What distinguishes the Asus ROG Phone 3 from the competition
First and foremost, this is a big, bulky phone. The ROG Phone 3’s 6000mAh battery and a powerful cooling system allow the processor to function at full speed for extended periods of time, despite the fact that slimness is often valued for a high-end smartphone. The ROG Phone 3 is 9.85mm thick and 240g in weight, which are both above average for today’s smartphones.
Of course, the hardware is all brand new and top-of-the-line. The screen features an incredible 144Hz maximum refresh rate and no notch or hole, making this the first phone we’ve reviewed using Qualcomm’s latest updated Snapdragon 865+ SoC. Asus claims that the numerous antennas have been positioned with landscape use in mind, and that front-firing stereo speakers should make gaming more immersive.
On the left side of the phone, there’s an extra port that’s hidden under a removable rubber insert. This is a USB Type-C combo port with an extra accessory connector on the side. It allows you to charge your phone or connect a headphone while holding it horizontally to play games, and it also works with a variety of accessories, which we’ll go over shortly.
Two “AirTriggers,” or ultrasonic buttons that you may configure to specific functions in different games, are located on the right, but are less obvious. You can not only tap and hover with this generation, but also slide, swipe, and split each one into two zones. This provides you forefinger controls that are similar to the trigger buttons on a gamepad. There’s also a shake gesture that can be assigned, as well as a squeeze that activates Asus’s proprietary X Mode for improved performance.
Last but not least, a gaming phone wouldn’t be complete without a pleasing look. On the back, you’ll find the typical RGB lighting in the shape of an illuminated Asus ROG logo. In comparison to the two prior ROG Phone models, the design is more subdued, with less strong lines and angles. A transparent window on the right reveals what appears to be a heatsink with a sliver of copper showing through. If you purchase the optional clip-on AeroActive fan cooler, there’s also a little air vent on one side.
Asus ROG Phone 3 price in US, India and Nigeria
The Asus ROG Phone 3 is available in two versions: 8GB of RAM with 128GB of storage for Rs. 49,999 and 12GB of RAM with 256GB of storage for Rs. 57,999. In other regions, there will be variants with varying specifications, including one using the older Snapdragon 865 SoC rather than the 865+. The top-of-the-line version with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is also not available in India, most likely due to its exorbitant price.
These costs are more than the previous model, and the AeroActive cooler is not included in the box. The discrepancy can be attributed to international currency exchange rates and extra taxes, and other flagship-level phones are also subject to the same market factors.
In India, the AeroActive 3 cooler will cost Rs. 2,999 with an integrated kickstand. Updated versions of Asus’s console-style Kunai gamepad and TwinView dock with a matching 144Hz screen are also available, priced at Rs. 9,999 and Rs. 19,999, respectively. The ROG Phone 3 may be attached to your existing PlayStation, Xbox, or Stadia controller via the ROG Clip adapter.
The base 8GB / 128GB edition of the ASUS ROG Phone 3 costs roughly $550, which equates to 275,000 Naira in Nigeria.