The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate Review
Gaming phones have improved a lot since they first appeared a few years ago. This progress is due to more gaming phones entering the market and the amazing hardware upgrades in regular flagship phones. The Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is currently the top gaming phone. It has almost everything a gamer could want, but there’s one thing it doesn’t have—a top-notch camera system.
But that’s probably okay. After all, it’s a gaming phone, and the main focus is on providing an awesome gaming experience. Even though it’s an expensive device, the camera isn’t the main selling point for these phones or their users.
The goal of the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is to give you a camera that’s good enough so you’re not unhappy, but not so good that you’ll brag about it. Now let’s take a closer look at the specs and see what makes this gaming phone special.
Specifications
Processor
The heart of the ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is its powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, clocked at a blazing-fast 3.2 GHz. This, coupled with the Adreno 740 GPU, ensures that the device can handle even the most demanding games with ease, providing a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience.
Memory and Storage
The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate boasts a massive 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, which allows for seamless multitasking and ensures that games load quickly and run smoothly. In addition, the device features 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, providing ample space for all your games, apps, and media.
Display
The ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate sports a stunning 6.78-inch 1080p AMOLED display, which offers a refresh rate of up to 165 Hz. This ensures that games and other content appear smooth and fluid, with minimal motion blur. The display is also capable of reaching a peak brightness of up to 1200 nits, making it easy to see even in direct sunlight.
Battery
A gaming phone wouldn’t be complete without a powerful battery, and the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate delivers in this regard as well. It features a 6,000mAh battery, which ensures that you can game for extended periods without needing to recharge. When you do need to top up, the device supports 65W fast charging, allowing you to get back to gaming as quickly as possible.
Design and Build
Phantom White finish
The ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is available in a striking Phantom White finish. This sleek and stylish color option adds a touch of sophistication to the device, setting it apart from other gaming smartphones on the market. The Phantom White finish also helps to minimize fingerprints and smudges, ensuring that your phone always looks its best.
Design
The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is designed with gaming in mind, featuring several unique design elements that cater specifically to gamers. The device boasts an ergonomic shape and weight distribution, ensuring that it feels comfortable and well-balanced in your hand during extended gaming sessions. This thoughtful design helps to minimize hand fatigue, allowing you to game for longer periods without discomfort.
Battery setup and motherboard placement
One of the most innovative features of the ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is its unique split battery setup and motherboard placement. The device’s 6,000mAh battery is divided into two separate 3,000mAh cells, located on either side of the motherboard.
This design choice helps to distribute heat more effectively, preventing the device from becoming uncomfortably hot during prolonged gaming sessions. Additionally, the central placement of the motherboard further aids in balancing the weight of the device, making it more comfortable to hold and use.
Camera System
Overview of the camera system
The ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is not only a gaming powerhouse but also a capable photography device. The camera system features a versatile and high-quality setup, allowing you to capture stunning images and videos in various scenarios.
Main camera
The main camera of the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is a 50MP primary sensor, which delivers sharp and detailed images. When you need to get closer to your subject, you can take advantage of the 12.5MP lossless 2x zoom feature, ensuring that your photos remain clear and crisp even when zoomed in.
Ultra-wide camera
The 13MP ultra-wide camera allows you to capture more of the scene, making it perfect for landscape shots or large group photos. With its wide field of view, you can be sure to capture everything in your frame without having to step back.
Macro camera
For those who enjoy taking close-up shots, the 5MP macro camera lets you capture intricate details and textures in your subjects. This camera is ideal for photographing small objects, plants, and insects, revealing their hidden beauty in stunning detail.
Selfie camera
The 32MP selfie camera ensures that your selfies always look great. With high-resolution capabilities, this front-facing camera captures every detail, allowing you to take stunning self-portraits or video calls with friends and family.
Camera performance and grade
The camera system of the ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is more than capable of delivering excellent image quality across various scenarios. From the primary camera’s high-resolution sensor to the specialized macro and ultra-wide cameras, you can rely on this device for all your photography needs.
Its versatile camera system is yet another feature that sets the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate apart from other gaming smartphones, making it an all-around powerhouse device.
