Is the Aura RGB gimmicky? Yes. Did I have way too much fun with it? Also yes.
Because it was built around gaming, the design reflects that. The back has a programmable RBG backlit logo, called the Aura RBG, that showcases the gaming components. It feels a little gimmicky, but it’s all in good fun–and I ended up playing around with this fun feature more than I care to admit. It’s also supposedly 17% smaller and 15% thinner than its predecessor, the ROG 7. But, in a quick side-by-side comparison with a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, it’s pretty darn close in size.
A quick comparison between the Asus ROG 8 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra reveals how similar they are in scale.
Two features stand out: The AirTriggers (more on that later) and the two smartly placed USB-C charge ports. One is for just setting your phone on the charger and letting it get a quick boost; the other, of course, is for when you’re battling your enemies and need to charge while you’re winning your virtual battlefield. The USB-C charge port on the other side serves another purpose, which is to plug in my Backbone controller for gaming. It’s a smart decision–and one that I wish more companies would do for their phones.
Asus ROG 8 Phone: Software
As someone who’s tested the iPhone 15 Pro and many of the Samsung devices including the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Z Flip 5, software can truly make or break an experience on a mobile device. The Asus ROG 8 phone features Android 14 with ROG UI. What’s that mean? In short, it feels like a blended system. The display is gaming-focused, with punchier, futuristic on-screen widgets. Personally, I don’t care what the widgets look like so long as I can find and tap into my apps, but for those who want a clean interface, this may bother you. On the other hand, those who want to have that fun aesthetic will dig its vibe.
X Mode is among one of three presets available to get the most out of the ROG 8’s performance and battery life.
It’s a minor detail though, compared to the larger picture of the operating system. The Asus ROG 8 software offers the ability to change my performance to different settings through Armoury Crate. It’s a built-in feature that allows you to control your performance. If I’m gaming, I can review metrics and optimize for performance by improving refresh rates, networking enhancement and more. There is even a preset called X Mode for those who don’t want to deep-dive and just want to tap and go. Otherwise, on days when I wasn’t gaming, I could use it to improve battery endurance with Ultra Durable or Dynamic modes, which respectively prioritize battery life and general use. This comes into play later.
Under Armoury Crate I could also get a quick view of my stats, including my CPU and GPU. It’s handy if you need to troubleshoot something. Not that I had to, but if I wanted to check the phone temperature while running Genshin Impact, I could. This is also the software that can show you what kinds of games are compatible with what, from the AirTriggers to the built-in gamepad.
Asus ROG 8 Phone: Performance
I went into testing as a mobile gamer who wanted to play the best mobile games available. I tried three different major titles to see how it handled each: The Elder Scrolls: Blades; Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas; and Genshin Impact. I also cross-tested some smaller games with the Backbone controller to see how it performed, but more on that in a moment.
Each game handled beautifully, with Genshin Impact looking gorgeous with the device’s built-in ray tracing. Because it can handle up to 165 Hz refresh rates (Armoury Crate can tell you which games run on 120 Hz and 165 Hz), battles looked smooth and fast. I also appreciated that the AMOLED display made colors look vibrant.
Games like Stardew Valley worked great with the Backbone controller. Other games, not so much.
For some other, smaller games, I also tried it with the Backbone controller, and for the most part, it worked. I had wanted to test it on Genshin Impact, but the Backbone doesn’t unlock in the game until after level 18, and I didn’t feel like spending double-digit hours grinding my way through the tutorial. Still, for smaller games like Stardew Valley and Dan The Man, it worked just fine. Terraria was one that, despite Backbone compatibility and my best efforts, I couldn’t get it to work. I can’t fully fault the ROG 8 for this, since in checking the Backbone website, it’s technically not compatible with the device–yet. I assume that will change in the future, probably sooner rather than later.
It will really depend on what game you’re playing and whether or not it’s compatible. And for those who are playing games for which a controller addition would make them feel more comfortable, the Backbone controller is a worthy investment alongside the ROG 8.
