The ASUS ROG Phone 5s is the company’s latest gaming smartphone, which was launched in Q4 2021. It is actually a minor refresh over the original ROG Phone 5 series. I’ve been using the base model (8GB+128GB) for an extensive period, and here’s the full review!
ASUS ROG Phone 5s Specs
- 6.78-inch Full HD+ 144Hz/1ms Super AMOLED display
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ processor
- Up to 16GB RAM
- Up to 256GB UFS 3.1 storage
- Cameras
- Rear: 64MP Sony IMX686 main + 13MP ultra-wide + 5MP macro
- 24MP selfie camera
- 6,000mAh battery with 65W ROG HyperCharge
- Android 11 (Upgradeable to Android 12)
Design
The front of the ROG Phone 5s looks exactly like the ROG Phone 3, which is pretty much like the ROG Phone II, and the original ROG Phone. It still has dual stereo speakers on the front together with thick bezels.
The right of the phone houses the volume rocker, power button, and upgraded air triggers. As for the left side, it has the same side-mounted connector to connect the accessories. The SIM tray is also located near the corner. The bottom of the phone sees the return of the 3.5mm audio jack, which isn’t something usual you will be seeing on a newer generation device.
The back of the phone is slightly different. It now has an AniMe Matrix-inspired ROG logo that is still RGB-lit with some ROG design patterns. I really like this new design, though keep in mind that this is the same design as the ROG Phone 5.
Display
Compared to the ROG Phone 3, the ROG Phone 5s sports a larger 6.78-inch Full HD+ 144Hz/1ms Super AMOLED display with HDR10+ certified. Its touch response rate is now 360Hz, 50% less than the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2. You can choose four different refresh rate options — Auto, 144Hz, 120Hz, and 60Hz. However, duly note that the Auto mode will only reach a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz. You’ll have to choose 144Hz if you want the highest refresh rate.
In terms of screen quality, it is now better than the ROG Phone 3. The brown screen issue I had is now gone, probably because ASUS has switched to a Super AMOLED display. Overall, it is a fast and vivid display, there’s still an optical in-display fingerprint sensor that works well.
Performance
Powering the ROG Phone 5s is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ processor with up to 18GB RAM and 512GB UFS 3.1 storage. My review unit is the base model, which has 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. Unfortunately, ASUS didn’t include the AeroActive Cooler 5 for the base model, but the phone is still fast without any hiccups, and gaming with this phone is just fun. The main advantage of a gaming phone over a flagship phone is its cooling performance. A gaming phone is specially designed for gaming, hence the phone has a cooling system that can ensure it reaches peak performance most of the time.
The GameCool 5 cooling system on ROG Phone 5s has an optimum thermal structure featuring a centered CPU with the battery split into two parts, one located on each side of the CPU. This ensures that the heat generated by the CPU is transferred to all the edges and corners of the chassis simultaneously for higher thermal efficiency. The re-shaped vapor chamber and extensive graphite sheets also help to spread the heat evenly across the device to reduce heat build-up in the middle.
Software
The ROG Phone 5s runs on Android 11 out of the box, but ASUS has rolled out the Android 12 update just recently. Apart from those Android 12 features, the user experience is pretty much the same. It comes with the Armoury Crate and Game Genie apps to customize your own gaming settings such as whether to enable X Mode or not, customizing AirTriggers, adjusting the fan speed, and more.
Camera
The ROG Phone 5s still packs the same camera setup as the ROG Phone 3. It has a triple-camera setup on the back — 64MP Sony IMX686 main + 13MP ultra-wide + 5MP macro. It has a 24MP front-facing camera for taking selfies.
Image quality is average, capturing 64MP photos will take a longer time to process and they are all usually darker with poor dynamic range. By default, it shoots in 16MP mode with better image quality, just don’t expect it to be as good as current flagship phones. It actually has fairly decent cameras for a gaming phone, something you wouldn’t expect.
Battery Life
The ROG Phone 5s has a 6,000mAh battery with a 65W ROG HyperCharge. The phone has great battery life, better than other flagship phones. I was able to get more than 7 hours of screen-on-time with only needing to charge the phone once in 2 days.
Final Words
The ASUS ROG Phone 5s is available in both 8GB+128GB and 16GB+256GB variants, retailing at RM2,999 and RM3,799, respectively. There’s also the top-of-the-line model ROG Phone 5s Pro priced at RM4,999, which has 18GB RAM and 512GB UFS 3.1 storage, but you don’t really need to have such an overkilled machine. If you are wondering why not just get a flagship phone, the ROG Phone 5s is on a different level when it comes to the mobile gaming experience. It has an uncompromised performance with long-lasting battery life, and there are some features tailored for mobile gamers. It has the bypass charging feature that lets you power on the phone without charging the battery so that you can game all day without hurting the battery. If you are a hardcore mobile gamer, just go right ahead and get it. If you are looking for something else such as great cameras, just get the latest flagship phone.
Buy Here:
Yay
- Top-notch performance
- Great speakers
- Long-lasting battery life
Nay
- No AeroActive Cooler 5 included in the box for the base model
- Bulky design
- Average camera
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