Asus is poised to unveil its highly anticipated gaming smartphone, the ROG Phone 8 series, featuring an array of significant upgrades, including a revamped design. The upcoming smartphones are slated for a grand debut at the forthcoming Consumer Electronics Show 2024 (CES 2024) in Las Vegas, followed by an official launch in China on January 16, 2024.
Notably, these devices promise substantial improvements over their predecessors, introducing hardware enhancements and a groundbreaking addition: an IP68 rating, a first for the ROG Phone series, marking a significant leap in terms of dust and water resistance—a feature previously unexplored in prior models due to various constraints.
In a recent update via the brand’s official Weibo account, Asus confirmed the inclusion of an IP68 rating, ensuring robust dust and water resistance for the upcoming smartphones. This advancement places the new ROG Phone 8 series on par with top-tier devices from Samsung, renowned for their enduring IP68 ratings over several product iterations.
Additionally, leaks suggest that the ROG Phone 8 series will sport a flat display adorned with minimal bezels, accompanied by a front camera housed within a hole-punch cutout at the screen’s top, presenting a design shift from its predecessors. This blend of enhanced features and cutting-edge design elements hints at a compelling offering within the gaming smartphone realm.
The upcoming ROG Phone 8 series from Asus is set to introduce a radical design departure, evident from leaked renders that showcase a notably robust camera module protruding from what appears to be a relatively slender gaming smartphone. Recent teasers also hint at a transformed rear panel featuring a dual-tone finish and flattened sides, deviating from the design language of its predecessor.
The inclusion of an anticipated IP68 rating on the forthcoming ROG Phone 8 series is expected to elevate its stature, positioning it as a genuine premium contender akin to offerings from established flagship brands. This rating signifies robust protection against dust and water ingress, ensuring a certain level of immersion resistance. Additionally, the potential inclusion of wireless charging, a hallmark of premium smartphones, remains a feature of interest yet to be confirmed.
Asus’s decision to incorporate a solid IP rating aligns with the escalating pricing trend observed in the gaming smartphone market. The ROG Phone 7 and ROG Phone 7 Ultimate were priced at Rs. 74,999 and Rs. 99,999, respectively, competing in the premium segment alongside Samsung, OnePlus, Oppo, and Vivo’s high-end camera-centric offerings.
Leaked specifications reveal exciting details about the ROG Phone 8 series, indicating a 6.78-inch Full-HD+ AMOLED display fortified with Corning Gorilla Victus protection. Expectations are set for a remarkable 165Hz maximum refresh rate coupled with HDR10 support. Powering the devices will be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, with the standard ROG Phone 8 featuring 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, while the Pro model is rumored to boast 16GB RAM and up to 1TB storage. The phones are slated to house a triple rear camera setup and come equipped with a 5,500mAh battery, complemented by Quick Charge 5.0 support, promising swift charging capabilities.