In recent years, the Asus ROG Phone has become the best gaming phone on the market; this is not only due to the available hardware, but even the overall user experience of the smartphone. In 2022, the range of game features seems to have improved thanks to the better internals, the restructured cooling system and new accessories. And to help you stay on top of things, in this article we’ll cover what’s new with this generation and then focus on why we think the ROG Phone 6 series is worth checking out.
Specifications:
The ROG Phone 6 series consists of two devices, the vanilla ROG Phone 6 and ROG Phone 6 Pro. The differences between the two devices are quite marginal, with the Pro model only having access to more RAM (18GB LPDDR5) and the customizable PMOLED ROG Vision display on the back – ROG Phone 6 has a 16GB RAM limit and a simple RGB ROG logo.
On the front of both phones, you’ll find a 6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate. Asus has chosen not to use LTPO technology here, but includes an intelligent adaptation system that automatically switches between 60Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz and 165Hz. This panel – made by Samsung – also has a touch sampling rate of 720 Hz and a touch latency of 23 ms, making gaming more seamless.
ROG Phone 6 and ROG Phone 6 Pro are also among the few early adopters of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC, which the OEM says will deliver 10% faster CPU performance and 30% better efficiency — an improvement over the 8 Gen 1 currently available. And as mentioned, bundled with this processor, you’ll find up to 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM on the ROG Phone 6 and 18GB of LPDDR5 RAM on the ROG Phone 6 Pro.
Both devices have a glass sandwich construction that encases a 6000 mAh battery, with support for 65 W charging that promises to charge the phones from 0 to 100% in less than 45 minutes. The phones also weigh 239 grams. So while they aren’t light by any means, they do pack the power to keep you going all day long.
Like the screen, processor and battery, the camera systems of the two devices are identical. There is a triple camera array on the back and a single shooter on the front. Users will find a 50MP Sony IMX 766, an undescribed 13MP Ultrawide and a 5MP macro camera in the rear camera island, while the front camera is the 12MP Sony IMX 663 tucked away in the ring.
As for the extras in specs, you’ll find a stereo pair of front-firing speakers tuned by Dirac. There are also 3.5mm headphones on the phone. For those who prefer Bluetooth, you can use Snapdragon Sound. And there are also the Air Triggers built into the frame to enhance the gaming experience.
Availability
At the moment, many details about the availability of the ROG Phone 6 series are not clear, but multiple SKUs will be offered for the vanilla model while the Pro will be available in only one. The Ultimate Model seen earlier has been removed at the time of writing.
We know that Europe will see the 12GB + 256GB ROG Phone 6 for €999, while the ROG 6 Pro will cost €1299.
| Variant | ROG Phone 6 | ROG Phone 6 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| 8GB + 128GB | Available | AFTER |
| 12GB + 256GB | Available | AFTER |
| 16GB + 512GB | Available | AFTER |
| 18GB + 512GB | Not available | Available |
Now the ROG Phone 6 is a great smartphone, as you may have understood from the list of specs, but we think the device stands out for the extra accessories and features it brings to the table.
Battery care technology
First, there’s the suite of software features that give users an option to better manage the batteries in their phones. This was also available on the previous generation and we are happy that it remains available on the ROG Phone 6 series as well.
The Custom Charging Limit, which allows users to set the maximum charging capacity to 80% or 90%, can help extend battery life, while the pass-through charging function allows the battery to rest while gaming, and scheduled charging helps to delay charging sessions. save to avoid unnecessary cycle consumption.
We know the latter feature is available on competing devices, but when combined with the others, it becomes a setup that can make a significant difference.
GameCool 6 Cooling System
Next up is the GameCool 6 cooling system, which focuses on heat dissipation with a significant restructuring of the internal design.
The ROG Phone 6 is made so that the regions where your fingers rest are the regions where the dual 3000 mAh cells are arranged, meaning the main heat-generating components are centered and away from your touch in most cases.
As for the movement of the internal heat, there are two graphite plates, a copper vapor chamber and a thermal joint to facilitate easy transfer of the SoC to the edges of the phone.
Add to this internal design the all-new AeroActive Cooler 6, which now has a setting that requires no external power, and you’ve got a phone that will keep you gaming for hours in comfort. A factor that is essential to make the mobile gaming experience smooth and enjoyable.
Improved audio experience
And finally, the GameFX system promises to make the audio experience more immersive. You may already know that any visual experience is incomplete without an audio setup to match. And Asus knows that delivering audio in the field is essential with the powerful components on the ROG Phone 6 series.
Like previous generations, the ROG Phone 6 Series features dual front-firing speakers that are Hi-Res Audio certified — allowing the speakers to play 24-bit/96kHz or 24-bit/192kHz audio — and tuned by Dirac.
The phones even use Dirac Virtuo, which will help divide the sound image in a way that lets users experience the separation between directions and the differences between the sounds being played. The iPhone has done this remarkably well in recent years, and we’re excited to see other brands pick up on this and potentially improve it further.
The ROG Phone 6 series continues to be an exciting amalgamation of features, and we’re excited to have another version with improvements that are sure to enhance a mobile gamer’s experience. What do you think of this latest introduction? Let us know with a comment below.