The ROG Phone 8 shows just how unnecessary gaming smartphones are
Top performance, a good camera and water protection – the ROG Phone 8’s a lot better than its predecessor. But it’s still proof that we don’t need gaming smartphones.
The ROG Phone 8’s the gaming version of the Zenfone 11 Ultra. The latter’s great for gaming – just like any smartphones mid-range and up. So do the gaming add-ons offer any added value? Unfortunately, no.
Shoulder key: good idea, but…
The shoulder keys on the ROG Phone are a good idea, allowing two fingers to rest on the frame of the smartphone instead of the screen.
However, this only affects two fingers. You can assign a maximum of two actions to the shoulder keys – pulling the trigger and picking up objects in a shooter game, for instance. However, your thumbs are still on the screen and you need them to move around, use your inventory and do other things. All in all, it gets uncomfortable quickly. An external controller makes more sense.
Source: Jan Johannsen
AeroActive Cooler: loud and cold
Good cooling allows the hardware to perform better – in smartphones just as in PCs. That’s why the latest Asus model comes with the AeroActive Cooler, which can be attached to the smartphone to give it a cooling boost.
However, the effort involved and the disadvantage it brings are too great for me. As with many other smartphones, the internal cooling of the ROG Phone 8 is very good. So why would I want a bulky external fan that makes an annoying noise and makes my hands cold?
Source: Jan Johannsen
The AeroActive Cooler features two additional buttons, which repeat the problem of the shoulder keys. They don’t make gaming any more comfortable. Personally, I can’t use this setup for long.
Game Genie: software customisations don’t require a gaming smartphone
The ROG Phone 8’s equipped with Game Genie, a software that provides performance information and allows you to make adjustments to improve the gaming experience.
Source: Jan Johannsen
However, conventional smartphones also offer similar gaming modes – and have done so for a while. The OnePlus 8T from 2020 is just one example. The special functions of such devices may not be quite as extensive, but they usually give you enough options to allow for a fun gaming experience.
Second USB-C port: cable-free gaming as long as you need
The second USB-C port on the side of the ROG Phone 8 is the only gaming add-on that makes sense to me. It’s located on the left-hand side, pointing downwards when I hold the smartphone in landscape format. This is great when you’re gaming and the phone’s connected to a charging cable. Unlike the classic connection on the bottom, the side connection means the cable doesn’t get in the way of your hands.
Source: Jan Johannsen
Real gaming gadgets are better
No Android game requires a gaming smartphone, the hardware of current top models is sufficient. With the Zenfone 11 Ultra, Asus has proven that the same smartphone can be produced at a lower price without gaming gadgetry. Unlike PCs, no dedicated graphics cards are required. For most mobile games, even a mid-range smartphone is good enough. I also ended my positive conclusion to the ROG Phone 7 by asking: «But is it worth it for Android games?»
If you buy a good mid-range smartphone instead of a gaming smartphone, you’ll save enough money to buy a Switch or a Steamdeck. And, lets face it, gaming on those is more fun anyway.
Header image: Jan Johannsen
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As a primary school pupil, I used to sit in a friend's living room with many of my classmates to play the Super NES. Now I get my hands on the latest technology and test it for you. In recent years at Curved, Computer Bild and Netzwelt, now at Digitec and Galaxus.
