ASUS ROG Phone 2 is a great confirmation. The new gaming phone of the Taiwanese giant follows the path traced by the 2018 model, giving users an extremely powerful device, capable of supporting particularly heavy activities and able to run even the most demanding games without problems. But before drawing the necessary conclusions, let's tell you how this smartphone behaved during our test.
ASUS ROG Phone 2: the data sheet
Let's start, as usual, with some objective data that can offer you a quick overview of ROG Phone 2.
Dimensions: 170.99 x 77.6 x 9.48 mm
Weight: 240 g
Display: 6,59″ AMOLED HDR – 2340 x 1080 pixel – 120 Hz
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 +
GPU: Adreno 640
RAM: 8 / 12 GB
Memory: 128GB / 512GB / 1TB
Network: 4G LTE – Dual SIM
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, GPS, NFC
Battery: 6000 mAh
Rear camera: 48 MP + 12 MP
Front Camera: 24 MP
Videos: 4K @ 60fps
Operating system: Android 9.0 Pie con ROG UI
The Honda Civic Type R of smartphones
I've spent the last ten days in the company of ROG Phone 2 and I can tell you, proof in hand, that is a real "eye-catcher". In short, it never goes unnoticed. I spent a good part of my time showing it to curious people and friends. Even my colleagues, used to seeing all sorts of smartphones in my hands, wanted to know how this 240-gram monster was behaving.
It was during one of these chats with the other editors that we came to a surprising conclusion: ROG Phone 2 is the Honda Civic Type R of smartphones.
The Civic Type R is a car that, aesthetically, has shocked enthusiasts. It is tamarra, characterized by absurd lines, boasts three ailerons and comes with really unlikely air intakes. In short, hardly anyone likes the Civic Type R.
But it is noticeable.
And it goes fast. Very fast. On the track it is as effective as few and is capable of paving most of its rivals.
Pretty much the wheeled equivalent of ROG Phone 2.
The ASUS gaming phone is really far from the lines that have characterized mobile devices in the last 12 months. He is aggressive, with a disturbing propensity for asymmetry and a back cover reminiscent of a real gaming PC. In short, it is not elegant, it is not sober and it does not even boast a delicate Pantone color.
To this of course you must add the really big size of this smartphone and the weight which, as we mentioned before, is not at all contained. All elements that allow it to stand out from other devices but also to move away a little from the current canons.
Alongside these unusual features we also find classic elements: we have a camera module that houses two sensors, we find on the right the volume rocker and the on / off button, on the left we have the slot dedicated to the external fan - included in the package - and in down the USB-C connector and the 3,5 mm jack.
On the front instead we have two stereo speakers that guarantee a truly excellent sound experience, while the motors for haptic feedback are hidden which are really efficient not only during gaming sessions but also in daily use.
The display, on the other hand, is designed to make a difference. This AMOLED from 6,59 inches can be set to three different refresh rates: 60 Hz, 90 Hz and 120 Hz. The fluidity here is unparalleledi, but also the general performance of the panel is up to the situation. In fact, you can choose one of the 4 available color modes or customize the experience by manually adjusting the temperature and saturation of the display. Plus we have 10-bit HDR.
The visual experience is therefore extremely satisfying in any conditions and with any content, including games.
Oh, I forgot: we have the fingerprint reader under the display. A solution that I don't particularly love but that I particularly appreciated on ROG Phone 2: unlocking is very fast and precise and the particularly painless setup procedure.
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ASUS ROG Phone 2 review: where's the charger ?!
I won't bore you by talking til you drop the performance of ROG Phone 2. It is a gaming phone equipped with Snapdragon 855+ processor, with Adreno 640 GPU and, in our case, 8 GB of RAM. If you want you can get to 12 GB by opting for the Elite and Ultimate models. It goes without saying that there is really nothing that scares him. Whatever you feed him he will digest it without difficulty.
The Wi-Fi antennas - four, to ensure excellent performance regardless of the handle used - and autonomy are also well studied. The latter allowed us to completely forget about chargers and power banks. The 6.000 mAh in fact allow you to cover two days peacefully even with rather heavy use. Trust me: it's a real breakthrough.
The software was also quite satisfactory. Overcome the disappointment for the lack of Android 10, I found the fluid, comfortable and essential ROG UI. You will therefore not find heavy changes, but a rather stock version of the system to which some features have been added. Among these the Air Trigger, the section Armory Crate that collects your games and settings dedicated to gaming and, finally, the possibility of adjust the RGB lighting of the logo, located on the back cover.
ASUS ROG Phone 2 review: the weak point
"Dbole" of course does not mean that this ROG Phone 2 is not up to the situation. The 48-megapixel sensor - which shoots at 12 MP by interpolating 4 pixels in 1 - and the 13-megapixel wide-angle lens actually give you good versatility, they boast a good automatic HDR and above all they manage to ensure natural colors and a good level of detail. Low light shots aren't bad either thanks to Night mode, but don't expect the same quality as real camera phones. In short, ASUS has managed to greatly improve what was a real sore point on the first ROG, but certainly there is still a little way to go before reaching the most famous top of the range.
Also promoted are the videos - in 4K, at 60 fps and with electronic stabilization - and the front camera, which with its 24 megapixels offers good selfies and an excellent bokeh effect.
ASUS ROG Phone 2 review: buy it or not?
I undoubtedly liked ROG Phone 2 and the reasons you will have guessed: the hardware is excellent, the battery is off the scale, the 120 Hz display is incredible and the software is well thought out.
All these features make it a smartphone suitable for any kind of user and not just the most avid gamers.
But pay attention to aesthetics and weight: the first may not exalt those looking for a sober device, the second instead is not suitable for lovers of portability.
And the price? Well, it depends on the version you choose. In fact, ASUS offers three variants:
- la Strix Edition (the one we tested) in the 8/128 GB cut and the Glossy Black color, available in 699 euro;
- la Elite Edition in the 12/512 GB size and the Glossy Black coloring, on sale at 899 euro;
- la Ultimate Edition with 12 GB of RAM and 1 TB of memory, available at 999 € in the Black Matte color.
ASUS ROG Phone 2
Pro 
- 120 Hz display
- Excellent performance
- Incredible battery
- Well optimized software
Cons 
- Design is not for everyone
- important weight
