Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate vs. 6D Ultimate: A Deep Dive for Gamers

Asus continues to dominate the gaming phone space with its ROG line. The ROG Phone 6D Ultimate, powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 9000+, offered a compelling experience, but the newer ROG Phone 7 Ultimate arrives with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. This comparison dissects the key differences, helping you determine if the upgrade is justified or if the 6D Ultimate remains a viable contender.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most gamers, the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is the superior choice. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 delivers a noticeable performance uplift, coupled with a significantly improved battery life of 131 hours versus the 6D Ultimate’s 103. While the 6D Ultimate remains capable, the 7 Ultimate offers a more future-proof and consistently smoother gaming experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48 - A version1, 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, 18, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A version1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1600/210 Mbps, 5GHSPA, LTE (Up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - B version1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - China
Launch
Announced2022, September 192023, April 13
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, October 07Available. 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
Dimensions173 x 77 x 10.4 mm (6.81 x 3.03 x 0.41 in)173 x 77 x 10.3 mm (6.81 x 3.03 x 0.41 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight247 g (8.71 oz)239 g (8.43 oz)
 Built-in motorized cooling air vent (AeroActive Portal) IPX4 water resistant 2" OLED display (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers)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 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak)AMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.35 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 9000+ (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUMali-G710 MC10Adreno 740
OSAndroid 12Android 13, up to 2 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 16GB RAM512GB 16GB RAM
 UFS 3.1 NTFS support for external storageUFS 4.0 NTFS support for external storage
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (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@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesPanorama, HDRPanorama, HDR
Single12 MP, 28mm (wide)32 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
Bluetooth5.3, 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), 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, tri-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 10W reverse wired65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 42 min 10W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 6000 mAhLi-Po 6000 mAh
Misc
ColorsSpace GrayStorm White
ModelsAI2203, AI2203-3E010EU-
PriceAbout 1100 EURAbout 780 EUR
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 103h Endurance rating 131h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -24.1 LUFS (Very good) -25.5 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 1107464 (v9) GeekBench: 4575 (v5.1) GFXBench: 68fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 1325105 (v9) GeekBench: 5139 (v5.5), 5567 (v6) GFXBench: 107fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate

  • Potentially lower price point due to being an older model.
  • Still offers excellent gaming performance with the Dimensity 9000+.
  • Capable of handling demanding games at high settings.

  • Shorter battery life compared to the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate.
  • May experience more thermal throttling under sustained load.

Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate

  • Superior performance with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
  • Significantly improved battery life (131 hours endurance).
  • Faster charging with QC5 support (42 minutes to 100%).
  • Brighter display for better outdoor visibility.

  • Higher price tag.
  • May not represent a massive upgrade for users of the ROG Phone 6 series.

Display Comparison

Both phones boast displays with an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, ensuring deep blacks and vibrant colors. However, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate pulls ahead with a measured peak brightness of 1095 nits, a substantial improvement over the 6D Ultimate’s unspecified peak brightness. This translates to better visibility in bright sunlight. While both likely utilize high refresh rate panels, the 7 Ultimate’s brighter display provides a more immersive and comfortable viewing experience, especially during extended gaming sessions. The lack of specific refresh rate data for both devices prevents a deeper analysis of panel smoothness.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are listed with 'Photo / Video' capabilities, indicating a similar focus on multimedia. However, without specific sensor details, it’s difficult to make a definitive comparison. Asus typically equips its ROG Phones with capable cameras, but they aren’t usually the primary selling point. The absence of detailed camera specs suggests that image quality is likely comparable, with the 7 Ultimate potentially benefiting from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s improved image signal processor (ISP) for faster processing and potentially better low-light performance. Any 2MP macro lenses present on either device are likely to offer limited practical benefit.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipset: the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate utilizes the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ (4nm), while the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm). The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s CPU configuration – a 1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710, and 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510 – represents an architectural upgrade over the 6D Ultimate’s 1x3.35 GHz Cortex-X2, 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-A710, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510. This, combined with the 4nm fabrication process, results in improved performance and, crucially, better thermal efficiency. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is less prone to throttling under sustained load, meaning more consistent frame rates during long gaming sessions. Both devices utilize LPDDR5X RAM, but the Snapdragon’s superior GPU further widens the performance gap.

Battery Life

The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate demonstrates a significant improvement in endurance, achieving a rating of 131 hours compared to the 6D Ultimate’s 103 hours. While both feature 65W wired charging with PD3.0 support, the 7 Ultimate adds QC5 and boasts a 42-minute 0-100% charge time, a slight advantage over the 6D Ultimate’s unspecified charging duration. The increased battery life of the 7 Ultimate is likely a result of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s superior power efficiency, allowing for longer gaming sessions and overall usage without needing to recharge as frequently. Both phones offer 10W reverse wired charging.

Buying Guide

Buy the Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate if you prioritize value and can find it at a substantial discount. It’s still a powerful device capable of handling demanding games, and the price reduction makes it attractive for budget-conscious gamers. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate if you demand the absolute best performance, longest battery life, and are willing to pay a premium for the latest Snapdragon chipset and its associated thermal efficiencies. This is the phone for competitive gamers and power users.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate address the thermal throttling issues seen in some Dimensity 9000+ devices?
Yes, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is built on a more efficient 4nm process and features architectural improvements that significantly reduce thermal throttling. While both chips are 4nm, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is demonstrably better at maintaining peak performance for longer durations under sustained load, resulting in more consistent frame rates during extended gaming sessions.
❓ How much of a real-world difference will the increased battery life of the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate make for a typical gamer?
The 28-hour increase in endurance rating (131h vs 103h) translates to a noticeable difference in daily usage. Gamers can expect to play demanding titles for longer periods without needing to recharge, and overall standby time will be significantly improved. This is particularly beneficial for users who frequently travel or spend extended periods away from a power source.
❓ Is the faster charging speed of the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate a significant advantage?
The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s 42-minute 0-100% charge time, enabled by QC5, is a convenient feature. While both phones support 65W charging, the addition of QC5 provides a faster and more efficient charging experience, minimizing downtime between gaming sessions.