Asus ROG Phone 5 vs. Realme GT 5G: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers prioritizing endurance and a dedicated gaming experience, the Asus ROG Phone 5 is the clear winner. Its superior battery life (110h endurance vs 98h) and gaming-centric features outweigh the Realme GT 5G’s slightly faster charging. However, for users seeking a powerful all-rounder at a potentially lower price, the Realme GT 5G remains a compelling option.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Asus ROG Phone 5 | Realme GT 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 - Version 1 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 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 - Version 1 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 1 | 1, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 1400/150 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DL | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 2, Version 3 | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 10 | 2021, March 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, April 26 | Available. Released 2021, March 10 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame | Glass front, glass back or eco leather back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 172.8 x 77.3 x 10.3 mm (6.80 x 3.04 x 0.41 in) | 158.5 x 73.3 x 8.4 mm (Glass) / 9.1 mm (Leather) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 238 g (8.40 oz) | 186 g (6.56 oz) |
| RGB light panel (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| 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 14, Realme UI 5.0 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone 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 8 MP, f/2.3, 16mm, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Panorama, HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 24 MP, f/2.5, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm | 16 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm |
| 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 |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| 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 2.0, OTG |
| 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 | 65W wired, 100% in 35 min |
| Type | Li-Po 6000 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Phantom Black, Storm White | Gold/Black, Blue, Silver |
| Models | ZS673KS, ZS673KS-1B048IN, ASUS_I005DB, ASUS_I005DA, I005DA, I005DB | RMX2202 |
| Price | About 370 EUR | About 330 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 110h | Endurance rating 98h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -24.0 LUFS (Very good) | -24.5 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 718864 (v8) GeekBench: 14536 (v4.4), 3745 (v5.1) GFXBench: 72fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 703986 (v8), 810433 (v9) GeekBench: 3555 (v5.1) GFXBench: 55fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Asus ROG Phone 5
- Superior battery life (110h endurance)
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility (806 nits)
- Likely better thermal management for sustained gaming
- Slower charging time (52 minutes to 100%)
- Potentially bulkier design due to gaming features
Realme GT 5G
- Faster charging speed (35 minutes to 100%)
- Potentially more affordable price
- Sleeker, more conventional design
- Shorter battery life (98h endurance)
- Dimmer display (650 nits) may struggle in sunlight
Display Comparison
Both phones feature displays with an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, the Asus ROG Phone 5 boasts a significantly brighter panel at 806 nits measured, compared to the Realme GT 5G’s 650 nits. This translates to better visibility under direct sunlight. While both likely utilize high refresh rate panels (not explicitly stated, but standard for this segment), the ROG Phone 5’s higher peak brightness is a tangible advantage for outdoor use and HDR content consumption. The lack of LTPO technology on either device means refresh rate scaling isn't as power efficient as on newer flagships.
Camera Comparison
Both phones list 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details. Given the market positioning, the ROG Phone 5 likely prioritizes image quality and video stabilization for content creation during gaming streams. The Realme GT 5G, while capable, may lean towards a more social media-focused camera experience. Without sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. It's reasonable to assume both utilize a multi-camera setup, but the ROG Phone 5 might offer more advanced software features tailored to gamers.
Performance
Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) chipset, featuring the same CPU configuration: an octa-core setup with 1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. Therefore, raw CPU performance will be nearly identical. The key differentiator lies in thermal management. The ROG Phone 5, designed for sustained gaming, likely incorporates a more robust cooling solution, potentially mitigating thermal throttling during extended, demanding sessions. While RAM configuration isn't specified, the ROG Phone 5's gaming focus suggests a higher probability of faster LPDDR5 RAM, further enhancing performance.
Battery Life
The Asus ROG Phone 5’s endurance rating of 110 hours significantly surpasses the Realme GT 5G’s 98 hours. This difference is crucial for gamers who require extended playtime. While both support 65W wired charging, the ROG Phone 5 takes 52 minutes to reach 100%, while the Realme GT 5G achieves full charge in 35 minutes. This faster charging speed on the Realme GT 5G is a convenience, but the ROG Phone 5’s larger battery capacity provides a more substantial advantage in real-world usage. The inclusion of 10W reverse wired charging on both devices is a minor convenience feature.
Buying Guide
Buy the Asus ROG Phone 5 if you need maximum battery life for extended gaming sessions, prioritize a high-brightness display for outdoor visibility, and value gaming-specific features like AirTriggers. Buy the Realme GT 5G if you prefer a more streamlined design, faster charging speeds, and a potentially lower price point without sacrificing core performance capabilities.