Mean machine Asus ROG Phone 2 can beat any Android flagship but here’s what it actually needs

Asus ROG Phone 2, is the latest premium gaming-focused smartphone, from the Taiwanese handset maker under the Republic of Gamers (ROG) branding. Launched for select markets, the Asus ROG Phone 2 is aimed at people who like to play games on the go and also appeals to the gaming community. What it packs is a gaming-friendly design with elements that enhance the overall gaming experience.

What the Asus ROG Phone 2 brings to the segment is an unbeatable beast on paper with all bells and whistles. Features like Air Trigger buttons which are ultrasonic pressure-sensitive and a host of accessories scream out loud that this is a gaming phone.

Unlike a lot of phone brands out there, Asus has clearly defined its smartphone ranges for 2019, where it has said that it will focus on general users with phones like Asus 6z and Asus Zenfone 5z. The premium and gaming-focused phones, on the other hand, will fall under the ROG Phones category. After getting done with Asus 6z launch, Asus has turned its focus on the next-generation ROG Phone. As rumours had pointed, the Asus ROG Phone 2 doesn’t bring a massive design overhaul and refines an already decent package.

Asus ROG Phone 2 Price
The Asus ROG Phone 2 was announced on Monday a day prior to international launch in China without a price. However, the Taiwanese company has finally announced the pricing of the Asus ROG Phone 2, which starts at roughly Rs 35,000 (CNY 3,499 in China) for the basic 8GB RAM and 128GB storage model and go up till approximately Rs. 62,000 (CNY 6,199 in China) for the top-of-the-line variant which packs 12GB RAM and packs 128GB storage. At this point, there’s no word on when Asus plans to bring the ROG Phone 2 in India though if the rumours are to be believed, then it will be in the coming weeks.

The Asus ROG Phone 2 price in India could be kept around its predecessor and can be expected to be made available via Flipkart, which is the official online partner of Asus.

What changes from Asus ROG Phone to Asus ROG Phone 2
A lot has changed internally right from the SoC to camera module to more. One of the biggest highlights of the Asus ROG Phone 2 is it packs the all-new Snapdragon 855 Plus chipset which comes with minor upgrades compared to the Snapdragon 855 SoC launched last year.

Another major upgrade is the display which comes with a 120Hz refresh rate. To compare, the Asus ROG Phone came with a display with a 90Hz refresh rate. OnePlus 7 Pro is the only smartphone currently available in India with a refresh rate of 90Hz.

Asus has left no stone unturned with its new Asus ROG Phone 2 as it packs 6000mAh battery, the only smartphone boasting off the massive battery. The Asus ROG Phone came with a 4000mAh battery. Despite Asus isn’t marketing the ROG Phone 2 as a camera device; though, we can’t ignore the fact that the device packs the same camera module as Asus 6z. This means the Asus ROG Phone 2 sports a 48-megapixel Sony IMX586 sensor at the back coupled with a 13-megapixel secondary sensor with a 125-degree field-of-view.

Asus has also taken care of storage with a massive 512GB storage onboard. The UI has also been tweaked where users can choose ROG UI, which is a forked Android version targeting gamers while there’s also an option to use stock Android with a flip of a button. We have to admit that the Asus product team has done an excellent job with these small, subtle changes in the Asus ROG Phone 2.

The Asus ROG Phone 2 measures slightly more than its predecessor and we are not surprised at all. It sports a bigger display and packs a large battery unit. For gamers, it sports dual front-facing stereo speakers with DTS:X Ultra and Quad mics with noise-cancellation.

To enhance the overall gaming experience, the phone also packs advanced dual high-end vibrating motors with XYZ axis for surround feel. Asus has also kept a right balance of features that are must in today’s premium device like the optical under-display fingerprint scanner, which works flawless and is quick.

Asus ROG Phone 2 gaming features and accessories
The Asus ROG Phone 2 differentiates itself from the rest of the gaming smartphone crowd with a host of accessories. Asus has made tons of gaming accessories available for the ROG series and is probably the only handset manufacturing company that’s also working on accessories alongside the gaming device for the gaming enthusiasts.

Fortunately, the new ROG Phone 2 is no different for Asus, and the long list of accessories includes AeroActive Cooler II, Aero Case, TwinView Dock II, ROG Kunai Gamepad, Mobile Desktop Dock, and ROG Lighting Armor Case. It’s worth pointing it out that these accessories will be sold separately.

Asus ROG Phone 2 first impressions
We used the Asus ROG Phone 2 for a brief period and what we could derive is that it can easily play a dual role of being a daily driver as a regular smartphone running stock Android UI while for gaming enthusiasts it can turn into a beast with ROG UI that focuses more on performance and speed.

In general, the phone sports a tall body design which may not look like an ideal size for regular users but when you think it as a gaming device, then there might not be anything better than the ROG Phone 2 at the current time.

We tested out playing PUBG Mobile on the ROG Phone 2, and since then we haven’t enjoyed playing it on any other device. The phone sets a high benchmark for gaming, which at the current time is unmatchable. The accessories which will be sold separately with the product are custom made, and you are likely to get addicted to the ROG Phone 2, thanks to the excellent accessory ecosystem that Asus has designed.

It comes with a massive battery which should easily last for two days when using the phone in regular mode. However, for gamers, it could depend on the gaming session. For fast charging, the ROG Phone 2 supports 30W HyperCharge.

Asus fits the same Asus 6z camera sensor on the Asus ROG Phone 2, and we don’t have any complaints as of now. We will test the camera during our review and will like to reserve our verdict on the same till our review is out.

In a short period, we were highly impressed with the performance credentials of the ROG Phone 2, and we will soon put it to paces during our in-depth review.

Asus ROG Phone 2: What it needs?
Looking at the spec sheet, the Asus ROG Phone 2 is a beast in all regards. It packs the top-notch processor, up to 12GB LPDDR4X RAM, 6000mAh battery, an AMOLED panel, and more – the list is endless.

Comparing it to some of the flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S10+, Pixel 3 XL, OnePlus 7 Pro or even the Redmi K20 Pro, the Asus ROG Phone 2 beats them by miles. However, the Asus ROG Phone 2 lacks a few things that may turn out to be deadly for the product.

Starting with the branding, Asus has been doing well in the budget to the mid-price segment but has struggled in the premium segment. The 6z was a known phone for customers in India, but ROG has been targeted to a very niche audience, and this is where things get tough for the ROG Phone 2.

ROG Phone 2 needs a good marketing campaign that familiarises the brand to people in India. For a phone like ROG Phone 2, Asus needs to reach out to its potential buyers via physical channels and the experience zones could be an excellent way to do that.

Asus is yet to announce the ROG Phone 2 in India, and we will have to wait for the pricing as a lot depends on the pricing of the product.