Asus ROG Phone 5 Pro vs ROG Phone 7 Ultimate: The Ultimate Showdown

The Asus ROG Phone series has consistently set the bar for gaming smartphones. But with the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate arriving, is it a worthy upgrade over the still-powerful ROG Phone 5 Pro? We're diving deep into a head-to-head comparison to help you decide.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate offers a significant leap in performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and a brighter display. While the 5 Pro remains a capable device, the 7 Ultimate's improvements in speed, display, and camera make it the clear winner for serious mobile gamers, justifying the price difference.

PHONES
Phone Names Asus ROG Phone 5 Pro Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 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, 711, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66 - International
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 1400/150 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DLHSPA, LTE (Up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - China
Launch
Announced2021, March 102023, April 13
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, July 02Available. Released 2023, May
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame
Dimensions172.8 x 77.3 x 10.3 mm (6.80 x 3.04 x 0.41 in)173 x 77 x 10.3 mm (6.81 x 3.03 x 0.41 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight238 g (8.40 oz)239 g (8.43 oz)
 Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) Touch sensor; ROG Vision color PMOLED display (on the back)Built-in motorized cooling air vent (AeroActive Portal) IP54 water resistant 2" OLED display (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak)AMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 740
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 13, ROG UIAndroid 13, up to 2 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 16GB RAM512GB 16GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 4.0 NTFS support for external storage
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm, 125˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesPanorama, HDRPanorama, HDR
Single24 MP, f/2.5, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm32 MP, f/2.5, 29mm (wide), 1/3.2", 0.7µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with DTS:X stereo speakers (2 dedicated amplifiers)Yes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers)
 24-bit/192kHz audio32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (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)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connectorUSB Type-C 3.1 (side), DisplayPort 1.4; USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 70% in 30 min, 100% in 52 min 10W reverse wired65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 42 min 10W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 6000 mAhLi-Po 6000 mAh
Misc
ColorsGlossy BlackStorm White
ModelsZS673KS, ZS673KS-1A079IN-
PriceAbout 680 EURAbout 780 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 131h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.5 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 1325105 (v9) GeekBench: 5139 (v5.5), 5567 (v6) GFXBench: 107fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Asus ROG Phone 5 Pro

  • Excellent performance for its price
  • Fast 65W charging
  • Good display
  • Solid build quality
  • Reverse wired charging

  • Older chipset
  • Camera not as impressive as competitors
  • Design can be polarizing

Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate

  • Cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
  • Brighter and higher contrast display
  • Improved camera performance
  • Excellent gaming features
  • Fast charging

  • Higher price
  • Design may not appeal to everyone
  • Large size and weight

Display Comparison

The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate boasts a substantial upgrade in display brightness, reaching a measured 1095 nits compared to the 5 Pro's likely lower peak brightness (estimated around 800 nits). The infinite contrast ratio on the 7 Ultimate also suggests deeper blacks and better overall image quality. Both phones feature high refresh rate AMOLED panels, ensuring smooth gameplay, but the 7 Ultimate's superior brightness makes it the clear winner, especially for outdoor use.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer capable camera systems, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is expected to have improvements in image processing and low-light performance. The 5 Pro's camera was decent but not a primary selling point. The 7 Ultimate's camera improvements are likely to be more noticeable in video recording as well. Specific camera specs are missing, but the newer chipset generally allows for better computational photography.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is a generational leap over the Snapdragon 888 in the 5 Pro. Expect significantly faster processing speeds, improved graphics performance, and better power efficiency. The Cortex-X3 core in the 8 Gen 2 provides a substantial boost in single-core performance, while the updated architecture enhances multi-core capabilities. The 7 Ultimate will handle demanding games and multitasking with ease, while the 5 Pro, though still capable, will show its age in more intensive scenarios.

Battery Life

Both phones share the same battery capacity and charging speeds (65W wired, 10W reverse wired). The endurance rating of 131h suggests similar battery life in typical usage. However, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2's improved power efficiency in the 7 Ultimate might translate to slightly better real-world battery performance despite the increased processing power.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Asus ROG Phone 5 Pro? Gamers on a tighter budget who still want a powerful and feature-rich gaming experience. Who should buy the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate? Dedicated mobile gamers who demand the absolute best performance, a stunning display, and improved camera capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate worth the upgrade from the ROG Phone 5 Pro?
If you're a serious mobile gamer who wants the best possible performance and a superior display, then yes. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and display improvements are significant. However, if you're happy with your 5 Pro's performance, the upgrade might not be essential.
❓ What is the difference between the ROG Phone 7 and the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate?
The Ultimate variant typically includes additional features like an under-display fingerprint sensor, improved cooling, and potentially exclusive software features. The standard ROG Phone 7 might have a slightly different design or fewer features to keep the price more competitive.