-time ray tracing that provides realistic in-game lighting and other effects and accelerates content creation tasks video and photo editing.
Commenting on the launch of a new range of gaming computers, Arnold Su, Business Head, Consumer and Gaming PC, System Business Group, ASUS India, stated, “At ASUS we have always been proud of being able to give our customers the best possible experience when it comes to Gaming. Our new range of devices comes packed to the brim with the latest technological innovations that give competitive gamers an edge and casual players a whole new level of immersion. We have introduced the industry’s fastest display and innovative cooling solutions to boost gamers’ in-game experience. With the new set of devices, we are further positive to alleviate India’s consumers’ gaming journey.”
“2021 is about technology innovation and creating immersive experiences, where hardware capabilities like AMD Ryzen Processors further elevate PC and mobile gaming,” said Vinay Sinha, Managing Director, India Sales, AMD. “ASUS and AMD’s long-term commitment to gaming has enabled us to enthral consumers with our premium gaming designs. With the launch of the new ROG Strix range, AMD’s “Zen 3” core architecture lets the Ryzen HX series processor deliver elite-level performance to gamers and creators who demand the best.”
Gaming expert and tech giant ASUS has officially launched the latest entry in its ROG Phone series, the ROG Phone 5. Built with dedicated gaming hardware and supported by an extensive list of gaming paraphernalia, the ROG Phone 5 poses as a serious competitor in its segment. That said, here is everything you need to know about the ROG Phone 5.
Display:
ASUS has equipped the ROG Phone 5 with a 6.78” HDR10+, 144Hz, AMOLED display custom made for ROG Phone 5 by Samsung. It is one of the fastest displays available. The display is 23% brighter than the previous ROG Phone while allowing a minimum brightness of only 5 nits.
Processor:
The ROG Phone 5 gets a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G Mobile Platform paired with up to 18GB of RAM. It incorporates an overclocked Adreno 660 GPU that delivers 35% better performance than the last generation of the ROG Phone.
Battery:
The battery utilizes an MMT design consisting of two 3000mAh cells that allow for up to 65W fast charging and produce less heat during demanding tasks such as gaming. The dual-cell design also makes it possible to position the SoC in the middle of the frame, creating a perfect weight balance and superior cooling solution via an external cooler (sold separately).
Hardware:
The ROG Phone 5 has two symmetrical 7-magnet 12×16 Super Linear Speakers powered by Cirrus Logic CS35L45 mono amplifiers. ASUS has reintroduced the 3.5mm jack that was missing from the ROG Phone 3. The phone has a side-mounted port that gamers can use to charge the phone while gaming in landscape mode. It also works with USB-C to HDMI, USB-C headphones or the AeroActive Cooler 5.
However, the phone’s highlight is the AirTrigger 5 – touch-based ultrasonic buttons & motion sensor trigger. It offers better sensitivity, better positioning (closer to edge for smaller hands) and plenty of new motion control gestures. Up to 18 specific touchpoints on the screen can be mapped (with the AeroActive Cooler 5 and ROG Phone 5 Pro or Ultimate). Users can even use the AirTrigger 5 system outside of games to activate useful actions or apps with a simple squeeze motion while in portrait mode.
The company’s signature AeroActive Cooler also gets upgraded with a new layout. The GameCool 5 cooling system sits right above the CPU and can, without much noise, deliver up to a 10°C drop in CPU temperature without any external power needed. It also adds two physical AirTrigger buttons, a kickstand and a 3.5mm headphone jack so you can charge the phone while using the standard 3.5mm headphones without any cables getting in the way.
X-Mode & Armoury Crate:
X-Mode and Armoury Crate are the cornerstones of performance tuning and customization in the ROG Phone series. X-Mode allows the user to set a wider variety of performance parameters, from CPU/GPU performance to touch sensitivity settings and display refresh rate.
Through Armoury Crate, users can customize performance, touch, display and network-related settings on a game-by-game basis.
Multiple Optional Gaming Accessories:
ROG Kunai 3 Gamepad for ROG Phone 5 (updated version) – A modular gamepad with two sizes that Users can also attach to the phone via a special bumper. You can control any game with the ASUS Game Genie Key Mapping feature.
Professional Dock – An expansion dock that allows ROG Phone 5 to connect to an HDMI display and two more USB devices to utilize the ASUS Game Genie Key Mapping feature.
ROG Clip – Attach your phone to a PS4, Xbox or Stadia controller with an adjustable arm.
