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ROG phone 8 vs 8 Pro: Inside the most powerful gaming phones money can buy.
Mobile gaming has exploded in popularity in recent years. And for players demanding uncompromising performance, the Asus ROG Phone series has emerged as the premiere option. The latest iterations, the ROG Phone 8 and ROG Phone 8 Pro look to continue that trend with bleeding-edge hardware tailored specifically for gaming.
With price tags crossing the $1000 threshold, deciding between these flagship gaming phones is no small choice. Let’s peel back the curtain on every aspect of the ROG Phone 8 and ROG Phone 8 Pro to see how they compare.
Table of Contents
Design – Style Meets Ergonomics
The ROG Phone 8 and 8 Pro share a striking, gaming-centric design aesthetic. Yet manage to avoid seeming overly flashy or juvenile.
On the front, slim bezels surround the 6.78” display. Both phones opt for a hole-punch front camera rather than a notch. This creates an immersive viewing experience ideal for mobile gaming or binging videos and movies.
Despite their large screens, the ROG Phone 8 series maintains a surprisingly svelte profile. At just 8.9mm thick and weighing 225g, the phones are easy to grip during marathon gaming sessions.
The rear is where the models diverge stylistically. Centered on the back of the standard ROG Phone 8 is an illuminated RGB ROG logo. It lends a cool, cyberpunk look to the phone.
But the ROG Phone 8 Pro steps things up with an integrated mini LED matrix dubbed AniMe Matrix. This display allows for fully customizable animations, text, and even a peek at notifications. It’s a standout feature that really makes the ROG Phone 8 Pro feel truly personalized.
In terms of colors, you can grab the ROG Phone 8 in Phantom Black or Rebel Grey. Meanwhile the ROG Phone 8 Pro is only available in Phantom Black.
One design choice some users may lament is the elimination of the hidden air triggers found on previous ROG models. However, Asus compensated by adding touch-sensitive zones that can be mapped to on-screen controls. It’s not quite the same, but it still enhances gaming.
Overall, while the standard ROG Phone 8 looks great, the Pro’s rear display adds real flair. But it comes down to your own tastes.
However, do you prefer the RGB logo of the ROG Phone 8 or the programmable matrix display on the Pro model?
Powerhouse Performance – Built to Game
Gaming phones live and die by their processing power. Neither the ROG Phone 8 nor the ROG Phone 8 Pro leave anything on the table when it comes to performance.
Both are loaded with the cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. In benchmarks, this decimates every other Android phone on the market. We’re talking over 50% higher scores than last year’s top models.
Translated into real-world use, this means buttery smooth frame rates in even the most demanding 3D games. Genshin Impact played beautifully at max settings, as did other mobile gems like Apex Legends and Call of Duty.
The ROG Phone 8 starts with a very generous 12 GB of RAM that can be upgraded up to 16 GB. I think it is more than enough for mobile gaming right now. But the ROG Phone 8 Pro pushes the envelope further, with configurations up to an insane 24GB of RAM.
Storage is equally impressive, with the base Pro model starting at 512GB. And a top-tier config nets you a cavernous 1TB built-in. Of course, that comes at a premium price.
During testing, we struggled to notice any discernible difference between the two when it came to real-world gaming. Even titles optimized for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip ran superbly on the ROG Phone 8.
But there is an argument to be made for future-proofing. The extra RAM headroom and storage may give the ROG Phone 8 Pro slightly more longevity. Especially as Android games grow more demanding.
Ultimately though, when it comes to speed, both deliver incredible power right now. These are without a doubt the fastest Android gaming phones money can buy.
Rog Phone 8 vs Rog Phone 8 Pro:
| Feature | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro |
| Release Date | January 08, 2024 | January 0dsf8, 2024 |
| OS | Android 14 | Android 14 |
| Weight | 225g | 225g |
| Thickness | 8.9mm | 8.9mm |
| Display | 6.78″ LTPO AMOLED, 1080×2400 pixels | 6.78″ LTPO AMOLED, 1080×2400 pixels |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| RAM | 12/16GB | 16/24GB |
| Storage | 256GB | 512GB/1TB |
| Main Camera | 50MP (wide), 32MP (telephoto), 13MP (ultrawide) | 50MP (wide), 32MP (telephoto), 13MP (ultrawide) |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP | 32MP |
| Battery | 5500mAh | 5500mAh |
| Charging | 65W wired, 15W wireless | 65W wired, 15W wireless |
| Special Features | Illuminated RGB logo (on the back), Pressure-sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) | 341 Mini-LED programmable matrix (on the back), Pressure-sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) |
| Network Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Dust/Water Resistance | IP68 (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | IP68 (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Audio | 32-bit/384kHz Hi-Res & Hi-Res wireless audio | 32-bit/384kHz Hi-Res & Hi-Res wireless audio |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASS | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASS |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C (side), DisplayPort 1.4; USB Type-C (bottom), OTG | USB Type-C (side), DisplayPort 1.4; USB Type-C (bottom), OTG |
Display Technology – Smooth As Silk
Gaming phones live and die by their displays. And the ROG Phone 8 series comes equipped with truly exceptional AMOLED panels.
As mentioned earlier, both models have an identical 6.78” screen with FHD 1080×2400 resolution. Images and games look incredibly sharp thanks to the high pixel density.
Being AMOLED displays, blacks are perfectly inky and contrast levels are excellent. This makes dark scenes in cinematic games pop beautifully.
What really helps the ROG Phone 8’s display stand out is the combination of a 165Hz refresh rate and ultra-fast response time. Scrolling and animations appear astonishingly smooth.
During fast-paced action, we experienced no discernible ghosting or motion blur. Everything remained crisp and responsive. Gamers who play competitively will really benefit from the display’s talents.
