ROG Cellphone 5s – Gaming Cellphone Refined

ASUS ROG Cellphone 5s is a monster of a gaming telephone.

Hey ho, GM received the possibility for one more ROG telephone overview, beforehand the ROG Cellphone 2. This time, the ROG Cellphone 5s, generously supplied by ASUS Malaysia. Sure, these phrases at first are the compressed impression of ROG Cellphone 5s. The gaming telephone scene is kind of outlined now, with gadgets that includes flagship specs with gamer-centric options.

Unboxing

Within the field, you get the telephone unit, a braided and high-quality USB-C to C cable, a 65W charger and classy Aerocase. Additionally some notable extras like ROG sim ejection instrument, ROG stickers and spare rubber port covers. The field has some AR-enabled graphics which might be scannable with the digicam throughout first-time setup with transferring comedian of a cyberpunk samurai. Don’t fear, you may get pleasure from it once more later utilizing the pre-installed Armory Crate app.

Specs and Construct High quality

Full specs might be obtained from ASUS web site right here.

• Show: 6.78″ 20.4:9 (2448p x 1080p) 144 Hz / 1 ms Samsung E4 AMOLED. Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, Delta-E < 1 10-bit HDR10+
• Chipset: Snapdragon 888+ 5G @2.99GHz / Adreno 660 GPU
• RAM: 8GB to 16GB (18GB for Professional) LPDDR5
• Storage: 128GB to 256GB (512GB for Professional) UFS 3.1 non-expandable storage
• Battery: 6000mAh Li-Po / 65W HyperCharge / QuickCharge 5.0 / USB PD
• Connectivity: Twin Nano Sim with twin 5G standby / 1x USB Sort-C 2.0 + 1x USB Sort-C 3.1 / WiFi: 802.11 ax / Bluetooth 5.2 / NFC
• Digital camera: 64MP Sony IMX686 Sensor + 13MP Ultrawide + 24MP entrance + 5MP macro
• Audio: Twin front-facing 7-magnet audio system + Cirrus Logic amp / 4 microphones with noise cancellation / 3.5mm headphone out with ESS DAC / AudioWizard with Dirac Audio tuning
• Misc: Below-display fingerprint reader / ultrasonic sensors for Air Triggers and Grip Press / accent connector

The ROG Cellphone 5s screams high quality the second you maintain it. Glass back and front with aluminium body simply exudes premium aura and rightly justify the flagship worth. In comparison with earlier ROG Cellphone, the 5s is extra smoothed out, much less gamery, much less garish however with touches of aptitude that also says “hey, gaming telephone amirite?”

That is additionally an enormous boi telephone. Measuring at 172.8 mm x 77.3 mm x 9.9 mm and weighing in at 238 grams, it feels substantial to carry and pocket. Getting aftermarket case will certainly bump the scale even additional and except you bought deeper pocket or a bag/purse, be able to have drawback sitting comfortably with out taking it out of pocket.

The ROG Cellphone 5s sports activities a wonderful E4 AMOLED panel made by Samsung. Decision of FHD+ 2448×1080 is dense for display screen 6.78 inch and with 10-bit HDR10+, contents like motion pictures and video games simply pop with vivid colours.

Not solely color-accurate, clean high-refresh panel too. Refresh price is selectable from 60, 120 and 144Hz or simply put it on Auto and let the telephone resolve. One possibility missing is a 90Hz setting. Why 60Hz to 120Hz bounce is unknown to me, perhaps ASUS can handle this in future replace, hmm?

Entrance glass is made with Gorilla Glass Victus which is claimed to be extra shatter resistant than earlier technology, and Gorilla Glass 3 on the again. Gracing the rear glass is an ROG emblem made from RGB LED that may be custom-made to mild up on completely different eventualities like calls and X Mode. Seeing the again emblem lit up is unquestionably neat-o. As at all times, glass can and can finally break or scratch. Put money into display screen protector and a case for that matter, and fear much less of drop mishaps.

Shipped with Android 11, you might have 2 kinds of skins to select from. ROG-themed skins with customized icons and reactive wallpapers, and near-stock ZenUI pores and skin. Some bloatware pre-installed however simply uninstalled, very a lot appreciated.

