Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate vs ROG Phone 7 Ultimate: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Battle

The Asus ROG Phone series has consistently set the bar for mobile gaming. But with the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate arriving, is it a worthy upgrade over the already impressive ROG Phone 5 Ultimate? We're diving deep into a head-to-head comparison to help you decide which phone deserves your hard-earned cash.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate offers a significant performance boost thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, a brighter display, and faster charging. While the 5 Ultimate remains a capable device, the 7 Ultimate is the clear winner for serious mobile gamers seeking the absolute best.

PHONES
Phone Names Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate 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, June 07Available. 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 monochrome 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 18GB 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
ColorsMatte WhiteStorm White
ModelsZS673KS, ZS673KS-1B063IN, I005DC-
PriceAbout 1300 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 Ultimate

  • Excellent performance for its time
  • Fast 65W charging
  • Good cooling system
  • Gaming-centric features

  • Older chipset compared to the 7
  • Likely lower display brightness
  • Camera not a priority

Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate

  • Cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
  • Brighter and higher contrast display
  • Faster charging
  • Improved performance

  • Higher price point
  • Camera still not a primary focus

Display Comparison

The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1095 nits compared to the 5 Ultimate's likely lower peak brightness (spec not provided, but generally lower). The 7 also touts an 'infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting deeper blacks and improved image quality. Both phones feature high refresh rate AMOLED panels, ensuring smooth visuals, but the 7's improvements are noticeable.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer capable camera systems, detailed camera specifications are missing for the 5 Ultimate. The ROG Phone series has never prioritized camera quality over gaming performance, so don't expect flagship-level photography from either device. However, the 7 Ultimate's newer image processing capabilities likely provide slightly better results.

Performance

This is where the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate truly shines. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a substantial upgrade over the Snapdragon 888, offering significantly improved CPU and GPU performance. Expect smoother gameplay, faster load times, and better multitasking on the 7 Ultimate. The 7's Cortex-X3 core also contributes to faster single-core performance.

Battery Life

Both phones share the same endurance rating of 131h, suggesting comparable battery life under typical usage. The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate does charge slightly faster, completing a full charge in 42 minutes compared to the 5 Ultimate's 52 minutes. Both support 65W wired charging and 10W reverse wired charging.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate? 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 highest performance, a superior display, and the latest technology.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate worth the upgrade from the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate?
If you're a serious mobile gamer and want the absolute best performance and display, then yes. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and brighter screen make a noticeable difference. However, if you're happy with the 5's performance, the upgrade might not be essential.
❓ What is the difference between the Snapdragon 888 and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 offers significantly improved CPU and GPU performance, better power efficiency, and enhanced AI capabilities compared to the Snapdragon 888. It's a generational leap in mobile processing power.