Asus ROG Phone 5s vs Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Battle

The gaming smartphone market is heating up, and two contenders are vying for the crown: the Asus ROG Phone 5s and the Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro. Both offer impressive specs and features aimed at mobile gamers, but which one truly delivers the best experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to find out.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Poco F5 Pro edges out the ROG Phone 5s thanks to its newer Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, brighter display, and wireless charging. While the ROG Phone 5s boasts faster wired charging and a more established gaming ecosystem, the F5 Pro offers a more compelling overall package for the price.

PHONES
Phone Names Asus ROG Phone 5s Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 - Version 1HSDPA 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, 71 - Version 11, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 11, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 1400/150 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DLHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 2, 3, 5, 7, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 4-
Launch
Announced2021, August 162023, May 09
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, August 26Available. Released 2023, May
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame
Dimensions172.8 x 77.3 x 9.9 mm (6.80 x 3.04 x 0.39 in)162.8 x 75.4 x 8.6 mm (6.41 x 2.97 x 0.34 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight238 g (8.40 oz)204 g (7.20 oz)
 RGB light panel (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers)IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~526 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak)AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 1000 nits (HBM), 1400 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.5 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 730
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 13, ROG UIAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 15
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone 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)64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 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, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesPanorama, HDRHDR
Single24 MP, f/2.5, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers)Yes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connectorUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band
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 wired67W wired, PD3.0, QC3+, 50% in 15 min 30W wireless, 50% in 32 min
TypeLi-Po 6000 mAhLi-Po 5160 mAh
Misc
ColorsPhantom Black, Storm WhiteBlack, White
ModelsZS676KS23013PC75G
PriceAbout 1030 EUR$ 449.99 / € 241.85
SAR-1.09 W/kg (head)     1.08 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-1.00 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life-Endurance rating 99h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.2 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 1057977 (v9) GeekBench: 4001 (v5.1), 4009 (v6) GFXBench: 50fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Asus ROG Phone 5s

  • Ultra-fast 65W wired charging
  • Established gaming ecosystem & features (AirTriggers)
  • Excellent performance for gaming
  • Good build quality

  • Older chipset (Snapdragon 888+)
  • Less bright display compared to F5 Pro
  • No wireless charging

Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro

  • Newer, more efficient Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset
  • Brighter display (1059 nits)
  • Wireless charging support
  • Competitive price

  • Slightly slower wired charging (67W)
  • Camera performance not top-tier
  • Less established gaming-specific features

Display Comparison

The Poco F5 Pro takes the display crown with a measured peak brightness of 1059 nits, significantly brighter than the ROG Phone 5s. While both offer excellent color accuracy and refresh rates (144Hz), the F5 Pro's superior brightness makes it more visible in outdoor conditions. The 'Infinite' contrast ratio mentioned for the Poco F5 Pro is a nominal value, but suggests excellent blacks.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is a bit more nuanced. Both phones offer capable camera systems, but neither excels in this area compared to flagship phones. The Poco F5 Pro likely has a slight edge in image processing due to the newer chipset, but both will deliver decent photos and videos for everyday use. Detailed camera testing would be needed for a definitive conclusion.

Performance

The Poco F5 Pro's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset is a clear winner here. It's built on a more efficient 4nm process compared to the ROG Phone 5s's 5nm Snapdragon 888+, resulting in better performance and power efficiency. While the ROG Phone 5s is still a capable performer, the F5 Pro offers a noticeable boost in speed and responsiveness.

Battery Life

Both phones boast impressive battery life, with the Poco F5 Pro claiming an endurance rating of 99 hours. The ROG Phone 5s also offers excellent battery life. The Poco F5 Pro's inclusion of 30W wireless charging provides added convenience, while the ROG Phone 5s has faster 65W wired charging.

Buying Guide

The Asus ROG Phone 5s is ideal for hardcore gamers who prioritize raw performance, extensive gaming features (like AirTriggers), and ultra-fast wired charging. The Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro is a great choice for gamers seeking a balance of performance, a stunning display, and wireless charging capabilities at a more accessible price point.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone is better for demanding games like Genshin Impact?
The Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset will generally provide smoother performance and better thermal management in demanding games.
❓ Does the ROG Phone 5s have better cooling than the Poco F5 Pro?
The ROG Phone 5s typically has a more advanced cooling system due to its focus on hardcore gaming, but the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Poco F5 Pro is more efficient, potentially mitigating the need for such aggressive cooling.