Lighting Armor Case – Protective case designed for the ROG Phone 5. It has a big light-up ROG logo powered via pogo-pins. It does work with the Pro and Ultimate editions, but the ROG Vision display will, of course, be covered.
The ROG Phone 5 will be on sale in India from April 21, 2021, and will be exclusively available on Flipkart. It will have a base price of Rs 49,999 for the 8GB+128GB variant and will go up to Rs 79,999 for the top-spec 18GB+256GB Ultimate edition.
Gaming has consistently been underestimated in terms of its global reach and potential, with avid gamers often seen as vagabonds or non-productive members of society. Luckily for gaming enthusiasts, ASUS has come up with an aspirational concept.
Launched under its Republic of Gamers (ROG) wing, ASUS has introduced India’s first virtual academy programme for gamers – ROG Academy. As part of this initiative, ASUS ROG will identify PC gamers through a screening process and provide them with a platform to sharpen and enhance their skills and prepare them for competitive esports tournaments on a national and a global level. This initiative is a testimony to India being an important market for ASUS’s consistent efforts to build a robust gaming ecosystem in India and empower gamers through several programmes and initiatives. Today, while gaming has gained significant recognition since yesteryear, there is still a long list of problems plaguing aspiring gamers and esports enthusiasts. Among the most common issues are expensive components, lack of a coherent and cooperative team, and tournament-style gaming inexperience. ASUS is looking to eliminate all these problems with its ROG Academy sessions.
In an interview with Exhibit Magazine, Arnold Su, Business Head, Consumer and Gaming PC, System Business Group, ASUS India, said “Owing to the pandemic, we are witnessing a permanent shift in content consumption patterns globally and increased digital acceleration. With an increase in esports gamers during the pandemic, ASUS has strengthened its commitment to investing in the future of India’s gaming industry. It gives us immense pleasure to be the first brand in the laptop segment to introduce first-of-a-kind unique initiatives like ROG Academy, empowering gamers to conquer competitions and elevate the esports industry. We aim to encourage gamers to mentor them through their journey and familiarise them with future opportunities in this landscape. This initiative will provide a huge boost in establishing a pool of credible esports players in India and pave the way for next-generation gamers with access to resources, mentorship and training”.
If your eyes are gleaming with hope and you can’t wait to find out what is in store for you, here is what ASUS is offering in its ROG Academy:
ASUS ROG Academy is a yearlong programme, divided into four sessions per quarter, aimed at strengthening India’s esports talent pool. The shortlisted team and players will go through an extensive selection process divided into different phases. This will culminate in six select players becoming part of a 3-month long session for the first quarter, including activities ranging from individual skill training and mentorship from the coach to teamwork, communication, and high-level concepts used in the highest level competition. The exercises, schedule and entire programme, will be specifically designed keeping in mind the title and the existing skillsets of the players who will be a part of it. The long term goal of the programme is to have more and more skilled esports players from India.
The first session of the quarter will involve “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive” as the official title as we seek to uncover India’s most talented players. Panellists will consist of a representative from ASUS ROG, partners, and CS: GO. ASUS ROG will be providing the entire team Ex-Gratia of INR100,000 price to all the final six players once they complete their 3-month training successfully. Players will also receive INR15,000/ as stipend and a bonus every month during the training. The six players will also continue to represent the brand for three months while participating in any tournaments or events posted, completing a three-month training programme successfully.
How to Apply: ROG Academy
Aspiring Gamers aged 16 and above and willing to participate in the programme can register themselves through the given registration link. Gamers aged between 16 and 18 will need to provide a consent letter from their parents to participate in the programme.
After registration, participants will have to go through a screening process, including showcasing their abilities in open tryouts where a jury will judge them.
The top six participants chosen from the tryouts phase will receive admission into the programme. Participants will receive a stipend of INR15000/.
Update: The registration has closed since 10th February 2021.
ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG), the No.1 Gaming Laptop brand with an endeavour to empower gaming enthusiasts in India, announced the launch of India’s first virtual academy programme for gamers – ROG Academy. As part of this initiative, ASUS ROG will identify PC gamers through a screening process and provide them with a platform to sharpen and enhance their skills and prepare them for competitive E-sport tournaments on a national and a global level. This initiative is a testimony to India being an important market for ASUS’s consistent efforts towards building a strong gaming ecosystem in India and empowering gamers through a number of programmes and initiatives.
