ROG Phone 3 Review and Buying Guide

The ROG Phone 3 is a beast of a gaming phone, packing a massive 6000mAh battery that can easily last you a day and a half with heavy use. This means you can play games for hours on end without worrying about running out of juice.

The phone's display is a 6.55-inch AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, which provides a silky smooth gaming experience. This high refresh rate makes a huge difference in fast-paced games, reducing motion blur and making the visuals look incredibly sharp.

One thing to consider when buying the ROG Phone 3 is its price, which starts at around $1,000. While it's a significant investment, you're getting a top-of-the-line gaming phone with cutting-edge features and performance.

The ROG Phone 3 has a 6.59-inch Full HD Plus OLED display, which is virtually the same as its predecessor, the ROG II.

The display's refresh rate has been upgraded from 120Hz to 144Hz, making it one of the fastest on the market.

Here are some key display specs:

The display's HDR10+ support is a major plus, allowing for vibrant and colorful visuals. However, it does struggle to render the darkest blacks, which can lead to pixelated edges in low-light scenes.

Good design is all about balance. A well-designed display should have a clear focal point, which can be achieved by using a dominant color or a striking image.

The size of the display is also crucial, with most screens having a 16:9 aspect ratio. This is why it's essential to consider the screen size when designing your display.

A good design should also take into account the viewer's attention span, which is estimated to be around 8 seconds. This means that your display should be able to capture the viewer's attention quickly.

Using negative space effectively can also enhance the visual appeal of your display. By leaving some empty space, you can create a sense of calmness and make your design more visually appealing.

The display on the Asus ROG 3 is a 6.59-inch Full HD Plus OLED display, identical to the ROG II. This means you get a high-quality screen with vibrant colors and good brightness.

The refresh rate has been bumped up from 120Hz to 144Hz, making it one of the fastest displays on the market. This is a significant upgrade, especially for gamers who want the smoothest possible experience.

However, the display's HDR10+ support can sometimes struggle to render the darkest blacks, resulting in pixelated edges and loss of clarity. This is particularly noticeable in dark scenes or low-light conditions.

The 19.5:9 ratio of the display is the same as its predecessor, and the Full HD+ resolution (2340 x 1080) is not the sharpest on a phone. But you won't notice this when watching most media or playing most games, especially if they feature colorful and well-lit scenes.

The display's fast refresh rate is its strength, but only a handful of games currently support the absolute extreme of 144Hz. When playing one of these games, like Dead Cells, you'll notice a smooth experience, but it's not drastically different from playing on a 120Hz device.

The ROG 3 has no notch or punch-hole, instead featuring a black bar for its selfie camera. This design choice may not be desirable in mainstream handsets, but it makes it easier to enjoy media on the device.

The display also houses an in-screen fingerprint sensor, which is fast-acting and accurate. This is a convenient feature that eliminates the need for a separate fingerprint scanner.

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The ROG Phone 3's design is similar to its predecessor, with an aluminum chassis and a glass backplate. The phone has a sleek and premium feel to it.

The RGB-illuminated logo on the back of the device can be user-customized to show different colors. This adds a personal touch to the phone's design.

The front of the phone features front-facing stereo speakers on either side of the display, and a camera built into the top bezel. The speakers are great for watching videos or listening to music.

The screen has a refresh rate of 144 Hz, which is a significant upgrade from the 120 Hz refresh rate of the ROG Phone 2. This results in a smoother and more responsive display.

The display itself is a 6.59-inch 1080p AMOLED panel with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. It's protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 6 for added durability.

The device uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865/865+ SoC and Adreno 650 GPU, paired with 8, 12 or 16 GB of RAM. This makes it a powerful gaming device.

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The phone has 128 GB, 256 GB, or 512 GB of non-expandable UFS 3.1 storage. This is plenty of storage for most users.

Power is provided by a 6000 mAh battery, which is large enough to last a full day of heavy use. The phone also supports 30 W fast charging, which can quickly top up the battery.

The ROG Phone 3 has a custom double USB-C port on the side of the phone, which is a nice touch for gamers. This allows for easy charging and data transfer.

The ROG Phone 3 has a triple camera system, which includes a primary sensor, an ultrawide sensor, and a macro sensor. This setup provides a good balance of features for capturing a wide range of shots.

The main lens has a Quad-Bayer Sony IMX686 64 MP unit, which takes respectable photos, though light nuance isn't as good as top camera phones. The 13MP ultra-wide camera takes photos that look similar in quality to those from the main camera.

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The macro lens has a 5MP unit, which works fine, taking reasonably well-detailed photos of close-up subjects. The 24MP front-facing camera also works just fine, adding respectable background blurring effects to portrait shots.

Here are the key camera specs:

The ROG Phone 3's camera system is a solid addition to the phone's feature set, offering a good balance of features for capturing a wide range of shots.

The ROG Phone 3 runs on ROG UI, a modified Asus skin based on Android 11. You can also configure it to use the standard ZenUI 6, which functions very similarly to stock Android.

ROG UI is a powerful tool that lets you customize your gaming experience. The phone comes with several preloaded gaming-focused apps, including ASUS Armoury Crate, which gives you advanced control over the hardware and software.

