Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate review: A gaming beast with a hidden trick

The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate runs on Android 13 with Asus‘ ROG UI on top. The software is designed to enhance the gaming experience and offer a lot of customization options. You can choose between different themes, icons, wallpapers and animations to suit your style. You can also tweak the display settings, such as color temperature, saturation and refresh rate.

The most important software feature for gamers is the Armoury Crate app, which is a hub for all your games and performance settings. You can launch any game from the app and access various options, such as X Mode, Game Genie and Scenario Profiles. X Mode is a performance mode that boosts the CPU and GPU frequencies and optimizes the memory and network for gaming. Game Genie is a toolbar that lets you access shortcuts and tools while playing, such as screen recording, macros, crosshair and air triggers. Scenario Profiles let you create custom profiles for each game, where you can adjust the performance, display, network and audio settings.

The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate also has some new software features that make it stand out from other gaming phones. One of them is Background mode, which lets you run any game in the background while using other apps on the phone. For example, you can set up an automatic task in a game, such as farming resources or leveling up your character, and then switch to another app without pausing or closing the game. The game will continue to run in the background and notify you when the task is done.

Another new feature is HyperFusion, which lets you use both Wi-Fi and mobile data simultaneously for better network stability and speed. This can be useful when you’re playing online games that require low latency and high bandwidth. You can also prioritize which apps use which network type in the settings.

The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which is one of the most powerful processors available for smartphones in 2023. It has an octa-core CPU with one Cortex-X3 core clocked at 3.2GHz, two Cortex-A715 cores clocked at 2.8GHz, two Cortex-A710 cores clocked at 2.8GHz and three Cortex-A510 cores clocked at 2GHz. It also has an Adreno 740 GPU that supports up to 144Hz refresh rate on external displays.

The phone also has 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, which are both faster than the previous generation of memory and storage technologies. The phone also supports NTFS format for external storage devices via USB-C.

The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate delivers outstanding performance in both synthetic benchmarks and real-world gaming. It scored higher than any other Android phone we’ve tested on AnTuTu, Geekbench and GFXBench benchmarks. It also ran smoothly on demanding games like PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile and Genshin Impact at high graphics settings and frame rates.

The phone’s performance is also enhanced by its cooling system, which consists of a vapor chamber, graphite sheets and copper heat pipes inside the phone, and an external fan that attaches to the back via the AeroActive Portal. The fan has two modes: Quiet mode and Performance mode. Quiet mode keeps the fan noise low while still providing some cooling effect. Performance mode ramps up the fan speed to maximum while also boosting the CPU and GPU frequencies.

The fan also has RGB lighting that can be customized in the Armoury Crate app. You can choose from different effects, colors and patterns to match your mood or game theme. The fan also has two extra physical buttons on its side that can be used as triggers for gaming.

The cooling system does a great job of keeping the phone’s temperature under control during gaming sessions. We measured an average temperature of 36 degrees Celsius on the front and 38 degrees Celsius on the back after playing PUBG Mobile for an hour with X Mode and Performance mode enabled. Without the fan attached, the temperature rose to 40 degrees Celsius on both sides.

The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate has some of the best audio quality and speakers on any smartphone. It has a 3.5mm headphone jack that supports Hi-Res Audio and DTS:X Ultra for immersive sound effects. It also has a quad-microphone system with noise cancellation and OZO Audio for clear voice recording and calls.

The phone also has dual front-facing stereo speakers with two amplifiers and Dirac HD Sound tuning. The speakers are loud, clear and balanced, with rich bass and crisp treble. They can also adapt to different scenarios, such as gaming, music and movies, and enhance the sound quality accordingly.

The phone also supports Bluetooth 5.2 and aptX Adaptive for wireless audio streaming. You can connect up to two Bluetooth devices at the same time and switch between them easily. You can also use the ROG Cetra II Core earphones that come with the phone, which have active noise cancellation and RGB lighting.

The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate has a rather basic camera setup compared to other flagship phones in 2023. It has a triple camera system on the back, consisting of a 50MP main camera with an f/1.9 aperture and phase-detection autofocus, a 13MP ultra-wide camera with an f/2.2 aperture and a 120-degree field of view, and an 8MP macro camera with an f/2.0 aperture and autofocus.

The main camera can take decent photos in good lighting conditions, with accurate colors, sharp details and good dynamic range. However, it struggles in low-light situations, producing noisy and blurry images. The night mode helps a bit, but it’s not very effective or consistent.

The ultra-wide camera can capture more of the scene, but it also suffers from distortion, softness and chromatic aberration around the edges. The macro camera can get close to small objects, but it also lacks detail and clarity.

The phone can record videos up to 8K resolution at 24fps or 4K resolution at 30/60fps with the main camera. It can also record videos up to 1080p resolution at 30/60/120/240fps or 720p resolution at 480fps with the ultra-wide camera. The video quality is decent, but not very impressive. The phone supports gyro-EIS and HDR10+ for video stabilization and dynamic range enhancement.