ASUS ROG will be providing tournament-ready gaming equipment and first-in-class high-quality technology to gamers, with professional mentorship through this initiative. This will help gamers to enhance their skills to participate and conquer the E-sport tournament.
Speaking on the announcement, Arnold Su, Business Head, Consumer and Gaming PC, System Business Group, ASUS India, said “The count of online gamers in India grew by 31% in 2019 and reached approximately 365 million. It is expected to reach 440 million by 2022 as per a FICCI-EY report on the media and entertainment industry. Due to the pandemic, we are witnessing a permanent shift in content consumption patterns globally and increased digital acceleration. With an increase in e-sports gamers during the pandemic, ASUS has strengthened its commitment towards investing in the future of the gaming industry in India. It gives us immense pleasure to be the first brand in the laptop segment to introduce first-of-a-kind unique initiatives like ROG Academy, empowering gamers to conquer competitions and elevating the e-sports industry. We aim to encourage more and more gamers to mentor them through their journey and familiarise themselves with future opportunities in this landscape. This initiative will provide a huge boost in establishing a pool of credible E-sports players in India and pave the way for next-generation gamers with access to resources, mentorship and training”.
ROG Academy:
Curriculum & Duration:
ASUS ROG Academy is a yearlong- programme, divided into four sessions as per the quarter, aimed at strengthening the e-sports talent pool in India. The shortlisted team and players will go through an extensive selection process divided into different phases. This will culminate in 6 select players becoming part of a 3-month long session for the first quarter, which will include activities ranging from individual skill training and mentorship from the coach to teamwork, communication, and high-level concepts used in the highest level of competition. The exercises, schedule and entire programme will be specifically designed keeping in mind the title and the existing skillsets of the players who will be a part of it. The long term goal of the programme is to have more and more skilled e-sport players from India.
Rewards & Outcome from the training:
The first session of the quarter will involve “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive” as the official title as we seek to uncover India’s most talented players. Panellists will consist of a representative from ASUS ROG, partners, and CS: GO. ASUS ROG will be providing the entire team Ex-Gratia with INR 100,000 price to all the final 6 players once they complete their 3-month training successfully. Players will also receive monetary compensation of INR 15,000 as a stipend as well as a bonus on a monthly basis during the training. Also, the 6 players will continue to represent the brand for an additional 3 months while participating in any tournaments or events post completing the 3-month training programme successfully.
How to Apply: ROG Academy
Aspiring Gamers aged 16 and above and who are willing to participate in the programme can register themselves through its official website.
Gamers aged between 16 and 18 will need to provide a consent letter from their parents to participate in the programme.
Registration to be a part of ROG academy will start from Date 1st Feb till 10th Feb
After registration, participants will have to go through a screening process which will include showcasing their abilities in the open tryouts where they will be judged by a jury.
The top six participants chosen from the tryouts phase will receive admission into the programme. Participants will receive a stipend of INR 15000.
If you are confused about the reason behind this headline, I was in the same place a while ago. Taiwanese technology giant ASUS’s gaming division, Republic of Gamers (ROG) used this term to describe the quality of its latest gaming headset, the Delta S. It is supposed to be a considerable upgrade over its predecessor, the already excellent ROG Delta. But is it a significant upgrade or just an aesthetic makeover? I got a chance to confirm that.
Same same, yet different:
If you were to glance across the room at a person wearing the Delta S, you’d be forgiven if you thought it was its predecessor, the Delta. Aesthetically, apart from a few subtle updates to differentiate the newer model, the Delta and the Delta S are practically identical. However, there has been a considerable weight loss during the upgrade, with the Delta S now weighing just 300 grams. The headband has also been slimmed down but has apparently been made more durable.
While the Delta S is an update over the Delta, there are a few shortcomings. The default PU earcups have been updated with a cross-hatched texture, but the clamping force has somewhat lessened. This not only causes the bass to leak considerably but also has reduced the passive sound isolation.
Along with that, the RGB lighting has also gotten a modern touch. It is still as bright and seamless as the previous generation, but now gets an added “Soundwave” mode, which can be accessed via the lighting toggle switch on the left earcup. This Soundwave mode allows the RBG lighting to sync with your voice (if the mic is plugged in) or with the on-going soundtrack and flash according to the volume.
