Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate vs ROG Phone 3: The Ultimate Gaming Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The ROG Phone 5 Ultimate offers a significant upgrade with its Snapdragon 888 chipset, faster charging, and improved display. However, the ROG Phone 3 remains a compelling option, especially for those prioritizing exceptional battery life and a slightly more affordable price point. The 5 Ultimate is the clear performance winner.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate | Asus ROG Phone 3 |
| 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 - A version |
| 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 - A version |
| 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, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - A version |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 1400/150 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DL | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G 4.4 Gbps DL |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 10 | 2020, July 22. Released 2020, July 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, June 07 | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), 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) | 171 x 78 x 9.9 mm (6.73 x 3.07 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 238 g (8.40 oz) | 240 g (8.47 oz) |
| Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) Touch sensor; ROG Vision monochrome PMOLED display (on the back) | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~391 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.59 inches, 106.6 cm2 (~79.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 650 nits (typ) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.10 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G+ (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, ROG UI | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, ROG UI |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 512GB 18GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| 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@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Panorama, HDR | Panorama, HDR |
| Single | 24 MP, f/2.5, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm | 24 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with DTS:X stereo speakers (2 dedicated amplifiers) | Yes, with DTS:X stereo speakers (2 dedicated amplifiers) |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.1, 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, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| 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/6, 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 | 30W wired, PD3.0, QC4 10W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 6000 mAh | Li-Po 6000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Matte White | Black Glare |
| Models | ZS673KS, ZS673KS-1B063IN, I005DC | ASUS_I003D, ZS661KS, I003DD, I003D |
| Price | About 1300 EUR | About 650 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.74 W/kg (head) 1.50 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 120h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -23.1 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 621932 (v8) GeekBench: 13306 (v4.4), 3386 (v5.1) GFXBench: 48fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate
- Significantly faster performance (Snapdragon 888)
- Faster 65W charging
- Brighter and higher refresh rate display
- Improved camera (likely)
- Reverse wired charging
- Potentially higher price
- May run slightly warmer under sustained load
Asus ROG Phone 3
- Exceptional battery life (120h endurance rating)
- More affordable price
- Excellent contrast ratio display
- Proven reliability
- Slower 30W charging
- Older chipset (Snapdragon 865+)
- Less vibrant display compared to 5 Ultimate
Display Comparison
The ROG Phone 5 Ultimate boasts a brighter display (up to 144Hz refresh rate, likely exceeding 719 nits) compared to the ROG Phone 3's 719 nits. While the ROG Phone 3's contrast ratio was theoretically infinite, the 5 Ultimate's improved color accuracy and higher refresh rate provide a more immersive gaming experience. The 5 Ultimate also likely has better HDR support.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer capable camera systems, the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate likely features improvements in image processing and low-light performance. The ROG Phone 3's camera was decent, but the 5 Ultimate's advancements are noticeable. Specific sensor details are needed for a more precise comparison.
Performance
The Snapdragon 888 in the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate is a substantial leap over the Snapdragon 865+ in the ROG Phone 3. Expect significantly faster processing speeds, smoother gameplay, and better handling of demanding games. The 5 Ultimate's 5nm process also contributes to improved power efficiency despite the increased performance.
Battery Life
Both phones offer excellent battery life, with the ROG Phone 3 historically known for its exceptional endurance (120h rating). The ROG Phone 5 Ultimate, despite its more powerful chipset, maintains impressive battery life thanks to optimizations and a similarly sized battery. The 5 Ultimate's 65W charging is significantly faster than the ROG Phone 3's 30W, allowing for quicker top-ups.
Buying Guide
The Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate is ideal for hardcore gamers who demand the absolute best performance, fastest charging, and a vibrant display. The ROG Phone 3 is a great choice for gamers on a budget who still want a powerful device with incredible battery endurance and a premium gaming experience.