Syed Imran Haider 
When it comes to dedicated gaming phones, Asus has been the market leader for some time now. The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate released last year was one of the top devices for mobile gamers and now Asus is hoping to do better with its successor, the ROG Phone 8 Pro. It is undoubtedly capable and powerful like its predecessors, but it is no longer just a gaming phone.
Design and build
The most notable design aspect of the ROG Phone 8 Pro is that it is sleeker and lighter than the previous models. Rather than the futuristic design of its predecessor, this one has a more discreet black color palette that will suit people who are not dedicated gamers. The weight of the phone has been reduced to 225g, which still makes it bulky, but lighter than a number of premium Android devices.
The phone measures 8.9mm in terms of thickness, which makes it thinner than the Phone 7 series. While the difference might seem modest, it gives the ROG Phone 8 Pro a different vibe and feel, allowing it to target a wider demographic. The camera module on the back has also been redesigned, which comprises of a flashlight and triple rear lenses. The design of the phone is aimed at making it more practical for everyday users.
Screen and speakers
There is a 6.78-inch AMOLED display on the ROG Phone 8 Pro, just like its predecessor, and it has a refresh rate of 165Hz, but LTPO technology has been added this time around. This allows the refresh rate to adjust between 1 and 120Hz automatically, depending on what you are using the phone for and this can give battery life a boost.
The maximum brightness has also been increased significantly, which makes a big difference when you are viewing media, or playing games. The phone also comes with the option of an always-on display, which was not available in the previous series. As the bezels around the display are slimmer, a pin-hole selfie camera has been included in the 8 Pro. This also gives the phone a more sophisticated appearance.
But, the thinner bezels means that it does not have the impressive dual front-facing speakers that existed in the 7 series that also had an amplifier. While the audio is still good and the spatial sound helps, it does not have the same ‘wow’ factor as before.
Specs and performance
The ROG Phone 8 Pro is nothing less than a powerhouse, as it comes with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip that outperforms its predecessor. You can either get 16GB or 24GB RAM, along with Qualcomm’s Adreno 750 GPU, which makes the phone perfect for gaming. As for internal storage, you can choose from 512GB or 1TB. But, it does not support expandable storage, which is a bit disappointing.
The phone does not only sound good on paper, but also performs quite well and can handle the latest games without any issues. It is also capable of handling everyday tasks easily and the speed and power it has makes it a great work device.
The Verdict
The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro mostly succeeds in its endeavor of being more than a gaming device. Its processing power enables it to handle all kinds of games and the streamlined design and better camera make it a better everyday device.