Operating the headphones:
The highlight of the headphones (and the possible reason for their name) is the triangular ear cups (Triangle is called Delta in Greek), which offer a snugger and more comfortable fit as compared to conventional round ones. The headphones are quite light and easy to wear and even extensive usage won’t cause too much discomfort. However, what is uncomfortable are the body-mounted volume controls. It is a rocker that doubles as a mute button, which can get quite irritating sometimes if you wish to adjust the volume in the middle of intense gameplay. It is not intuitive to handle and it took me some time to get used to, during which I was mostly unhappy with the volume control.
Above the volume control rocker is the lighting toggle switch. As mentioned above, it gets a new notch for the Soundwave mode that allows you to change the RGB lighting pattern on the go. The mic is the same AI noise-cancelling detachable unit as before and can be attached to the headphones via a 3.5mm audio jack. It does a splendid job of keeping the unwanted noise out and even has an LED indicator to tell you if you are muted. Funnily enough, I attached the mic to the 3.5mm jack on my phone and my phone detected its input! A rather fancy way of connecting an external microphone to your smartphone, don’t you think?
Case in Point: MQA!
ROG has emphasized significantly on the Delta S being the bearer of an award-winning audio technology called “Master Quality Authenticated” or MQA. It can connect to an MQA core signal on global streaming services and unfold a whole new level of audio quality. Long story short and to keep it simple, MP3 files are usually compressed to reduce their file size, which makes the song lose most of its finer elements. With MQA, the user is able to access the original file quality of the song or soundtrack and enjoy all its elements to the fullest.
However, the file size remains compact, meaning you won’t have to worry about filling up your storage after a few songs.
Confusing, right? Well, the important part is that MQA is supposed to let you enjoy “higher than CD-quality” audio on any device. When paired with an MQA decoder like the one in the ROG Delta S, the original master recording is revealed.
Honestly, there is hardly anybody who would feel a noticeable difference by the presence of MQA. For most, an immersive aural experience is satisfactory enough, regardless of the technical intricacies. Stress your ears long enough and you might begin to notice some difference (Like I did), but at that point, you’d begin to wonder if you really feel it or it is purely psychological (Like I did!). It might be a revolutionary update for ardent audio enthusiasts, but for the average gamer like me, it is just a reason to increase the price point.
Should you buy it?
There is no denying that the ROG Delta S is a masterpiece when it comes to gaming audio. However, the primary point of the Delta S being costlier than the Delta is the addition of the MQA. Now, the Delta is priced well above Rs 15,000 which implies that the Delta S will be priced even higher. Apart from that, there is no significant reason to choose the Delta S over the standard Delta. Regardless of the choice, going for a ROG Delta headset ensures that you are treated to some of the best gaming gear available in the market!
Asus has been known to provide genre-specific, purpose-oriented computers that are built for a reason and they follow that reason alone. But what about a laptop that is touted as an ‘expert’? Is it a stronger testament to their dedication towards a purpose or is it more of a forced moniker to draw attention away from its flaws?
Touch, feel, and vibe:
First and foremost, it is a solid laptop hands-down. Good built quality, sturdy backlit keyboard, and decently lightweight. It also offers a modern version of the ThinkPad TrackPoint, called the SensePoint. For newcomers, it is basically a tracking nub in the centre of your keyboard. Yes, the old-school one. The trackpad is also old-fashioned, with the left and right-click buttons on the top, instead of the conventional bottom. What’s more, there is even a privacy shutter for the webcam, so you can access the dark web more easily (just kidding, please don’t visit the dark web. It’s bad, trust me.) Weighing in at around 1.5 kilos, it also offers great portability. So what’s the problem? It is the display.
Display:
Oh, the display! If only it were sharper and clearer! Colour accuracy of only 46% sRGB is acceptable, so is an average brightness level of around 190 nits. However, what rubs off all the charm is the aspect ratio of 70:1! It simply destroys the picture quality and does not give a good output whatsoever. The LCD screen is absolutely outdated and takes away all the modernness of the laptop. Just by glancing at my colleague’s screen and looking back at mine, I could make out the difference. Yes, it is that hindering.
Performance:
That said, the laptop performs like a businessman. Crisp, curt, professional. What else can you expect though, with Intel’s 10th-Gen i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a pretty decent graphics card? Yes, you can play games and edit videos, and generally use it as a standard laptop. Or, you can be a good employee and use it exclusively for work! That way, you won’t have to deal with overheating, lagging, or battery drainage. Speaking of, moderate to standard office use will allow the battery to run for an entire day, assuming it is fully charged.