ASUS Armoury Crate lets you set up per-game performance profiles, so you can optimize your phone's performance for specific games. You can also use it to configure the RGB LEDs on the phone and its accessories.

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The phone also comes with Game Genie, which allows you to live configure phone settings in game. This is super useful for gamers, as it lets you tweak settings on the fly to get the best performance.

Game Genie also provides a moveable UI element that displays FPS, temperature, and clock speeds. This gives you a clear picture of your phone's performance in real-time.

Here are some of the key features of the ROG Phone 3's software:

Overall, the ROG Phone 3's software is designed to give gamers the tools they need to take their gaming experience to the next level.

The Asus ROG 3 has some fantastic features that make it a top choice for gamers and non-gamers alike. Here are the pros and cons to consider:

The ROG 3 has absolute best specs in phones, making it a powerhouse in performance. It also boasts a massive 6,000mAh battery and a 144Hz screen, which is appreciable by non-gamers as well. The AirTriggers are a neat feature that adds to the gaming experience.

However, the ROG 3 has some drawbacks to consider. The cameras are so-so, and the AirTriggers and other gaming features only work with select games. Additionally, there's no wireless charging option available.

If you're a gamer, you'll love the ROG 3's powerful specs and tools to push performance. If you want a huge battery, the ROG 3 has one of the largest batteries of any phone out there, lasting over a day easy.

The Asus ROG 3 is a powerhouse of a phone, and for good reason. It has the absolute best specs in phones, making it a top choice for those who want the best.

One of the standout features of the ROG 3 is its massive 6,000mAh battery, which is appreciable even by non-gamers. This means you can go a whole day without needing to recharge.

The phone also comes with AirTriggers, which are a neat feature that allows for customizable controls. This can be especially useful for gamers who want to customize their experience.

Whether you're a hardcore gamer or just someone who wants a phone that can keep up with their busy lifestyle, the ROG 3 is a great choice.

The Asus ROG 3 isn't perfect, and here are some of its downsides.

The cameras are just okay, not particularly impressive.

AirTriggers and other gaming features only work with select games, which can be frustrating if you're not playing those specific titles.

You won't be able to charge your phone wirelessly, which is a feature many of us take for granted.

If you're looking for an affordable gaming handset, the ROG 3 is probably not the best choice.

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The Asus ROG Phone 3 is available for purchase in the US, but its regional availability is limited. You can buy it directly from Amazon, B&H, or Mobile Advance.

The price of the ROG 3 starts at $999, which is a bit of a jump from the ROG II's price of $899. However, this increase in price is not surprising given the added 5G connectivity.

The ROG 3 will only come in a black finish, so if you're looking for other color options, you're out of luck.

The ROG 3 accessories are a game-changer for mobile gaming. They're mostly gaming-focused, from controllers to docks, which is perfect for taking your gaming experience to the next level.

The AeroActive Cooler 3 clip-on fan is included with the phone and plugs into the side-mounted dual port to keep the ROG 3 cooler during intense gaming sessions. It also has a pass-through 3.5mm jack for plugging in your headphones.

The TwinView Dock 3 is a great accessory for multitasking, but it's really about playing with multiple screens. It adds a second screen that's identical to the main phone's display, with the same resolution and 144Hz refresh rate.

The ROG Kunai 3 Gamepad is a smooth and straightforward accessory that works like the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons. It consists of two controller halves that can be used as separate right and left controllers or slid onto a frame to handle like a proper gamepad.

Here are the ROG accessories you can get:

The Asus ROG Phone 3 has a price tag of $999 (around £752 / AU$1,500) in the US, making it a significant investment for any gamer or tech enthusiast.

This price is not surprising given the added 5G connectivity, which is a major upgrade from its predecessor, the Asus ROG II.

The ROG 3 will only come in a black finish, so if you're looking for a specific color, you might want to consider other options.

The phone was announced on July 22, 2020, but it didn't hit the shelves until September 2020, which is a bit of a wait for those eagerly anticipating its release.

Here are the key details about the Asus ROG Phone 3's price and release:

It's worth noting that the phone isn't sold by US carriers, so you'll have to buy it directly from Amazon, B&H, or Mobile Advance.

The ROG Phone 3 is a powerhouse of a device, and its user reviews reflect that. Many users praise its impressive performance, with some even calling it the best gaming phone on the market.

The phone's 6.55-inch AMOLED display is a major highlight, offering a fast 144Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support for an incredibly immersive viewing experience.

Users love the phone's ergonomic design, which makes it comfortable to hold and use for extended periods. The phone's weight and size may be a concern for some, but overall, the design is a hit.

The ROG Phone 3's cooling system is another area where it shines, with a large vapor chamber and heat pipes that keep the phone running smoothly even during intense gaming sessions. Some users report a slight increase in temperature, but it's not a deal-breaker.

Battery life is a mixed bag, with some users reporting up to 12 hours of gaming time, while others experience battery drain. The phone's 6000mAh battery is a big plus, but it's clear that optimization is still an area for improvement.

Overall, the ROG Phone 3 is a top-notch gaming phone that's worth considering for anyone looking for a powerful and feature-packed device.