Asus ROG Phone 5s and 5s Pro Review, Pros and Cons – When talking about high-end gaming phones, only one name comes to mind; is none other than the Asus RoG Phone. Year after year, they’ve improved their ecosystem and provided some of the most refined gaming-oriented smartphones. At the same time, the company launched the Asus ROG Phone 5s Pro in August 2021, while the ROG Phone 5s is about to be released in the fourth quarter.
Both the Asus ROG Phone 5s and 5s Pro smartphones are very interesting to look at. They feature tons of impressive specs you only see in gaming phones, whether it’s robust processing power, performance-oriented interface, huge battery, excellent screen, and much more in the hands of the Asus ROG Phone 5s and 5s Pro. However, the availability of phones for markets other than the US is still a mystery, and there is no official news on the matter. But it is worth looking at this phone as it shows the best features. So without further ado, let’s start the detailed review of the Asus ROG Phone 5S and 5S Pro smartphones.
Table of Contents
Asus ROG Phone 5s and 5s Pro Review
Highlights
- Both devices come with a 6.78 inches AMOLED display with a 144 Hz refresh rate and support for HDR 10+.
- The performance factor is managed through the Snapdragon 888+ chipset, which will provide robust processing power.
- It’s worth noting the software with the game-centric ROG UI interface based on Android 11 OS.
- Last but not least, the massive combination of two 3000mAh renders a decent level screen time with a 65W fast charger.
Design and Display
From head to toe, the screen appearance of the Asus ROG Phone 5s and 5s Pro smartphones are quite identical. It is the upgraded version of the Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate smartphone. From the placement of the logo to the microphone, everything looks similar, but at the same time, there are some things that differ. Firstly, the rear panel of the ROG Phone 5s features the RGB lighting effect, while the premium ROG Phone 5s Pro features a ROG Vision monochrome PMOLED amination display on the back. These innovations are a key factor that makes Asus phones stand out from the rest.
Both models have dual stereo speakers in the top and bottom sections for surround sound output. On the other hand, the design aspect of the ROG Phone 5s Pro stands out as the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate, although there are some similarities between them. Furthermore, the phone offers the usual standard Asus design with a bulky construction to contain all the essential parts. Since the devices offer AMOLED screens, having a fingerprint reader under the screen is the most obvious.
As for the front screen, the colors and contrast are good, but the motion sensor is worth noting during games. Furthermore, the 6.78 inches AMOLED display brings the big guns, like a 144Hz refresh rate that couples with HDR 10+, which makes this screen a more immersive experience. The 800 nits brightness provides decent vision and offers eye protection features, while the latest Corning gorilla Victus protection is available.
Memory and Internal
Without a doubt, the Asus ROG Phone 5s and 5s Pro smartphones with the best chipset this year – Snapdragon 888+ are a good choice as you don’t have to worry about the performance aspect. Everything will be available at your fingertips with just a few clicks, and with the visuals of the Adreno 660 GPU, you’ll have no gameplay issues. But what makes this chipset so good is its 3.0GHz cloaking speed, which increases agility by 25%.
With such cloaking speed, you don’t bother with the performance-oriented task, while the hardware supports the processing power precisely. As the phone offers, the decent cooling system under the hood takes heat away from the chipset, and you can also use Active Cooler 5 to reduce the heat by 10 Celsius for maximum output. In addition, the ROG UI features several attractive themes and customizations that will suit your needs to create a custom interface.
The Asus ROG Phone 5s and 5s Pro phones have a theme park aesthetic look, as you can customize the lock screen and home screen, while the ROG Connect software will help to further improvise the gaming experience. Plus, you’ll also get impressive connectivity options. However, the Asus ROG Phone 5s Pro is only viable with 18GB of RAM with 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage in Phantom Black, while 5s brings 128GB to 256GB of storage with the help of 8GB to 18GB of RAM, without SD card support.
Camera
The Asus ROG PHone 5s and 5s Pro tries to equip the flagship with its camera configuration, and we all know what the camera qualities of game-centric phones are! Although the company improvises the AI software and renders cutting-edge specs so users don’t feel left behind. But does it compete with the Samsung Galaxy S-series or the iPhone 13 Pro in terms of camera software? Well, the answer would be no.
Since the manufacturer has invested more in UI hardware and software, the camera’s quality is just for show. However, there are some nice features as you can record up to 8K videos with gyro-EIS, but it would be great to deliver OIS support. Since both models are gaming phones, it all lines up as the company invests more statistics in the other essential sections. You will have a 64MP IMX686 primary sensor on the camera island.
Plus, you’re getting a 13MP ultra-wide-angle lens that lets you take a wide-angle shot. Although the color saturation sometimes looks wrong, the overall photo results are more than adequate. Just below that, there’s a pretty standard 5MP macro lens that will help you take close-up shots without any hassle. As for low-light photography, night mode works very well, and there are several options in the native camera app, while a 24MP selfie camera is built into the front that can record videos up to 1080p.
Battery and Others
The performance aspect and battery life are two sides of the coin; if you’re getting performance-hungry hardware on your smartphone, it’s clear that the company will deploy a long-lasting battery. In the case of Asus ROG Phone 5s and 5s Pro smartphones, you are getting a 6000 mAh battery pack which is divided into two 3000 mAh pieces. With this configuration, the heat problem during charging is reduced to some extent. In fact, with a massive battery like this, you’ll have more than 9 hours of screen time.
