Asus ROG Phone 5s vs ROG Phone 3: The Ultimate Gaming Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The ROG Phone 5s takes the crown thanks to its significantly faster Snapdragon 888+ chipset and much quicker 65W charging. While the ROG Phone 3 boasts impressive battery life and a stunning display, the 5s's raw power and charging speed make it the superior choice for serious gamers.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Asus ROG Phone 5s | 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 - Version 1 | 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 - Version 1 | 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 - Version 1 | 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 |
| 2, 3, 5, 7, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 4 | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, August 16 | 2020, July 22. Released 2020, July 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, August 26 | 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 9.9 mm (6.80 x 3.04 x 0.39 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) |
| RGB light panel (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) | - | |
| 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 (1x2.99 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 | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 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 stereo speakers (2 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 | Phantom Black, Storm White | Black Glare |
| Models | ZS676KS | ASUS_I003D, ZS661KS, I003DD, I003D |
| Price | About 1030 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 5s
- Significantly faster performance (Snapdragon 888+)
- Much faster 65W charging
- Improved CPU and GPU
- Likely better color accuracy and HDR
- Potentially slightly shorter battery life than ROG Phone 3
- Price may be higher
Asus ROG Phone 3
- Excellent battery life (120h endurance rating)
- Vibrant AMOLED display with high refresh rate
- Competitive price (potentially)
- Infinite contrast ratio (nominal)
- Slower charging (30W)
- Older chipset (Snapdragon 865+)
- Lower performance compared to ROG Phone 5s
Display Comparison
Both phones feature excellent AMOLED displays with high refresh rates (144Hz). The ROG Phone 3 measures a peak brightness of 719 nits, which is impressive. The ROG Phone 5s likely has improved color accuracy and potentially slightly better HDR performance, though specific measurements are needed for a definitive comparison. The ROG Phone 3's infinite contrast ratio is a nominal value, but indicates excellent blacks.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is generally comparable between the two. Both phones offer capable camera systems for their price range, but neither excels in this area compared to flagship phones from other brands. Expect decent photo and video quality in good lighting conditions, but low-light performance may be a weakness. Specific camera features and software optimizations likely differ, but the core hardware is similar.
Performance
This is where the ROG Phone 5s truly shines. The Snapdragon 888+ is a substantial upgrade over the Snapdragon 865+ in the ROG Phone 3. Expect noticeably faster app loading times, smoother gameplay, and better multitasking on the 5s. The 5s's improved CPU and GPU provide a significant edge in demanding games.
Battery Life
The ROG Phone 3 holds a slight advantage in battery endurance, boasting an impressive 120-hour rating. However, the ROG Phone 5s's 65W charging more than compensates for any potential difference in battery capacity. It can charge from 0 to 70% in just 30 minutes and 100% in 52 minutes, a significant improvement over the ROG Phone 3's 30W charging.
Buying Guide
The Asus ROG Phone 5s is ideal for gamers who prioritize performance and fast charging above all else. The ROG Phone 3 remains a compelling option for those seeking exceptional battery life and a vibrant display, especially at a potentially lower price point.