Asus ROG Phone 5s 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 5s Pro? This comprehensive comparison dives deep into every aspect, from display and performance to camera and battery, to help you decide which phone deserves your money.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is the clear winner, offering a significant performance boost thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, a brighter and more vibrant display, and improved battery life. While the 5s Pro remains a capable device, the 7 Ultimate delivers a noticeably superior gaming experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Asus ROG Phone 5s 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, August 162023, April 13
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, August 24Available. 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 9.9 mm (6.80 x 3.04 x 0.39 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 (1x2.99 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 stereo speakers (2 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
ModelsZS676KS-
PriceAbout 2000 EURAbout 780 EUR
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 110h Endurance rating 131h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -24.0 LUFS (Very good) -25.5 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 743021 (v8), 844901 (v9) GeekBench: 14278 (v4.4), 3672 (v5.1) GFXBench: 58fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 1325105 (v9) GeekBench: 5139 (v5.5), 5567 (v6) GFXBench: 107fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Asus ROG Phone 5s Pro

  • Excellent performance for its price
  • Great battery life
  • Fast charging
  • High refresh rate display
  • Good cooling system

  • Camera could be better
  • Design is somewhat dated
  • Lacks some of the latest features

Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate

  • Blazing-fast performance (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
  • Brighter and more vibrant display
  • Improved battery efficiency
  • Sleek and modern design
  • Enhanced gaming features

  • Higher price
  • Camera still not a primary strength
  • Large size may not suit everyone

Display Comparison

The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate boasts a significant upgrade in display technology. Its 1095 nits peak brightness blows the 5s Pro's 840 nits out of the water, resulting in a much more visible screen even in direct sunlight. The 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) suggests deeper blacks and richer colors on the 7 Ultimate. Both phones feature excellent AMOLED panels with high refresh rates (likely 165Hz), but the 7 Ultimate's superior brightness and contrast provide a more immersive visual experience.

Camera Comparison

While neither ROG Phone is known for its camera prowess, the 7 Ultimate likely offers improvements. The 5s Pro's camera system is decent but not exceptional. The 7 Ultimate's camera system, while details are scarce, benefits from the newer Snapdragon chipset's image processing capabilities. Expect slightly better image quality, dynamic range, and low-light performance on the 7 Ultimate. Both phones likely offer similar video recording capabilities.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is a generational leap over the Snapdragon 888+ in the 5s Pro. Expect significantly faster processing speeds, improved graphics performance, and better power efficiency. This translates to smoother gameplay, quicker app loading times, and an overall more responsive user experience. The 7 Ultimate's newer CPU architecture (Cortex-X3) also contributes to its performance advantage.

Battery Life

Both phones offer excellent battery life, with endurance ratings of 131h and 110h respectively. However, the 7 Ultimate's more efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip likely contributes to its slightly longer endurance. Charging speeds are identical at 65W wired, with the 7 Ultimate charging slightly faster (42 min vs 52 min for 100%).

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Asus ROG Phone 5s Pro? Gamers on a tighter budget who still want a powerful and feature-rich gaming phone. It's a great value proposition. Who should buy the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate? Serious mobile gamers who demand the absolute best performance, a stunning display, and the latest features. It's the flagship choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate worth the upgrade from the ROG Phone 5s Pro?
If you're a serious mobile gamer and want the absolute best performance and display, then yes. The 7 Ultimate offers a significant upgrade. However, if you're happy with the 5s Pro's performance and want to save money, it's still a very capable device.
❓ What is the difference between the Snapdragon 888+ and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a newer and more powerful chip with improved CPU and GPU performance, better power efficiency, and enhanced AI capabilities compared to the Snapdragon 888+.