ASUS’ ROG Phone 2 is here and it’s the gaming phone I want

We’ve seen a few snippets of information including the launch date and some of the expected specs. ASUS’ ROG Phone 2 is now here, we know everything and it’s what I’ve wanted from a gaming phone for a while.

Let’s start with important gaming information: the expected 120Hz display has been delivered with a 49ms touch latency. This is particularly important for gaming – the lag between touch input and response can make or break a mobile gaming experience!

Yes, the Snapdragon 855 Plus did land in the ROG Phone 2. On paper, it’s really quick and the initial reports are suggesting it’s not just on paper. This, coupled with the 12GB of RAM, 512GB of UFS 3.0 storage and Adreno 640 GPU means you’ll get a really sharp user experience.

There’s a gigantic 6,000mAh battery onboard which will see you through some solid sessions and huge days on the phone. If you’re heavy handed enough to destroy this battery, then Qualcomm Quick Charge 4 at 30W will give you 66% battery (4000mAh) from dead flat in under an hour.

By spec, the ROG Phone 2 is the sharpest of specs in a very competitive market right now

As part of the package you’ll have availability of Shadowgun Legends and Rockman X Dive to get your fix of gaming, then you’re at the mercy of developers bringing high level games to the Play Store.

For those that want to know more of the less “headline” specs, you’ll get the full range of connectivity you expect. Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC, 802.11 ad Wi-Fi which has a four antenna setup and even an FM Radio.

The front camera is a 24MP f.2.2 setup. The rear facing camera looks to be something a bit special… it’s a 48MP 1/2.0″ SONY IMX586 Quad Bayer sensor with an f/1.79 aperture. Of course there’s OIS onboard but there’s multiple lenses. There’s also an Ultra wide 13MP, f/2.4 aperture. Hopefully this delivers what it has potential to.

Design wise we’re looking at a very similar device to the first generation of the ROG phone. The screen ratio 19.5:9 is great for gaming and media playback, particularly since the 6.5” display is perfectly flat which helps avoid reflections from surrounding light sources.

Beyond the standard fare is fancy gaming gear

The width of the device has been reduced to 7.8cm based on feedback from previous generation users and reviewers. Compared to some recent flagships, this thing is bezel-tastic but that’s a necessity to avoid false touches when in the heat of gaming battle.

Speaking of heat, there’s some pretty impressive engineering in place here to manage the heat that a solid gaming session will generate.

I’m happy that some of the gaming flare can be dulled on the ROG Phone 2. If I’m having a quiet session somewhere, the last thing I want is my phone flashing like a beacon attracting attention to what I’m doing. But if you’re really buried in your gaming, then the Game Genie will be your friend – disabling calls and other alerts while you’re trying to beat your best score.

A feature of particular interest to me is the dual USB C ports – one on the side and the standard charging port on the base of the device. The intent here is to allow two options where to plug your phone in while playing games, to avoid the cable getting in your way.

To give better haptic feedback, there are two vibration motors. Stereo speakers will give a reasonably full experience for those that don’t want to use headphones for their gaming, but if you do a 3.5mm jack is a nice but increasingly unnecessary addition.

Accessories Galore

Man there’s a lot of accessories that launched with the ROG phone 2. There’s coolers, several case options, multiple dock options and gamepads. Ultimately if you’re after a ROG phone 2, be prepared to pay a chunk more cash if you want the accessories.

It looks like the international variant that may make its way to Australia will be ready for market in September and the indicative costing right now is just over $1000. We’ll see what that translates to with the Australia tax in the fullness of time.