Display and Gaming Performance
The ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate boasts a stunning 165Hz OLED display, offering incredibly smooth visuals and responsive touch controls. With a 720Hz touch sample rate and 23ms touch latency, this display is perfectly suited for intense gaming sessions, ensuring that every action feels instantaneous and fluid.
Compared to other flagship smartphones, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s display sets itself apart with its high refresh rate, making it a top choice for gamers who prioritize performance. While other high-end devices may offer similar resolution and color reproduction, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s gaming-optimized display ensures a superior gaming experience.
Gaming optimization
The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s display is not only excellent for gaming but also delivers an outstanding media consumption experience. Whether you’re watching movies, streaming videos, or browsing the web, the vibrant colors and crisp details of the OLED panel make every visual come to life. Moreover, the device offers gaming optimization features that can further enhance your gaming sessions, such as adjustable performance modes and customizable touch controls.
Battery and Charging Features
6,000mAh split battery
The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is equipped with a massive 6,000mAh split battery, providing ample power to support long gaming sessions and daily usage. The split battery design also helps in efficient heat management, ensuring that your device remains cool even during intense gaming marathons.
Fast charging
When it comes to charging, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is no slouch. With its 65W fast charging capability, you can charge the device from 0% to 100% in just 45 minutes. This means you can quickly top up your battery and get back to gaming or other tasks in no time.
Battery management features for longevity
The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate offers a variety of battery management features to help extend its lifespan. These include options for customizing charging speed, setting a maximum charging limit, and scheduling charging times. These features allow you to take better control of your device’s battery health and ensure its longevity.
The device features two USB-C ports for charging and connecting accessories. While the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate does not support wireless charging, the fast 65W wired charging more than compensates for this omission, ensuring that you can quickly power up your device when needed.
Aero Active Cooler 7 Accessory
The Aero Active Cooler 7 is a dedicated accessory designed specifically for the ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate. This attachable cooling solution helps dissipate heat effectively, ensuring optimal performance during extended gaming sessions.
Cooling performance
By significantly reducing the device’s temperature, the Aero Active Cooler 7 prevents thermal throttling and maintains the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s peak performance. This not only results in smoother gameplay but also prolongs the life of the device by protecting internal components from overheating.
Additional features
In addition to its cooling capabilities, the Aero Active Cooler 7 also offers extra features that enhance the overall gaming experience. It includes customizable trigger buttons, RGB lighting effects, and an integrated subwoofer, providing both tactile and visual feedback for an immersive gaming session.
Unique Features
Customizable air triggers
The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate comes with customizable air triggers, allowing users to map specific actions or commands to these touch-sensitive buttons. This feature adds an extra level of control and customization to gaming, enabling players to execute moves more efficiently and comfortably.
Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 support
The device supports both Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7, ensuring lightning-fast connectivity and reduced latency during online gaming. This forward-thinking feature guarantees that the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate will remain relevant and compatible with future network advancements.
The ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate, with its impressive specifications and gaming-focused features, is a prime example of how gaming phones are pushing the boundaries of smartphone technology. Its success may inspire other manufacturers to incorporate similar features and innovations into their flagship devices, ultimately benefiting all smartphone users.
Kunai 3 controller
The Kunai 3 controller has been around for a while, designed specifically for Asus ROG phones, and it’s no surprise that it can be used with the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate as well. However, there’s a bit of a hiccup when it comes to compatibility this time. While the controller can still be used with the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate, the fit isn’t exactly a match made in heaven.
When you attach the Kunai 3 controller to the phone, you’ll notice that the camera hump is misaligned slightly. This may not affect the actual playability of the device, but it’s a small annoyance that can’t be overlooked. Despite the imperfect fit, the controller does still work, and you can enjoy your gaming sessions without any major hindrances. If you already own a Kunai 3 or are considering getting one for your shiny new ROG Phone 7 Ultimate, just be prepared for a slightly awkward fit.
Verdict
The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is the fanciest phone this year, packed with powerful features for serious gamers. With its super-strong Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, smooth screen, and surprising gaming extras, this phone is the top gaming device you’d expect from Asus ROG.
But, with the not-so-great fit of the Kunai 3 controller and a few almost cheat-like features, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate isn’t perfect. If you’re a gaming fan wanting to show off your mobile gaming skills, this phone is worth checking out, as long as you’re up for the exciting experience it provides.