Connectivity and Battery

Connectivity isn’t any slouch both, because the ROG Cellphone 5s is dual-standby 5G and WiFi 6E succesful, with Bluetooth 5.2 and NFC finishing the wi-fi array. Charging and information switch are facilitated via USB-C ports, sure, 2 of them in truth. One USB 2.0 velocity on the backside and one other USB-C on the left aspect. There may be additionally a 5-pin accent connector for a separate AeroActive cooling module, not supplied with this unit sadly.

Huge 6000mAh battery powers the ROG Cellphone 5s via heavy use entire day like a champ. You possibly can simply get 2+ day battery with mild to medium utilization. Charging the monstrous 6000 mAh battery is completed with a 65W HyperCharge energy brick that may qualify as a correct brick, able to juicing up the telephone to full inside an hour.

Involved about charging temperature and longevity? Fear much less as a result of the battery is a dual-module design and cost in parallel 32W every as an alternative of entire 65W shoved via a single battery. For a extra granular battery care choices, Regular Charging right down to 18W plus Cost Restrict possibility right down to 80% most is offered for higher battery well being.

Digital camera

The digicam system of ROG Cellphone 5s is respectable. Triple-cam array of 64MP primary, 13MP ultra-wide and 5MP macro plus a 24 MP selfie shooter, carry out their job adequately. I took some pattern pictures at evening time with regular mode (left) and evening mode (proper), and the picture processing for evening mode does make picture pop with extra depth and distinction. Splotches of dust and moss on the partitions are extra seen, with sharper trying edges and the lights not overexposed.

The addition of gyro-EIS for video mode makes fast work of getting clean footage. Nonetheless, from my stint with the cameras, high picture high quality is just not a brilliant high-priority right here. For my function, the digicam system is nice however for these searching for high-quality AI computational images a’la Pixel and iPhones could need to search Pixel and iPhones as an alternative.

Efficiency

ROG Cellphone 5s is powered by previous-gen top-of-the-line Snapdragon 888+ SoC from Qualcomm. That’s the solely improve the ROG Cellphone 5s lineup has in comparison with the 5, and thus minor efficiency bump. Wholesome mixtures of 8GB to 16GB of RAM plus 128 GB as much as 256 GB of ROM ensures a less-than-worrying efficiency and storage. The storage nonetheless can’t be expanded so that you’re caught with no matter SKU you purchase.

I’ll be sincere right here, speaking efficiency of a gaming telephone is boring. Everybody know Snapdragon 888+ is a succesful SoC, simply throw something and it’ll run like butter. Sure, that is final gen and barely inferior towards the present flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 nevertheless it nonetheless holds the fort.

I examined high-spec video games like Genshin Impression, Apex Legends Cellular, Name of Obligation Cellular and so on and I can confidently throw mid to excessive settings and get respectable framerates. In fact, these AAA high quality video games nonetheless tax the SoC at max settings and requires a number of settings turned right down to get 30-60 fps however not numerous compromise wanted. Additionally, being a top-spec SoC means ROG Cellphone 5s is able to high-spec gaming for extra years down the road

In brief, the ROG Cellphone 5s is a flagship in gaming functionality. So do any telephones with an 888+ chip. What makes the ROG Cellphone 5s a “gaming telephone” are the particular sauces ASUS baked in for nice gaming expertise.

~The Particular Sauce~

Audio

The characteristic that takes the cake for me is the GameFX audio system. The stereo entrance audio system are, how do I say this, PERFECT. Sure, good. In all probability one THE finest audio system on a telephone, I daresay even higher than most laptop computer audio system bar the Apple Macbooks. I don’t know the way the engineers did it however boy these tiny telephone audio system can sing. Stable bass, good mids and highs, and nice soundstage, positioning and layering.

Blasting music from ROG Cellphone 5s is a deal with, I not often used my IEMs and headphones with this as a result of the audio system are THAT good. Jazz beats from my favourite band EGO WRAPPIN’, 80s metropolis pops with some slew of Japanese pop and hiphop are a pleasure to hearken to. Motion pictures are additionally fairly immersive with these glorious audio system. Kudos throughout for these wonderful audio system.

