Asus ROG Phone 5: what to expect

The Asus ROG Phone 5 will join the game tomorrow and we thought this would be the perfect time to look back at all the official and unofficial info about the phone we’ve seen so far.

The event will be live streamed starting at 11:00 am UTC. In the meantime, here’s a summary of what to expect from said event.

Two versions (at least)

There will be at least two versions of the new ROG Phone. One has an LED backlit ROG logo, the other has a small display on its back. We’re sure that there will be other differences too, but the back design is the easiest way to tell them apart.

Asus ROG Phone 5: B-model (left) and A-model (right) • The rear screen showing an incoming call icon

The former model will be the basis of the Tencent edition. Asus has a long-running partnership with publisher Tencent Games and together they create a cheaper version of the gaming flagship (sponsored by Tencent content).

Larger display

The ROG Phone 5 is expected to come with a larger display than its predecessor – 6.78”, up from 6.59”. From what we’ve heard so far Asus will stick with the 144Hz refresh rate even though the first 165Hz phones will go on sale the day after tomorrow.

As for the secondary display on the back, that will surely be used for notifications and perhaps main camera selfies (though it doesn't look particularly big). Other than that, it will allow for some customizable visual flair.

RAM domination

While it may not break any records with its screen, the new Asus gaming phone will take the lead in one category – a version with 18GB of RAM was spotted at Geekbench. That is the highest in a smartphone we’ve seen yet.

Asus ROG Phone 5 (I005DB) with 18 GB of RAM shows up on Geekbench

Of course, there will be saner versions, the benchmark database has recorded models with 16 GB and even as little as 8 GB. For storage we’re hearing 512 GB, though smaller capacities will certainly be available. There’s no word on a 1 TB phone, even though the ROG Phone II is one of few smartphones to go that high.

The chipset doesn’t need a separate segment – it will be a Snapdragon 888. What else could it be? The advantage over non-gaming 888-powered phones will come from improved cooling (including active cooling with an external fan, similar to the one the ROG 3 got).

Excellent audio quality

DxOMark already published its audio review of the phone and awarded it a score of 79. Not only is that an improvement over the previous model, but for a few days the phone was at the top of the chart.

Yes, was. The Xiaomi Mi 10S edged it out by a single point. Still, the ROG Phone 5 will provide a rocking experience with its front-firing stereo speakers, 3.5 mm headphone jack, ESS DAC and Dirac tuning technology.

Battery with faster charging

The Asus ROG Phone 5 will have a 6,000 mAh battery, the same capacity as it predecessor. However, charging power will double with support for 65W charging. Expect to see Asus’ HyperCharge direct charging technology as well as the standard USB Power Delivery.

As usual, the USB-C ports (ports, plural) are usually one of the key attractions on the phone. And not only for their ability to quickly top up the battery, but with Display Port and other functionality that enables the rich accessory ecosystem built around the ROG Phones.

The rest

The phone will have a triple camera on its back with a 64 MP main module. Will this be the first ROG Phone to feature a telephoto camera? Unclear, we’ll have to wait for the official reveal to find out. The same goes for any remaining features that managed to evade leaksters.