The phone also has a 32MP selfie camera on the front, which can take good selfies in daylight, but not so much in low-light. It can also record videos up to 1080p resolution at 30fps.

The phone’s camera app is simple and easy to use, with modes such as photo, video, portrait, panorama, pro and slow motion. You can also access some extra features such as motion tracking, time lapse, GIF animation and AR stickers.

The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is designed for gaming enthusiasts who want the best gaming experience possible on a smartphone. It has many features and accessories that enhance its gaming capabilities and make it stand out from other phones.

One of the most important features is the AirTriggers – two ultrasonic buttons on the right side of the phone that can be used as shoulder triggers for gaming. They are very responsive and customizable, allowing you to adjust their sensitivity, position and function. You can assign different actions to them, such as tapping, sliding or swiping. You can also split them into two parts each, creating four virtual buttons on the screen.

Another feature is the side port – a USB-C port on the left side of the phone that can be used for charging or connecting accessories while gaming in landscape mode. This way, you don’t have to worry about the cable getting in your way or blocking your grip. The side port also supports DisplayPort Alt Mode, which means you can connect the phone to an external monitor or TV via a USB-C to HDMI adapter.

One of the accessories that uses the side port is the AeroActive Cooler 7 – a fan that attaches to the back of the phone via magnets and provides active cooling for the phone’s internal components. The fan has two modes: Quiet mode and Performance mode. Quiet mode keeps the fan noise low while still providing some cooling effect. Performance mode ramps up the fan speed to maximum while also boosting the CPU and GPU frequencies.

The fan also has RGB lighting that can be customized in the Armoury Crate app. You can choose from different effects, colors and patterns to match your mood or game theme. The fan also has two extra physical buttons on its side that can be used as triggers for gaming.

Another accessory that uses the side port is the Kunai Gamepad – a controller that can be attached to the phone or used wirelessly. The gamepad has two parts: a left and a right controller, each with a joystick, a trigger, a bumper and four buttons. You can attach them to the phone via a bumper case or use them separately with a grip handle. The gamepad connects to the phone via Bluetooth and supports various games that have controller support.

Other accessories that are compatible with the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate include the ROG Clip, which lets you attach the phone to an Xbox or PlayStation controller; the ROG Lighting Armor Case, which adds extra protection and RGB lighting to the phone; the ROG Professional Dock, which adds extra ports such as HDMI, USB-A and Ethernet to the phone; and the ROG TwinView Dock 7, which adds a second 6.78-inch AMOLED display to the phone for dual-screen gaming.

The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is not the only gaming phone on the market, but it is one of the most expensive and feature-packed ones. If you are looking for alternatives, you might want to consider the following options:

• The ZTE Nubia Red Magic 8 Pro is another gaming phone that has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and active cooling with a built-in fan. It also has a higher resolution display than the ROG Phone, but one that is 120Hz instead of 165Hz and lacks HDR certification. It also has pressure-sensitive side triggers, stereo speakers and a 3.5mm jack, a large 6,000 mAh battery and a similar camera setup to the Asus. The Red Magic 8 Pro+ is even more similar to the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate, as it has RGB lighting on the fan and a see-through back panel.
• The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is not a gaming phone per se, but it is one of the most well-rounded Android phones on the market. It has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset, which is a beefed-up version of the regular chip. It also has a stunning 120Hz QHD+ HDR10+ LTPO Dynamic AMOLED display that can adjust its refresh rate dynamically. It also has an IP68 water-resistant body with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both sides and one of the best and most versatile camera setups available. It also has a slightly smaller 5,000 mAh battery that still offers great battery life.

The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is an impressive device that offers unparalleled performance and cooling for gaming enthusiasts who want the best of the best. It has many features and accessories that enhance its gaming capabilities and make it stand out from other phones. However, it also has some drawbacks that might make it less appealing for non-gamers or casual gamers. Here are some of its pros and cons:

Pros:

• Striking design with futuristic elements
• Lots of custom options for display, performance and audio
• AeroActive Portal opening for direct cooling
• Loud and clear stereo speakers
• Bright and smooth AMOLED display
• AirTriggers for console-like control
• Powerful gaming experience like no other
• Monster 6000 mAh battery with fast charging

Cons:

• Tall and heavy
• Photos lack detail and low-light performance
• No wireless charging
• No water resistance
• High price tag

The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is a gaming phone that doesn’t change very much about its look, but makes considerable leaps ahead when it comes to its internals and software. It has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a 2-inch OLED display on the back, a hidden door for cooling and many other features and accessories that make it a gaming beast. However, it also sacrifices some aspects that are important for non-gamers or casual gamers, such as camera quality, wireless charging and water resistance. It also costs a lot of money, which might be hard to justify for most people.

If you are a hardcore gamer who wants the ultimate performance and cooling on a smartphone, and you don’t mind the trade-offs and the price tag, then the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate might be the perfect phone for you. But if you are looking for a more balanced and versatile phone that can handle gaming as well as other tasks, then you might want to look elsewhere.