I am particularly attracted to mobile phones that are somewhat different from the usual; I often look at models that, despite standing out in something particular, do not usually become the majority. That’s probably why the phones developed to get the most out of games make me wince; I think they are the best phones for those who prioritize specifications, usually at the cost of making some other sacrifice. The excitement I felt unboxing the Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro was a prelude to what was in store for me.
Screen: a delight for the eye that flows like silk
Asus Rog Phone 6 Pro
The key to every smartphone is the screen; the more prominent and occupying the front, the better. These characteristics are the ones that have the most significant influence on the function that the Asus ROG Phone 6 is intended for: running mobile games with high graphic quality. And not only does it stand out in this field: its multimedia performance raises the average experience score.
Samsung AMOLED screen with a size of 6.8 inches, FHD + resolution (due to the dimensions and category, I think that the QHD + resolution should be available, more because of the range than because it is needed), the refresh rate reaches 165 Hz ( it is not an LTPO panel), it has a high brightness (maximum of up to 1,200 nits). The touch sampling rate is excellent: the Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro achieves 720 Hz. With all these specifications as standard, the emphasis on reproduction and multimedia interaction is beyond doubt.
Asus Rog Phone 6 Pro
The screen looks like a charm without a noticeable sharpness despite the relationship between resolution and diagonal. It is large and does not present obstacles to the view since both the sensors and the front camera are located in the upper frame. The entire system flows quickly and smoothly, which is greatly helped by the very high refresh rate. Although with drawbacks.
The Asus ROG Phone 6 reaches a refresh rate of 165 Hz, a figure so high that it is incompatible with most games. Allows you to adjust different blocks from the screen settings: 60, 90, 120, 140, 165 Hz, and automatic. The first thing I did was leave the automatic and check if the mobile adapts the refresh to the needs of the applications, but it doesn’t: apps like Twitter refreshing the screen at 140 Hz in the static “timeline” doesn’t make sense, just like It happens on the desktop. In addition, and despite the high refresh rate, vertical scrolling can be jerky in some apps (Twitter, Instagram, the web browser…).
Asus Rog Phone 6 Pro
The Asus ROG Phone 6 pro is supported on the Steam Deck.
The panel calibration is perfect; it includes manual adjustment of temperature and saturation; Asus offers double touch to turn the screen off and on, it is compatible with HDR10+, it provides night mode, and the response to the touch is immediate. The brand ensures that thanks to the touch sampling rate and the refresh rate, the ROG Phone 6 Pro has a minimum latency between pressing the screen and the mobile responding. I can attest to my tests that it is incredibly fast.
Design: less big and heavy than it might seem
Asus is one of the references in the category of mobile games or gaming; the company earned this title in its own right. I’ve reviewed several of the ROGs; it’s a family I’ve been keeping track of since that first original Asus ROG Phone. Powerful, yes, but without neglecting the exterior design, usually at the cost of two drawbacks: size and weight. Both exaggerated.
I must admit that the Asus ROG Phone 6 is smaller than I expected and lighter. Of course, nobody looks for a compact mobile in it because it is not at all: it can get tiring during long gaming sessions, especially if the hands are small. Still, Asus has managed to restrain without sacrificing two key design details: the front-facing stereo speakers and the no-cutout screen. Specifically, the front camera is located in the upper frame. The front face is almost symmetrical: the lower edge exceeds the upper one by at least a millimeter.
Asus Rog Phone 6 Pro
The materials are of high quality: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus glass (on the front; Gorilla Glass 3 on the back), aluminum frame, and the usual detail of devices designed for games: LED lights. The Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro’s backlight cast consists of a secondary rear display that loads different animations depending on what’s happening on the phone. If there are notification options, calls, incoming mail… The animations are customizable, as is the “Dare to play” logo on the back. And one more detail: this phone includes a front LED for notifications (the recovery of rare elements in the highest range is a constant in this ROG).
Power: nobody knows how to squeeze the best out of Qualcomm like Asus
The Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro is the most powerful Android phone I’ve tested, as the phrase dictates: the most powerful. It flows like silk at all times; it starts games with high graphic demand in seconds; it did not suffer at any time when I changed the specifications of each title to the maximum, and, on the rebound, Asus implements an X Mode with which to climb even more laps the processor. It is impressive what the brand has achieved in terms of performance.
Asus Rog Phone 6 Pro
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 that mounts the phone not only customizes Qualcomm’s forefront in terms of raw power but also in temperature: it is light years in heat from what the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 generates (without the “plus” ). Also, the “throttling” is much better in this SoC: Compared to phones of the previous generation (the ZTE Axon 40 Pro served as a comparison), the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 maintains FPS to a greater extent over time. And what’s better: even though it heats up (inevitable), it doesn’t even come close to the level of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. In ZTE, it burned after the same performance tests.