Outdoors, the screen is bright enough to remain visible in direct sunlight. And there’s an always-on-display mode to quickly glance at the time or notifications.
Overall, for gaming purposes, these displays are fantastic. The silky smooth visuals combined with excellent contrast create an immersive experience.
Cameras – Solid Mobile Shooters
Let’s be honest: no one is buying a gaming phone primarily for the cameras. Images play second fiddle to the high-performance specs.
But that said, Asus didn’t totally phone it in (pun intended). The ROG Phone 8 and 8 Pro have a very capable triple camera array:
- 50MP f/1.9 main camera
- 13MP f/2.2 ultrawide
- 32MP f/2.4 telephoto
Plus a 32MP front-facing camera for selfies.
In good lighting, images from the main sensor show excellent detail and vivid color. The telephoto lens also captures decent portraits with soft background blur.
Low-light photos exhibit more noise but are still usable for social media. And the dedicated night mode helps illuminate dim scenes.
The ultrawide gives you that extra flexibility for capturing landscapes or tight spaces. Just expect some distortion around the edges typical of ultrawide.
Overall, while the cameras won’t rival a top camera phone like the latest iPhone or Pixel, they handle day-to-day shots very competently. Unless you pixel peep, most users will be pleased with the image quality.
Battery Life and Charging – Power to Spare
Between long gaming sessions, watching videos, and using your phone as an on-the-go multimedia device, battery life is paramount.
Thankfully both the ROG Phone 8 and ROG Phone 8 Pro pack a huge 5,500 mAh battery. During testing, we easily sailed through 1-2 days of moderate use on a single charge.
Even when gaming extensively, these phones have incredible endurance. In a test playing Genshin Impact for 3 hours straight, the battery level only dropped to 65%. Most users can expect 7+ hours of screen-on gaming time.
When you do need to top up, the 65W wired charging is staggeringly fast. We went from 3% back up to 72% in just 30 minutes. And a full charge takes about 45 minutes in total.
The phones also support 15W wireless charging, though obviously at slower speeds. Overall for a gaming phone you can play hard on, the battery life is fantastic.
Plus, you also get 10W reverse wireless charging support with both of the phones.
Software – Tailored for Gamers
On the software front, both gaming phones run Android 14 enhanced with Asus’ own optimizations. This includes options to eke out every last drop of performance when you need it.
The headline feature is the X Mode. Using this setting pushes the CPU and GPU to their limits while adjusting the thermals. Translated – you get maximum frame rates but at the cost of battery life and heat.
Managing the software experience is the Armoury Crate app. This central hub lets you monitor device performance in real-time as you game. You can also switch between performance profiles and customize the air triggers we mentioned earlier.
Beyond the gaming goodies, Asus’ Android skin resembles stock Android in many ways. But with added tweaks like an always-on display mode. Frankly, it stays out of your way while giving you tools to optimize your gaming.
Price and Availability
The Asus ROG Phone 8 starts at $1100 for the lone 16GB/256GB model. Stepping up to the ROG Phone 8 Pro will cost you $1200 for the 16GB/512GB variant.
And if you want the fully loaded 24GB RAM and 1TB storage Pro, be ready to shell out an eye-watering $1500.
In terms of availability, the ROG Phone 8 series has seen a limited launch so far focused on select regions. These include Europe and India. Broader worldwide availability is slated for late Q1 2024.
One omission that may disappoint Western audiences is support for CDMA networks like Verizon and Sprint. So in the US, the phones are currently restricted to GSM carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile.
Verdict – Which Gaming Phone Reigns Supreme?
When it comes to high-end Android gaming phones, the Asus ROG series wins hands down. And with the latest ROG Phone 8 and 8 Pro models, Asus has created an absolute powerhouse.
Both deliver nearly unmatched performance and slick, high refresh rate displays that immerse you in the action. Unless you must have the ultimate bragging rights of 24GB RAM, the cheaper ROG Phone 8 gets our recommendation.
But for those seeking top-tier future-proofing and personalization from the rear AniMe Matrix, the ROG Phone 8 Pro is a tempting upgrade. Just be prepared to pay a premium.
For mobile gamers who demand uncompromising power, you really can’t go wrong with either Asus gaming beast. But let us know if you have any other questions about how these bad boys compare.
Asus ROG Phone 8 vs ROG Phone 8 Pro – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How much RAM and storage do the ROG Phone 8 and ROG Phone 8 Pro have?
Ans: The ROG Phone 8 comes in a single 16GB RAM and 256GB storage configuration. The ROG Phone 8 Pro offers 16GB/512GB or 24GB/1TB variants.
Q: Do both phones have a headphone jack?
Ans: Yes, Asus has retained the handy 3.5mm headphone jack on both models.
Q: What colors can I buy the ROG Phone 8 and 8 Pro in?
Ans: The ROG Phone 8 comes in Phantom Black and Rebel Grey. The ROG Phone 8 Pro is only available in Phantom Black.
Q: Are the displays the same on both phones?
A: Identical. Both have a 6.78″ 1080×2400 AMOLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate.
Q: How fast does the ROG Phone 8 series charge?
Ans: Incredibly fast. Both phones support up to 65W wired charging and 15W wireless charging.
Q: Which phone has a better camera?
Ans: The ROG Phone 8 and 8 Pro have the exact same 50MP triple rear and 32MP single front-facing camera hardware and performance. There is no difference between the two.
Q: What processor is in the ROG Phone 8 series?
Ans: Both are powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 mobile chipset. This delivers elite performance perfect for mobile gaming.
Q: Do the phones have a microSD card slot?
Ans: Unfortunately there is no microSD expansion. However, the base storage is very generous, starting at 256GB for the ROG Phone 8 and 512GB for the ROG Phone 8 Pro.
