Asus launched the dazzling Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro, now available for purchase in India through the official Asus website and Vijay Sales. The cutting-edge smartphone was unveiled just a few weeks ago, and the device promises an unparalleled gaming experience.
The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro smartphone is embodied in the sleek Phantom Black design and is available in two memory configurations – 16GB/512GB and 24GB/1TB, priced at ₹94,999 and ₹119,999, respectively. The smartphone will elevate your gaming prowess as it features 24GB of RAM and is bundled with the ROG AeroActive Cooler X, sold separately for ₹5,999.
Fueling the heart of this gaming marvel is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, seamlessly integrated with the Android 14-based ROG UI. The visual experience is nothing short of extraordinary, thanks to the 6.78″ 165Hz FullHD+ LTPO AMOLED display, complete with an embedded fingerprint reader.
The smartphone offers a robust 5,000 mAh battery, supported by 65W wired charging (30W in India). Capture every gaming moment with precision using the four-camera setup, including a 50MP primary camera with OIS, a 32MP telephoto camera with OIS and 3x optical zoom, a 13MP ultrawide camera, and a 32MP selfie camera. Additionally, stand out from the crowd with the customizable 341 Mini-LED matrix on the back.
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.”
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!
