Asus ROG Phone 6: gaming smartphone with 165 hertz display
Higher refresh rate, more cooling and improved handling: The Asus ROG Phone 6 competes with smartphones and handheld consoles like SteamDeck and co.
Asus gives the ROG Phone 6 the features of a top smartphone and adds numerous gaming elements as well as optional accessories.
ROG Phone 6 and ROG Phone 6 Pro
The visible difference between the ROG Phone 6 and its Pro variant is on the back. Here, the ROG Phone 6 Pro has a mini color display whose content you determine. In the ROG Phone 6, you have to settle for an RGB matrix. The invisible difference: The Pro version has up to 18 gigabytes of working memory, the standard version up to 16 gigabytes. The other features and dimensions of the two smartphones are identical.
Their 6.78-inch AMOLED display has a Full HD+ resolution with 2448 × 1080 pixels. The refresh rate can be set to 60, 90, 120, 144 or even 165 hertz.
To prevent the installed Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 from getting too hot during gaming, Asus has expanded the cooling chamber of the ROG Phone 6 by 30% compared to the predecessor according to its own information and uses an 85% larger graphite plate.
Two speakers provide the sound. Alternatively, you can pair headphones via Bluetooth 5.2 or connect them via cable via the 3.5 mm jack. With Wi-Fi 6E, the ROG Phone 6 is ready for the next Wi-Fi standard.
The two USB-C ports are used to charge the 6000 mAh battery - but not simultaneously. One is on the side of the smartphone. If you hold it in landscape mode, the charging cable is at the bottom and does not interfere with gaming. The 65-watt power supply powers the ROG Phone 6 via HyperCharge fast charging technology.
The ROG Phone 6 runs Android 12. Asus provides the operating system with its ROG UI user interface and promises two Android updates as well as two years of security updates. A short period in view of the promises of other manufacturers.
The main camera of the ROG Phone 6 features a 50-megapixel sensor with the IMX766. In addition, there is a 13-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera and a macro camera, whose resolution Asus does not specify. The front camera takes selfies with 12 megapixels.
Controls and accessories
There are two sensors on the top of the ROG Phone 6 in landscape mode. The so-called sixth-generation AirTrigger can be integrated into the controls of various games. This brings the smartphone closer to a gamepad. However, it is still quite a bit away from that, so Asus has introduced the new Kunai Gamepad 3 together with it.
Also new is the AeroActive Cooler 6, which you can attach to the outside of the smartphone as an additional cooling element. It is supposed to be the first of its kind that does not need an additional power supply. In older ROG phones, the external coolers were powered via a USB-C port.
Price and availability
The ROG Phone 6 with 12 and 256 gigabytes of storage is expected to cost 999 euros in Germany. If you want more storage - 16 and 512 gigabytes - you'll have to budget 1149 euros. The ROG Phone 6 Pro will be released in early August with 18 and 512 gigabytes for 1299 Euros. You would also get a handheld console and a good smartphone for that money.
When I was but a young student, I'd sit in my friend's living room with all my classmates and play on his SuperNES. Since then I've had the opportunity to test out all the newest technology for you. I've done reviews at Curved, Computer Bild and Netzwelt, and have now arrived at Galaxus.de.