Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate vs ROG Phone 5s: The Ultimate Showdown

The Asus ROG Phone series has consistently set the bar for mobile gaming. The ROG Phone 5 Ultimate and 5s are two of their top contenders, offering incredible power and features. But which one is truly the better choice for serious gamers? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The ROG Phone 5s edges out the Ultimate thanks to its slightly faster Snapdragon 888+ chipset, resulting in marginally improved performance. Both offer exceptional gaming experiences, but the 5s's small performance boost and potentially lower price make it the slightly better value for most.

PHONES
Phone Names	Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate	Asus ROG Phone 5s

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 - Version 1
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 - Version 1
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 - Version 1
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
	-	2, 3, 5, 7, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 4

Launch
Announced	2021, March 10	2021, August 16
Status	Available. Released 2021, June 07	Available. Released 2021, August 26

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 9.9 mm (6.80 x 3.04 x 0.39 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 monochrome PMOLED display (on the back)	RGB light panel (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers)

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 (1x2.99 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 18GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 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 stereo speakers (2 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	Matte White	Phantom Black, Storm White
Models	ZS673KS, ZS673KS-1B063IN, I005DC	ZS676KS
Price	About 1300 EUR	About 1030 EUR

Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate

Included ROG Kunai 3 AirTriggers
Excellent cooling system
6000mAh battery
Fast 65W charging

Potentially higher price
Slightly less powerful chipset than 5s

Asus ROG Phone 5s

Slightly faster Snapdragon 888+ chipset
Potentially lower price
Excellent cooling system
6000mAh battery
Fast 65W charging

No included AirTriggers (sold separately)
Camera performance is comparable to Ultimate

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support. The resolution is 2400 x 1080. While both are excellent, the 5s might have slightly improved color accuracy due to software optimizations, but the difference is minimal. The Ultimate's display is virtually identical.

Camera Comparison

Both devices feature a triple-camera system: a 64MP main sensor, a 13MP ultrawide, and a 5MP macro lens. Image quality is generally comparable, with good detail and dynamic range. Low-light performance is decent but not exceptional. The 5s might have slightly improved image processing algorithms, leading to marginally better results in certain scenarios, but the difference is subtle.

Performance

The key difference lies in the chipset. The ROG Phone 5 Ultimate uses the Snapdragon 888, while the 5s boasts the Snapdragon 888+. The 888+ offers a modest performance increase (around 5-10%) in CPU and GPU tasks, translating to slightly smoother gameplay in demanding titles and faster app loading times. However, both phones are incredibly powerful and handle any mobile game with ease.

Battery Life

Both phones have a 6000mAh battery and support 65W fast charging (charging to 70% in 30 minutes, 100% in 52 minutes). Battery life is excellent on both, easily lasting a full day of heavy gaming. The 10W reverse wired charging is a useful feature for topping up accessories.

Buying Guide

The Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate is ideal for those who demand the absolute best, potentially prioritizing features like the included ROG Kunai 3 AirTriggers. The ROG Phone 5s is a fantastic choice for gamers seeking top-tier performance at a potentially more accessible price point, offering a very similar experience with a slight performance advantage.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 888+ in the ROG Phone 5s a significant upgrade?

It's a modest upgrade, offering around 5-10% better performance. It's noticeable in demanding games but not a game-changer for most users.

❓ Do I need the ROG Kunai 3 AirTriggers?

They're a nice addition for competitive gamers, providing customizable shoulder buttons. However, they're not essential, and you can purchase them separately.