User Experience:
Funnily enough, I got the chance to use this laptop under varied circumstances. Be it on the desk of my office or in the middle of nowhere during a shoot, the laptop did its job and did it well. There were no complaints when copying or transferring data and also sustaining a day-long use without a recharge. But again, the display quality was a big let-down and dimmed the otherwise bright spotlight. Nevertheless, there is nothing a standard office-goer would miss on this laptop. Its body is meant to be durable and that’s what it is. You will have a tough time breaking it apart, provided you don’t make special efforts to do so! The keyboard is also intuitive, though the SensePoint nub is a bit intrusive. That would probably be because its presence is scarce these days, but the privacy shutter over the webcam is a welcome addition.
Verdict:
With a starting price of ₹62,999, the Asus Expertbook can be a consideration for anybody looking for a sturdy laptop with sufficient corporate abilities. Other users with a more focussed purpose, such as gamers, content creators, or graphic designers will find a lot of flaws and shortcomings and hence should prefer other options. Overall, the Expertbook is definitely not an expert, but rather a business specialist.
I have been a gamer for a long time and I have been playing games since the age of 8-bit graphics and blocky controls. I have seen gaming evolve from gigantic controllers that only offered basic functions to gesture-based controls that take user inputs from thin air. Today, I will be talking about the pinnacle of modern gaming. This is a review of the Asus ROG Phone 3.
Touch and Feel:
Sticking to the ROG family, the ROG Phone 3 features subtle design upgrades such as a transparent window for the heat sink on the glass back and an overall sleek appearance. However, it carries forward the shape, dimensions, and RGB light-up logo at the back from the ROG Phone 2. ROG stands for the Republic Of Gamers and Asus wanted that to be the phone’s highlight. This was made evident the moment I held the phone in my hand. It has a hefty and chunky feel to it and its design simply calls out to the gamer in you.
I was greeted with a massive 6.59-inch AMOLED screen with a built-in fingerprint scanner. The phone is quite comfortable to hold and gave me an intuitive experience. I really liked the two speakers that are front-facing, so the sound is not blocked even if I stick my fingers to the side of the phone. The volume rocker and power button are accompanied by two capacitive AirTriggers, which are extremely useful when playing shooting games like PUBG or COD.
Gaming benefits:
There is a special mode, called X Mode and this is where things get serious for the ROG Phone 3. Clicking on this mode will change the wallpaper, letting you know that the phone is ready to game. Next, this mode offers different scenario profiles, with different performance settings. It also allows you to thoroughly customize the phone’s performance for the game of your choice. For example, I was able to not only alter parameters like touch sensitivity, refresh rate for the display and network restrictions, I could also alter the CPU and GPU performance for each game individually! The phone also offers up to 144Hz refresh rate, giving a seamless response to every touch input, along with a completely lag-free gaming experience even at 60fps and higher.
Another gaming benefit of the ROG Phone 3 is the Snapdragon 865 Plus processor and an overclocked Adreno 650 GPU. This hardware has been specially designed to offer the best gaming experience and it nails the job. Any game I clicked on opened almost instantly and I was ready to play even before my friends’ games had started. The phone also gets a new cooling system to keep the heat out when overclocking for higher frame rates.
Battery backup:
Asus has given the ROG Phone 3 a 6000mAh battery which can easily last for more than a day, but with light use. Heavy gamers who prefer the highest graphic setting will find the battery draining a lot faster. However, that can be taken care of due to the fact that the phone supports QuickCharge 4.0 and comes with a 30W charger. This means you can fully charge the phone, from 0 percent in little more than an hour.
Camera:
Though it is a gaming smartphone, it does get a decent camera setup. There is a 64MP shooter posing as the main camera, along with a 13MP ultra-wide angle lens and a 5MP macro lens. Selfie lovers can use the single 24MP front-facing camera. Overall, the quality of the camera is not outstanding, but that’s not what this phone is about either.
Verdict:
With a starting price around the Rs 50,000 mark, the Asus ROG Phone 3 is definitely not a casual buy. But what you get for that kind of money is one of the best gaming setups in the market, in a size that fits in your pocket. It lacks wireless charging which is a drawback in this price range and overall the ROG Phone 3 is best used for gaming only. The phone is a little large and heavy to carry around, but ardent gamers will overlook these parameters easily. Personally, if I were to pick this phone I would give up all my gaming paraphernalia. But that’s just me…
