At IFA 2019 in Berlin, ASUS presented new Gaming notebooks with 300 Hz display as well as the Elite and Ultimate editions of the successor to the ROG Phone introduced at the end of 2018. The new ASUS ROG Phone 2 was specially designed for demanding gamers and features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 Plus, currently the fastest smartphone SoC. Three versions of the Smartphone are offered, all of which have a 120 Hz display in addition to the same SoC.
The so-called “Tencent version” is launched exclusively in China and costs the equivalent of 450 Euro. It offers 8 GB RAM and 128 GB memory. An expansion possibility of the internal memory by microSD card does not offer three versions.
European customers can purchase 899 Euro the “Elite version” of the ASUS ROG Phone 2 with 12 GB RAM and 512 GB memory as well as 1.2 Gbit/s LTE Cat 18 for 1,199 Euro a “Ultimate version” whose internal memory offers 1 TB capacity and which has an LTE Cat 20 modem with up to 2 Gbit/s data transfer rate. Both versions available in Europe feature the very fast storage standard UFS 3.0, which is also used in the OnePlus 7 Pro. The 6,000 mAh battery guarantees long mobile gaming and can be quickly recharged with 30 watts thanks to Quick Charge 4.0 and the ASUS proprietary ROG HyperCharge technology.
Design especially for landscape gaming
The shape of the ASUS ROG Phone 2 offers good ergonomics, especially when used in landscape format, which is typical for mobile gaming. The so-called AirTrigger II technology recognises inputs and also supports typing and wiping movements. Thanks to the vibration delay of only 20 ms, ASUS speaks of a console-like key feeling. In addition, the Dual Surround vibration technology also provides haptic feedback.
The optional TwinView Dock 2 offers a second identical 6.59-inch display, opening up additional possibilities such as an additional screen or split-screen live streaming. A separate 5,000 mAh battery is installed for power supply. Also optionally available is the ROG Kunai Gamepad, whose construction is reminiscent of typical console controllers.
So that the performance of the high-end components doesn’t have to be limited due to excessive waste heat, both the Elite and Ultima versions of the smartphone feature a newly developed 3D Vapor Chamber cooling system, which is supposed to dissipate the heat via the case. In addition, the ASUS ROG Phone 2 features active cooling, which is very rare in smartphones. The new AeroActive Cooler II is not integrated directly into the smartphone, but is attached to the included case. With a maximum volume of 24 dBa, it is four times quieter than its predecessor.
Pre-orders are already possible via the ASUS online shop, but the smartphone will not be delivered in Europe until 20 September. Asian customers will receive the smartphone in cooperation with the Internet company Tencent, whose logo can be found on the back of the ASUS ROG Phone 2 there, as early as the beginning of August.