Genshin Impact on the ROG 8 looks vibrant, colorful and smooth.
Genshin Impact is one of the more demanding games you can play on a mobile device. Because it’s a heavy game, I expected the ROG 8 to heat up. To my surprise, it didn’t. But, it was also optimized with that X Mode I mentioned earlier, which is when and where those high-performance metrics arise. The great thing about the performance metrics is that if I’m gaming, it automatically switches to X Mode, making it easy to start gaming without thinking about optimizing settings.
As for the aforementioned AirTriggers, Asus made minor improvements for major improvement. Mainly, you no longer have to fully lift your finger off the AirTriggers to register a new press. Simply press your fingertip on the touch buttons and the subtle movements register. It took me some time to get used to keeping my fingers on the phone, but it’s a nice way to enhance the overall gaming experience.
Asus ROG 8 Phone: Cameras
I pitted the Asus ROG 8 cameras against three different devices: The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, the iPhone 15 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. I shot photos of my cats to see how the camera performed in low light as well as taking shots during the daytime.
In general, it’s a pretty solid camera set. Especially under mid-range lighting, it felt on par with the S24 Ultra, which is impressive considering that the Ultra enhances its image quality with AI. In zooming in, some close shots of my kitten’s nose looked pixelated. But it brings out the colors nicely, enhancing the purples of a crochet blanket and the yellow lighting in a bedroom.
Asus ROG 8 Phone: Battery Life
The Asus ROG 8 has a 5,500 mAh battery packed into it. For context, the only other devices to pack a 5,500 mAh battery are its sibling, the Asus ROG 8 Pro, and the OnePlus 12R. And, comparatively, the Asus ROG 7 Ultimate has a 6,000 mAh battery. All of this to say: There aren’t many devices on the market that can pack this much power–yet.
When you’re not gaming, you can use Ultra durable mode to maximize the ROG 8’s battery life.
And boy, does that battery life showcase beautifully. When throwing those AAA titles at it, the ROG 8 barely dipped after 30 minutes of gameplay on Genshin Impact and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Even if you’re not using it to game to your heart’s content, this battery can last you all day and then some extra hours, especially if you’re a light user.
But at the same time, gaming does drain battery, so you can only get so many hours of gameplay out of the device. Though, odds are, if you’re mobile gaming, you’re probably doing it near a charger, so that won’t matter too much. And, of course, when you’re not gaming, you can toss on Ultra Durable mode to extend the battery life.
Asus ROG 8 Smartphone: Verdict
If I had to label the Asus ROG 8 as anything, it would be a value pick for a gaming phone. Its right balance of price mixed with gaming performance. While I still think the design feels a little gimmicky, you can just turn off the RGB lights, and it will look similar to other market devices available right now.
Does this mean I’m swapping from my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra device for this one? No, because there are factors like the S Pen that I can’t get on the ROG 8. But gamers aren’t worried about taking notes–they’re focused on beating levels and defeating enemies. And under those circumstances, the ROG 8 will suit just fine.
How I Tested The Asus ROG 8 Smartphone
I spent three weeks with the ROG 8, dragging it around my home and all over New York City. Because it’s a gaming phone, I logged plenty of hours playing different games, from major titles like Genshin Impact to The Elder Scrolls: Blades and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. In addition to these heavy games, I also played some lighter titles and tested it with the Backbone controller on cozy games like Stardew Valley and Dan The Man.
I evaluated the device based on performance, software, battery life, camera and more, taking into account how it performed in comparison with its current competition. I also evaluated the device based on its predecessor, the Asus ROG 7, to see how any improvements performed.
My Expertise
I’m the consumer tech and electronics editor at Forbes Vetted and have been for nearly one year. When I’m not testing the best gaming TVs first-hand, I’m hands-on with mobile devices, reviewing the most recent launches including the Google Pixel 8, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and more. I’ve been covering the mobile space for over four years now, from Apple’s latest iPhone announcements to Google’s Made By Google 2023 launch with my team. My experience has been across many publications, from ZDNET to Digital Trends and many more.
