As of a couple of years ago, mobile gaming generates more revenue than the PC and console markets combined. The scene has grown and evolved, and there are proper AAA games on mobile, as well as tournaments and Twitch streams featuring said games.
Gaming phones have also evolved alongside those games — phones like the Asus ROG Phone 7 and ROG Phone 7 Ultimate. Indeed, Asus ROG was the official sponsor of the CoD: Mobile World Championship 2022which promoted ROG Phone 6 and 6 Pro.
All of this buildup is to answer the question “Can’t I just play games on my flagship phone?” “Yes, you can” is the answer, but that’s beside the point. Gaming phones are as much about the hardware as the ecosystem of accessories along with cross-promotion during esports events and gaming streams. ROG excels at both after years of experience in the PC market.
In terms of hardware, gaming phones pack a little extra on the table. For example, the two new ROG models carry on the family tradition of having two USB-C ports (the second is for accessories, which we’ll get to in a minute). The display prioritizes a high refresh rate over resolution (FHD+ 165Hz) and the phones are thick and heavy but pack a big 6,000mAh battery. A typical flagship might make different choices and go for a QHD+ display and slim build instead.
Accessories are a key part of the experience
Additionally, ROG Phone 7 Ultimate comes with the AeroActive Cooler 7 in the box, as well as the dedicated AeroActive Portal to boost cooler efficiency. The cooler has other features too: it acts as a kickstand, has a 3.5mm headphone jack, and four programmable AirTrigger buttons.
That’s about the only difference to the vanilla Asus ROG Phone 7, which lacks the Portal (and the Cooler is a separate purchase). On the plus side, removing the physical cutout on the phone has given it an IP54 dust and water resistance rating.
Of course, you can purchase a generic thermoelectric cooler from Amazon to use with any phone to boost sustained performance. What you get with a gaming phone like the ROG models is matching styling and bespoke software integration. Speaking of software, there are so many settings and options that if you have the time, you can perfectly tailor the phone to your favorite games and play style.
Oh, we almost forgot: There’s a 2-inch OLED display on the back of the Pro, but that’s mostly for show.
Asus ROG Phone 7 • Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
We’ll have a (very) brief overview of the competition, skipping the non-gaming flagships – again, those can run games just fine, but if you’re in the market for a gaming phone, then you want a gaming phone. And that doesn’t leave many options, at least not now.
The nubia Red Magic 8 Pro and Pro+ have built-in cooling fans, which raises the level of sustained performance. Not as much as the AeroActive Cooler, but they do it without a bulky external accessory. On the flip side, the ROG Phone’s additional USB-C port is a boon for those who prefer to use accessories instead of playing games on a simple phone.
ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro • ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+
Okay, that was a pretty short list, but there’s a reason for that. Lenovo has pulled the plug on the Legion series, Black Shark has yet to be unveiled with its 2023 model (there is evidence that it exists, though). We could look at Snapdragon 8(+) Gen 1 devices or even those with a Dimensity chip, but the 8 Gen 2 is a bit faster than 2022 chips, and you’d get a second-best experience without it.
Picture this: You’re looking for a new gaming phone. Is the Asus ROG Phone 7 that phone? Or is the Ultimate model faster?
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