There may be additionally a 3.5mm headphone jack! Sure, a flagship 888+ telephone with a 3.5mm port, I’m not joking. To achieve all these audio greatness, ASUS generously geared up the telephone with Sabre ESS and Cirrus Logic DACs and high quality amps for hi-fi grade audio and likewise partnered with Dirac for AudioWizard audio-tuning. You possibly can decide between Music, Sport or Cinema preset and get completely different sound stage and frequency tuning. There may be additionally an equalizer for extra granular adjustment. As for me, I desire to let inventory settings on my audio.

In brief, ASUS pulls no punches with regards to audio grunt of the ROG Cellphone 5s at which I respect significantly as an audio fanatic. Video games, motion pictures, music, all a deal with via the audio system.

Sport Genie and Further Inputs

ASUS preinstalled sport supervisor Sport Genie is a good companion instrument for gaming expertise. A number of the instruments out there embody X-Mode activation, system monitoring, display screen recording shortcut, notification suppress mode and even crosshair overlay.

My favourite characteristic is Bypass Charging. Because the identify describes, it should bypass battery charging and straight energy the system when activated. The excessive temperature and fixed charge-discharge cycle of plugging in throughout gaming is detrimental to battery well being and this bypass characteristic is the perfect treatment I’ve seen. Nevertheless it’s solely out there when Sport Genie is energetic however excellent news is you may add any non-game apps to Sport Genie and you’ll get pleasure from this characteristic each time the app is launched.

Sport Genie additionally allows extra enter via the ultrasonic Air Set off and movement controls. These inputs are mappable to any motion out there on display screen akin to purpose & fireplace in FPSs, and speed up and enhance in arcade racing video games. I attempted all of them and genuinely impressed on the usability and improves my gaming expertise. The Air Triggers are additionally usable outdoors of video games as Grip Press or squeeze gestures for launching digicam and so on, customizable in settings.

GameCool

ASUS redesigned the cooling for ROG Cellphone 5 and 5s collection. Because of the dual-battery format, the CPU is situated middle chassis now underneath vapour chamber heatsink. Making the most of this re-location, paired with the AeroActive Cooler module, helps dissipate CPU warmth higher plus the centered CPU additionally helps in gaming consolation as your palms will much less prone to contact the recent center floor.

Even with out the AeroActive cooler, the chipset stays cool as might be seen from the sport screenshots. Sub-50 diploma Celcius common simply achievable with the wonderful vapour chamber cooling. Word that as a result of the cooler may be very efficient, the CPU space can get uncomfortably sizzling however that’s the mark of a great cooling system.

Gripes and Complains

That is on no account an ideal telephone. Loads of annoyances I discovered. No expandable storage so caught with inside or go cloud storage. The rubber flap cowl for aspect USB-C and steel contact is flimsy and never hooked up to the chassis. They do present spares however not precisely supreme answer that one can simply lose the duvet within the first place.

Optical fingerprint sensor is barely annoying as it’s sluggish and registers round 70% of the time. Additionally the skinny bezels and curved glass edge makes contact interplay wonky at instances as a result of I unknowing was touching the display screen edge too.

VoLTE/VoWiFi is supported however my service nonetheless hasn’t supported the ROG Cellphone 5s, so not this system’s fault, and which will change in close to future. Test together with your service for VoLTE/VoWiFi assist for those who require that characteristic.

Private Enjoyment and Verdict

Personally, I had a good time with ROG Cellphone 5s. Gaming is a breeze with the Snapdragon 888+ and peak efficiency might be assured for some years. The audio system blew me away with how good it’s, saying that I virtually shed tears is just not a hyperbole. In fact the additional pizzaz from Sport Genie and the auxiliary inputs makes gaming that rather more streamlined.

ASUS nails it once more with their newest system worthy of “gaming telephone” moniker. With RRP ranging from RM2999, the mixture of flagship specs and the particular sauces for optimum gaming enjoyment makes ASUS ROG Cellphone 5s definitely worth the worth.

ASUS ROG Cellphone 5s overview unit generously supplied by ASUS.