Asus ROG Phone 5 Pro vs. Ultimate: The Ultimate Gaming Showdown

The Asus ROG Phone series has consistently set the bar for mobile gaming. The ROG Phone 5 Pro and 5 Ultimate are two of their most powerful offerings, but what sets them apart? This comprehensive comparison will help you decide which phone is the best fit for your gaming needs and budget.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The ROG Phone 5 Ultimate offers a slightly superior experience thanks to its under-display camera and improved display tech. However, the Pro is a fantastic value, delivering almost identical performance at a lower price point. If budget is a concern, the Pro is the clear winner; otherwise, the Ultimate justifies its premium.

PHONES
Phone Names	Asus ROG Phone 5 Pro	Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71
5G bands	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 1400/150 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DL	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 1400/150 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DL
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G

Launch
Announced	2021, March 10	2021, March 10
Status	Available. Released 2021, July 02	Available. Released 2021, June 07

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame
Dimensions	172.8 x 77.3 x 10.3 mm (6.80 x 3.04 x 0.41 in)	172.8 x 77.3 x 10.3 mm (6.80 x 3.04 x 0.41 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	238 g (8.40 oz)	238 g (8.40 oz)
	Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) Touch sensor; ROG Vision color PMOLED display (on the back)	Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) Touch sensor; ROG Vision monochrome PMOLED display (on the back)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution	1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density)	1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density)
Size	6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio)	6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak)	AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPU	Adreno 660	Adreno 660
OS	Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, ROG UI	Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, ROG UI

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	512GB 16GB RAM	512GB 18GB RAM
	UFS 3.1	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple	64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm, 125˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)	64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm, 125˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)
Video	8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS	8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	Panorama, HDR	Panorama, HDR
Single	24 MP, f/2.5, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm	24 MP, f/2.5, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes, with DTS:X stereo speakers (2 dedicated amplifiers)	Yes, with DTS:X stereo speakers (2 dedicated amplifiers)
	24-bit/192kHz audio	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector	USB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 70% in 30 min, 100% in 52 min 10W reverse wired	65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 70% in 30 min, 100% in 52 min 10W reverse wired
Type	Li-Po 6000 mAh	Li-Po 6000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Glossy Black	Matte White
Models	ZS673KS, ZS673KS-1A079IN	ZS673KS, ZS673KS-1B063IN, I005DC
Price	About 680 EUR	About 1300 EUR

Asus ROG Phone 5 Pro

Excellent performance
65W fast charging
Large 6000mAh battery
Aggressive gaming design
144Hz display

Under-display camera absent
Design can be polarizing
Software bloat (some features may be unnecessary)

Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate

Under-display camera for immersive viewing
Excellent performance
65W fast charging
Large 6000mAh battery
Aggressive gaming design
144Hz display
Slightly improved display calibration

Higher price
Design can be polarizing
Software bloat (some features may be unnecessary)

Display Comparison

The ROG Phone 5 Ultimate boasts a 16.7 million color-accurate display with a slightly higher peak brightness and a more refined color calibration. The under-display camera is a key differentiator, offering a truly uninterrupted viewing experience. The Pro has a very similar display, but lacks the under-display camera and the Ultimate's slightly enhanced color accuracy. Both have a 144Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time, ensuring smooth gameplay.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer a triple-camera system (64MP main, 13MP ultrawide, 5MP macro), the Ultimate's under-display camera implementation allows for a slightly cleaner design. Image quality is largely consistent between the two, with both producing detailed and vibrant photos. Video recording capabilities are also comparable.

Performance

Both phones share the same Snapdragon 888 chipset and ample RAM (12GB/16GB), guaranteeing blistering-fast performance in any game. Thermal management is excellent on both, preventing throttling even during extended gaming sessions. Differences in real-world performance are negligible.

Battery Life

Both devices feature a 6000mAh battery and 65W fast charging, providing all-day battery life and rapid replenishment. Charging times are nearly identical (around 52 minutes to 100%).

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Asus ROG Phone 5 Pro? Gamers on a budget who want top-tier performance and a feature-rich experience. Who should buy the Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate? Enthusiasts who demand the absolute best display technology and a truly immersive, bezel-less experience, and are willing to pay a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the under-display camera on the Ultimate worth it?

It's a matter of preference. It provides a truly bezel-less experience, but the camera quality is slightly compromised compared to a traditional camera cutout. Most users won't notice a significant difference in everyday use.

❓ Are the performance differences between the Pro and Ultimate noticeable?

No, both phones offer virtually identical performance thanks to the same chipset and RAM configuration. You won't experience any noticeable lag or slowdowns on either device.