Asus ROG Phone 8 vs. ROG Phone 7: Full-fledged gaming or universal flagship?

For years, Asus ROG Phone devices have been the preferred choice for hardcore gamers. After all, these were easy choices for those looking for performance and gaming specs. Last year’s ROG Phone 7 was a testament to that commitment. It includes specifications that force competitors to level their game.

But in 2024 we see a twist in the plot. None of us thought the Asus ROG Phone 8 would stray from the series’ roots. While it may be a slight departure from its pure gaming roots, it also positions itself as a potential contender for Asus’ most well-rounded flagship offering in recent history.

But what about Asus ROG Phone 8 vs ROG Phone 7? Which deserves a place in your pocket? We will delve into the main differences between these two powers. So if you’re looking for help choosing the champion that best suits your gaming (and non-gaming) needs, you’ll want to stick around.

Prices and availability

The Asus ROG Phone 8 launched earlier this year and is readily available for purchase. The base model with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage starts at $1,099 on the Asus eShop. However, you may find slightly better deals at retailers, with some listings as low as $980. The ROG Phone 8 also boasts more expensive Pro variants featuring an LED display on the back. These Pro versions range from $1,199 to a staggering $1,499 for the top model with a whopping 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.

Looking at the ROG Phone 7, things get a little trickier. It debuted last year and is no longer officially sold by Asus. Although some retailers do offer the phone, be careful as these may be international versions that may cause issues with warranty support or compatibility with US carriers. The starting price of the device when new was $999 for the 12GB/256GB variant. It went up to $1,299 for the top-of-the-line Ultimate Edition with a fancy LED display on the back.

The design

The ROG Phone series has always been loud and proud of its focus on gaming, reflected in its bold, “gamer” aesthetic. This year, however, the ROG Phone 8 throws a curveball with a complete design refresh. It sheds its aggressive looks in favor of a sleeker, more mainstream flagship design that wouldn’t look out of place next to other high-end phones.

Previous ROG phones, including the Phone 7, have been associated with sharp lines, dramatic patterns and prominent LED lighting. The Phone 7’s camera system sits horizontally on the back, with a moderate protrusion for stability. While it wasn’t bulky by everyday phone standards, it was definitely thicker (10mm) and heavier (240g) than most flagships, with noticeable bezels at the top and bottom.

The ROG Phone 8 takes a different approach, adopting a thinner and lighter design (8.9mm, 225g) with flattened edges, a textured frosted glass back and an almost bezel-less display. It is a more convenient choice for everyday use. But note that there is still glass, so a protective case is recommended.

Asus ROG Phone 7 vs. ROG Phone 8: Durability

Durability is another area where the ROG Phone 8 steps up. It boasts an IP68 rating, which means it’s dustproof and can withstand submersion in water. ROG Phone 7, with its IP54 rating, offers only basic splash resistance. The ROG Phone 8 also gets wireless charging, a feature its predecessor lacked.

However, this design change is not without trade-offs. The once-subtle camera bump now stands out more, and the elimination of the bezels means the loss of the dual front-facing speakers in favor of a standard stereo setup with a bottom-mounted speaker. Competitive gamers may mourn the bezels even more, as they’ll now be contending with a punch-hole camera in their gaming view. ROG Phone 7 cleverly placed the selfie camera in the top panel, keeping the screen unobstructed.

Raw performance

In the realm of gaming phones, raw performance reigns supreme. Here, the crown clearly goes to the ROG Phone 8 Pro, featuring the latest and greatest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. This power is paired with a whopping 24GB of RAM in its best configuration, crushing the ROG Phone’s 16GB limit 7 Ultimate. Storage options on the ROG Phone 8 Pro go up to an astonishing 1TB, compared to the 512GB offered by the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate.

On paper, the specs paint a clear picture. Asus claims a 30% jump in CPU performance and a 25% GPU improvement on the ROG Phone 8 Pro compared to its predecessor. This means potentially smoother gameplay and higher frame rates in your favorite titles. The ROG Phone 8 Pro also benefits from the new GameCool 8 cooling system, designed to keep things from overheating during intense gaming sessions.

But productivity isn’t just brute force. ROG Phone 8 Pro takes advantage of the GenAI capabilities of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. This allows you to generate cool ROG-themed wallpapers directly on your phone and use advanced language models for a more streamlined experience when searching for content.

While benchmarks can be impressive, real-world performance is what really matters. What difference will these upgrades make in casual gaming? This remains to be seen through extensive testing. However, on paper, the ROG Phone 8 Pro establishes itself as the undisputed performance champion.

Cooling efficiency

The ROG Phone 8 Pro appears to be a well-rounded upgrade over the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate, but there’s a hidden caveat. In its pursuit of a more mainstream ‘flagship’ aesthetic with an IP68 water resistance rating, Asus made a controversial design choice – ditching the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s impressive direct cooling feature.

The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate boasts a unique ‘portal’ that allows direct cooling of its internal components when paired with the included AeroActive Cooler 7 accessory. This provided a fast and efficient cooling solution perfect for marathon gaming sessions with demanding titles. However, the open ports pose a risk of dust and water ingress, leading to their removal in the ROG Phone 8 Pro.

Asus assures us that the new AeroActive Cooler X can maintain a consistent 60fps in Genshin Impact for an hour, but gamers can’t help but wonder if direct cooling would achieve even better results.

So which phone reigns supreme in the cooling department? It depends on your priorities. If water resistance and a sleek, closed design are paramount, the ROG Phone 8 Pro might be the way to go. But if uncompromising thermal performance for intense gaming sessions is your main concern, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate, with its direct cooling capabilities, might be the more enticing option.

Asus ROG Phone 7 vs ROG Phone 8: Battery

ROG Phone 8 Pro’s sleek design comes at a price – battery capacity. To achieve its slimmer profile, it trades blows with the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate in this department. The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate boasts a massive 6,000mAh battery, leaving the ROG Phone 8 Pro’s 5,500mAh offering a little shy in comparison.

However, Asus assures us that the ROG Phone 8 Pro’s power-efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset makes up for the smaller battery. They claim it delivers battery life on par with the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate in real-world use, but independent testing is needed to confirm this.

Both phones are equipped with 65W fast charging technology, with the included charger allowing the ROG Phone 8 Pro to possibly reach 100% a bit faster due to its smaller battery size.

So who wins the battery battle? If raw capacity is your priority, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is the best. But if a slimmer design and potentially faster charging are more appealing, the ROG Phone 8 Pro might be the better choice – assuming Asus’s claims of identical battery life are true.