In the first few days, you’ll quickly get over 5 hours of screen time for high-end games and games like COD, PUBG, and Genshin Impact, thanks to Game Genie that optimizes battery life so you can complete your gaming session without any problems. Also, you will have two charging ports; one is side-mounted Type-C 3.1, while the other you’ll notice at the bottom Type-C 2.0. In addition, both models come with a 65W charging block that can power phones in less than 50 minutes.
Furthermore, the connectivity and sensors are of the highest quality, while the motion sensor works impressively in every aspect. On the other hand, the screen sampled 360 Hz touch and improved touch latency time. Speaking of price point, the Asus ROG Phone 5s is expected to reach $999 (Rs 74,999) in China (for the high-end variant), while the ROG Phone 5s Pro comes with a price tag of $1,698 (Rs 1,27,000). In short, both models are worthwhile for gamers and the flagship option.
Asus ROG Phone 5s and 5s Pro Specifications Detail
Down below you can see the full specifications of the Asus ROG Phone 5s and 5s Pro smartphones.
| Specifications | Asus ROG Phone 5s Pro | Asus ROG Phone 5s |
| Network | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G | Same |
| Announced | August 2021 (Expected) | Same |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Same |
| Dimensions | 6.80 x 3.04 x 0.39 inches | Same |
| Weight | 238 g | Same |
| Size | 6.78 inches | Same |
| Display | AMOLED 1B colors 144Hz HDR10+ 800-1200 nits brightness ~395 PPI density | Same |
| Protection/Others | Gorilla Glass Victus Pressure-sensitive zones Touch sensor, ROG Vision monochrome PMOLED display | Gorilla Glass Victus Pressure-sensitive zones RGB light panel |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2448 pixels | Same |
| OS | Android 11, ROG UI | Same |
| Chipset | 5nm – Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G | Same |
| CPU | Octa-core 1×2.99 GHz Kryo 680 3×2.42 GHz Kryo 680 4×1.80 GHz Kryo 680 | Same |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Same |
| Card slot | No | Same |
| RAM | 18GB | 8GB, 12GB, 16GB |
| Internal | 512GB UFS 3.1 | 128GB, 256GB UFS 3.1 |
| Camera | 64 MP (wide), PDAF 13 MP, (125Ëš ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) LED flash, HDR, panorama, gyro-EIS Max – 8K@30fps | Same |
| Selfie | 24 MP (wide) Panorama, HDR Max – 1080p@30fps | Same |
| Loudspeaker | Yes stereo speakers (2 amplifiers) | Same |
| 3.5mm jack | Yes 24-bit/192kHz audio | Same |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Same |
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | Same |
| GPS | Yes, with dual-band A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, GNSS | Same |
| NFC | Yes | Same |
| Infrared port | No | Same |
| Radio | No | Same |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 (side) USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom) accessory connector, USB On-The-Go | Same |
| Sensors | under-display fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Same |
| Battery | Li-Po 6000 mAh Fast charging 65W Reverse charging 10W Power Delivery 3.0 Quick Charge 5 | Same |
| Colors | Matte White | Phantom Black, Storm White |
| Expected Price | $1089 (Rs 79,999) expected | $949 (Rs 69,999) expected |
Asus ROG Phone 5s and 5s Pro Pros and Cons
Down below you can see the list of pros and cons (advantages and disadvantages) of the Asus ROG Phone 5s and 5s Pro smartphones.
Pros
- Robust sound output experience.
- Convieinent ROG UI coustomzaton.
- Corning Glass Victus coating on front.
- Touch sensor on the back (Asus ROG Phone 5s Pro).
- Impressive Amination PMOLED Display (Asus ROG Phone 5s Pro).
- Exciting RGB lighting effects (Asus ROG Phone 5s).
- Long battery life for advanced gaming.
- Better optimization of 144Hz refresh rate for gaming.
- HDR 10+ AMOLED support with 360 Hz touch sampling.Â
- Powerful hardware under the hood.
- Pressure-sensitive zones for gaming.
- 8K video recording with gyro-EIS stabilization.
- NFC and 5g are enabled.
- Decent Camera performance.
- Android 11 is upgradable to the latest Android 12 OS.
- Dual charging ports.
Cons
- Lack of optical zoom camera.
- No secondary storage support.
- Lack of dust or water resistance.
- No wireless charging support.
- Slightly thick design layout.
- Little expensive phone.
- The Pro version is available in a single color option.
- Pro and non pro models have nearly similar specs.
Conclusion
Asus has always dominated the premium gaming smartphone segment from the start. The Asus ROG Phone 5s and 5s Pro smartphones also follow the same legacy and offer remarkable features that unlock the processing limits. From which, you can take the gaming session to the next level without any interruptions from hardware or software issues. Overall, you’ll get everything you need in a gaming-centric smartphone and meet the needs of all gamers.
Anyway, you can choose which one you think this device will satisfy your desire to play. But on the other hand, if you’re looking for something affordable, you can also check the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro phones that add value for money.
