Launch report · Asus

Asus ROG Phone 5: Snapdragon 888 gaming beast with RGB ROG logo and 18 GB RAM ceiling.

SpecEagle Editorial·Mar 2021·$999·Score 87/100

The ROG Phone 5 was the first phone with an 18 GB RAM option, and the first to ship a Samsung E4 AMOLED at 144Hz with 300Hz touch sampling — making it both a gaming benchmark and a tech showcase that pushed mainstream flagships to chase the same numbers.

Key specs at launch

Display
6.78" FHD+ AMOLED, 144Hz
Chipset
Snapdragon 888
RAM
8/12/16/18 GB LPDDR5
Storage
128/256/512 GB UFS 3.1
Battery
6000 mAh dual-cell, 65W
Main camera
64 MP IMX686 + 13 MP ultrawide + 5 MP macro
Weight
238 g
What stands out
  • 144Hz AMOLED + 300Hz touch — unmatched at launch
  • Up to 18 GB RAM
  • Best-in-class stereo speakers
What to watch
  • 238 g weight is taxing
  • Snapdragon 888 ran hot
  • Camera processing lags non-gaming flagships