Exclusive: This is the Asus ROG Phone 8 & 8 Pro [In-depth images & full specs]

There’s no question that the Asus ROG (Republic of Gamers) lineup is one of the most well-known in the gaming world. From incredibly powerful laptops to tablets tailored for gamers, handhelds, desktop PCs, and even smartphones, they all share a similar goal: to offer the most complete gaming experience on the market.

And now, for 2024, Asus is preparing to release its latest upgrade to a long-lasting player in this space, the ROG Phone. While the ROG Phone 7 is an absolute banger, Asus is pushing the ROG Phone 8 and 8 PRO even further. Yes, you read that right; the PRO designation makes its way into the ROG lineup with some out-of-this-world specs. We’ve got our hands on not only the full specs of both phones but also some exclusive images.

Asus ROG Phone 8 & 8 PRO design

Most of Asus’ ROG family stands out through design: lots of RGB, futuristic shapes, and gaming-specific ergonomics. And that’s without even mentioning accessories like the AeroActive Cooler. You can’t get your phone out without being noticed, that’s for sure!

But for 2024, Asus is taking a slightly different approach, making the ROG Phone 8 and 8 PRO more approachable not only for gamers but for anyone else as well. Following current trends, the new phones feature a more square-ish design with slightly rounded corners and flat edges. That’s a significant difference from the ROG Phone 7 lineup, and while design-wise it makes sense, the ergonomics might not be as class-leading as the previous devices.

This time, the new HDR10 2500 nits peak brightness front display gets a hole punch camera in the upper-middle section, while the back display from the Ultimate gets…nothing, as you won’t find it anymore on the new devices. Instead, the ever-present ROG RGB logo remains on the back of Phone 8 and 8 PRO, surrounded by well-placed gaming mottos.

The two-tone back design carries over from the ROG Phone 7 series, featuring different materials for the 8 and the 8 PRO. While we can’t confirm the fit and finish, judging by the images, the new gaming phones seem to follow the industry standard, with the ROG Phone 8 in a matte, grippy finish and a more glossy and premium-feel finish for the 8 PRO.

Lastly, a new addition to the ROG design is the camera bump. Both new phones feature triple cameras, this time housed in a more prominent camera bump. This should mean better camera performance but also a slight disadvantage when it comes to holding the device for prolonged periods. This further hints at the fact that Asus is no longer targeting only hardcore gamers but also light gamers who need flagship-level cameras and a more tamed design.

Asus ROG Phone 8 & 8 PRO full specs

ROG phones, alongside Black Shark or REDMAGIC, are extremely powerful devices but difficult recommendations for normal, day-to-day users. The hard-to-recommend part is mostly because of the in-your-face design and poor camera performance.

For 2024, Asus seems to have fixed both of those problems. And the specs, especially the RAM, look more appropriate for a gaming laptop than a phone.

Here is the table summarizing the specifications for the ROG Phone 8 Pro:

Specification	Asus ROG Phone 8	Asus ROG Phone 8 PRO
Design	Rebel Grey color, IP68 rating	Rebel Grey color, IP68 rating
Dimensions and Weight	N/A	163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm, 225g
Operating System	Android 14 with ROG UI	Android 14 with ROG UI
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, SM8650, Octa-core CPUs up to 3.3GHz, Qualcomm Adreno 750 GPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, SM8650, Octa-core CPUs up to 3.3GHz, Qualcomm Adreno 750 GPU
Memory	LPDDR5X 12GB	LPDDR5X 16GB/24GB
Storage	UFS4.0 256GB	UFS4.0 512GB/1TB
Display	6.78″ FHD+ SAMSUNG Flexible AMOLED, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2	6.78″ FHD+ SAMSUNG Flexible AMOLED, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, HDR10 support, LTPO 1~120Hz refresh rate up to 165Hz
Cameras	N/A	Triple rear camera setup with Sony IMX890 50 MP main sensor, 13 MP ultrawide, 32MP third camera with 3X optical zoom; 32MP front camera
Audio	5-magnet speaker system, 3.5mm jack, Hi-Res Audio, Dirac Virtuo for Headphone	5-magnet speaker system, 3.5mm jack, Hi-Res Audio, Dirac Virtuo for Headphone
Wireless Technology	WiFi 6/6E (802.11 be/ax/ac/a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 5.3, NFC	WiFi 6/6E (802.11 be/ax/ac/a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 5.3, NFC
Battery	Equivalent to 5,500 mAh, Quick Charge 5.0 and PD Charging	Equivalent to 5,500 mAh, Quick Charge 5.0 and PD Charging

Again, looking at the spec sheet, you can easily mix it up with a mid-level gaming laptop, but that can only be good, right? Hopefully, we’ll see more PC-level games and ray tracing not only on iPhones but also on the new ROG Phone 8 and 8 PRO.

Both devices will have an Aero Case and a fast charger in the box. There’s no mention of pricing as of now, but the ROG Phone 8 and 8 PRO will be officially unveiled at CES 2024, followed quickly by official Worldwide and China-only launches.

Asus ROG Phone lineup accessories

As usual, the ROG Phone 8 comes with some gamer-specific accessories. One of them is the DEVILCASE Guardian, a phone case supporting the AeroActive Cooler X. Here’s what it looks like.

When not using the cooler, you can attach the transparent backplate and still see the RGB lighting.

The AeroActive Cooler X hasn’t changed too much from last year, keeping the out-there design and the RGB.

You can still attach it via the side USB-C, and if you’re using the DEVILCASE, you can remove the backplate to use the cooler.

You can also use it as a stand for your phone.

And if that is a bit too much, you can always use the clear case with raised corners for optimal protection.

A classic TPU case and an antibacterial screen protector complete the lineup.