The ROG Phone 5s Pro was born from the idea of offering a novelty in terms of hardware: the leading company in the gaming phone market cannot help but offer the latest processor on the market, the highest touch refresh rate, the greatest performance potential.
The ASUS ROG Phone 5s Pro is only available in the 18/512 GB configuration at 1,299 euros and only in black. Both this solution and the basic one are intended to replace the product line launched last spring.
This means that once stocks of the latter are exhausted, the previous three will be the only ones available in stores and online. Compared to six months ago, the differences lie mainly in the presence of the Snapdragon 888 Plus instead of the 888.
The screen with a touch sampling rate of up to 360 Hz in contrast to the previous 300 Hz and, in the case of the 5S Pro, a couple of additional touch buttons and a color rear screen.
These last two features are preserved from the 5 Ultimate , which also had a screen, black and white in that case, and which was sold in very few units, which made it unattainable for many: fans of the ROG brand who are disappointed could be happy now.
Technical Specifications – ROG Phone 5s Pro
- Procesador:Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 Plus.
- Screen:
- 78-inch AMOLED, 144Hz refresh rate, 360Hz touch sampling rate, 1ms response, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus.
- Fingerprint sensor:Integrated in the screen.
- Memory:
- 18 GB DE RAM LPDDR5.
- 512 GB internal UFS 3.1.
- Conectividad:5G dual SIM, WiFi, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, GPS, Glonass, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS, NavIC.
- Battery:6,000 mAh with 65 W HyperCharge charging (60% charge in 18 minutes).
- Cameras:
- Frontal:24 MP, 27 mm eq.
- Rear:
- 64 MP principal Sony IMX686, 1/1,73″, 0,8 µm píxeles, f/1,8.
- 13 MP ultra gran angular, FOV 125°, 11 mm equiv., f/2.4.
- 5 MP macro, f/2,0.
- Operating system:Android 11
- Dimensions and weight:173 x 77 x 9.90 mm for 238 g
- Color:Phantom Black.
- Others:Dirac HD Sound technology, AirTrigger ultrasonic sensors, AeroActive Cooler 5, Cooler buttons, ROG Vision.
Snapdragon 888 Plus – Differences
Qualcomm hasn’t gone overboard this year and the upgraded version of its processor is essentially identical to the original. The main difference is that the Cortex-X1 based core of the Kryo 680 goes up from 2.84 GHz to 3.0 GHz , while the others remain largely unchanged, with three cores going up to 2.42 GHz and four going up at 1.8GHz .
However, there are other settings that do not affect gaming performance or bring tangible benefits. Launching Geekbench 5 with Mode X activated, i.e. choosing performance mode, the single core result of this ROG Phone 5s Pro was 1,162 vs. 973 for the ROG 5 (16/512 GB) we used as a comparison . , again choosing Mode X.
In the multicore test the difference was, unsurprisingly, less marked: 3,673 for the 5s Pro and 3,502 for the version from six months ago.
Control total
When it comes to control, the ROG Phone 5s Pro offers the variety of options of the past and then some. The increased touch sampling rate to 360Hz is hard to judge, but you’ll get the usual excellent tactile feedback on the screen, while the addition of the two rear touch sensors, called Cooler Buttons, previously a feature on the Ultimate version, is interesting. .
Like everything else, the functions of the Cooler Buttons can be customized at will through the Cooler Buttons console, giving you more freedom to choose how you want to interact with the virtual game controllers.
In the case of titles with articulated control systems, such as Pokémon Unite or PUBG New State, they come in handy although they are certainly not essential: after all, that is the idea of a gaming phone, adding something that for many is superfluous but that for inveterate players can give an extra margin of customization.
Also included in the box is the Aero Cooler 5 fan , sold separately in the case of the ROG Phone 5, which has not undergone any improvements and is still a fun extra, also based on the two buttons, this time physical, that have been added and that give an additional option.
Now you can interact with the game of the day using all your fingers: your thumbs on the screen, your index fingers on the Air Triggers, and then your middle and ring fingers that are divided by grip on the Aero Cooler 5 ‘s touch buttons and buttons. .
ASUS ROG Vision
Asus has also included the ROG Vision in the Pro model, a PMOLED rear screen that mixes one more element of customization with a handful of somewhat more practical functions. On the one hand, it can show notifications of incoming calls or if an accessory is connected, while on the other hand it has a built-in mini editor to show whatever you want.
You can upload an image, insert a text or run a small animation. Choose colors and fonts from a variety of options. You can also download and import other people’s work, you just have to find it on the internet and put it in the download folder, so if you don’t have much imagination or artistic ability you can count on the work done by the rest of the community.
Conclusions
With the exception of the above, the ROG Phone 5s (Pro) is no different from the model from early 2021. In the Pro version, the rear screen adds a bit of strength to the product’s design (although for some it will just make it more tamarind). ), while the other changes are more of a refinement aimed at providing the best possible gaming experience.
It’s still an excellent performing phone, with a very generous 6,000mAh battery and a pretty good camera roll that has aged another six months in the process.
The 144hz display offers maximum fluidity in games that support higher frame rates, while the audio always looks great, making this smartphone an excellent solution for watching movies and TV series as well.
If you have an ROG Phone 5 , there’s little point in upgrading as the improvements are minimal. If you’ve been waiting for, or haven’t managed to buy, the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate, the Pro version is a great alternative , with a color rear screen instead of black and white. It remains the best option on the market for those looking for a gaming phone.