Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro vs ROG Phone 5s: The Ultimate Gaming Battle

The Asus ROG Phone series has consistently set the bar for mobile gaming. But with new iterations arriving, choosing the right one can be tough. We're pitting the ROG Phone 6 Pro against the ROG Phone 5s to see which offers the best gaming experience and value.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The ROG Phone 6 Pro delivers a significant performance boost thanks to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, a brighter display, and slightly improved charging speeds. While the 5s remains a capable gaming device, the 6 Pro is the clear winner for those seeking the absolute best mobile gaming experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro	Asus ROG Phone 5s

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 - Version 1
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, 43, 48, 66, 71 - Version A	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
5G bands	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Version A	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 1
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2024/210 Mbps, 5G	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 1400/150 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DL
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 - Version B	2, 3, 5, 7, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 4

Launch
Announced	2022, July 05	2021, August 16
Status	Available. Released 2022, July 13	Available. Released 2021, August 26

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame
Dimensions	173 x 77 x 10.3 mm (6.81 x 3.03 x 0.41 in)	172.8 x 77.3 x 9.9 mm (6.80 x 3.04 x 0.39 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	239 g (8.43 oz)	238 g (8.40 oz)
	IPX4 water resistant 2" OLED display (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers)	RGB light panel (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution	1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density)	1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density)
Size	6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio)	6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak)	AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)	Octa-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)
GPU	Adreno 730	Adreno 660
OS	Android 12, upgradable to Android 13	Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, ROG UI

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	512GB 18GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM
	UFS 3.1 NTFS support for external storage	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple	50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, (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@24fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS	8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	Panorama, HDR	Panorama, HDR
Single	12 MP, 28mm (wide)	24 MP, f/2.5, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers)	Yes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers)
	32-bit/384kHz audio	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless	5.2, 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 (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
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, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, 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, 100% in 42 min 10W reverse wired	65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 70% in 30 min, 100% in 52 min 10W reverse wired
Type	Li-Po 6000 mAh	Li-Po 6000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Storm White	Phantom Black, Storm White
Models	AI2201_D	ZS676KS
Price	About 800 EUR	About 1030 EUR

Tests
Battery life	Endurance rating 119h	-
Camera	Photo / Video	-
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)	-
Loudspeaker	-24.1 LUFS (Very good)	-
Performance	AnTuTu: 973756 (v8), 1103188 (v9) GeekBench: 3980 (v5.1) GFXBench: 79fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	-

Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro

Significantly faster Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
Brighter and more vibrant display
Exceptional battery life
Faster charging (slightly)
Improved thermal management

Higher price
Design is similar to previous models

Asus ROG Phone 5s

More affordable
Still a very powerful gaming phone
Excellent display
Good battery life

Older Snapdragon 888+ chipset
Lower peak brightness
Slightly slower charging

Display Comparison

The ROG Phone 6 Pro boasts a noticeable upgrade in display brightness, reaching 829 nits compared to the 5s. Both feature excellent AMOLED panels with high refresh rates (144Hz), but the 6 Pro's increased brightness makes it more visible in outdoor conditions. Color accuracy and responsiveness are top-notch on both devices.

Camera Comparison

While neither phone prioritizes camera performance, the ROG Phone 6 Pro generally produces slightly better image quality, particularly in well-lit conditions. Both offer decent video recording capabilities. The 6 Pro may have slightly improved image processing algorithms.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the ROG Phone 6 Pro is a substantial leap over the Snapdragon 888+ in the 5s. Expect smoother gameplay, faster app loading times, and improved multitasking on the 6 Pro. Both phones handle demanding games with ease, but the 6 Pro has more headroom for future titles.

Battery Life

The ROG Phone 6 Pro demonstrates exceptional battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 119 hours. The 5s also offers solid battery life, but the 6 Pro's larger battery and more efficient chipset give it a clear advantage.

Buying Guide

The Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro is ideal for hardcore mobile gamers who demand the highest performance, a vibrant display, and the latest features. The ROG Phone 5s is a great choice for gamers on a tighter budget who still want a powerful and feature-rich gaming phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the ROG Phone 6 Pro worth the upgrade from the ROG Phone 5s?

If you're a serious mobile gamer and want the absolute best performance and display, the ROG Phone 6 Pro is a worthwhile upgrade. However, the 5s remains a very capable device, and the price difference might not justify the upgrade for casual gamers.

❓ Which phone has better cooling?

The ROG Phone 6 Pro features an improved cooling system with a larger vapor chamber and heat spreader, resulting in better thermal management and sustained performance during extended gaming sessions.