Asus Zenfone 7 Pro vs ROG Phone 5s: Which Asus Flagship Reigns Supreme?
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a versatile camera and a more manageable form factor, the Asus Zenfone 7 Pro remains a compelling choice. However, the Asus ROG Phone 5s is the clear winner for gamers and power users who demand the highest possible performance and fastest charging speeds.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Asus Zenfone 7 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 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, 20, 28, 38, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 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 (5CA) Cat19 1800/150 Mbps, 5G 3.6 Gbps DL | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 1400/150 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DL |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 2, 3, 5, 7, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 4 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, August 26. Released 2020, September 01 | 2021, August 16 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, August 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 165.1 x 77.3 x 9.6 mm (6.5 x 3.04 x 0.38 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 | 230 g (8.11 oz) | 238 g (8.40 oz) |
| - | RGB light panel (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED , 90Hz, HDR10+, 700 nits (HBM) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.10 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G+ (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, ZenUI | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, ROG UI |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, auto panorama (motorized rotation) | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 113˚, 17mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF | 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@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, auto panorama (motorized rotation) | Panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 24 MP, f/2.5, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm |
| Triple | Motorized flip-up main camera module | - |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers) |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX Adaptive | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1+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 | 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, PD3.0, 60% in 34 min, 100% in 93 min Reverse wired | 65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 70% in 30 min, 100% in 52 min 10W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 6000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Aurora Black, Pastel White | Phantom Black, Storm White |
| Models | ZS671KS, ASUS_I002DD | ZS676KS |
| Price | About 670 EUR | About 1030 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 99h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -26.6 LUFS (Good) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 602934 (v8) GeekBench: 3302 (v5.1) GFXBench: 46fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Asus Zenfone 7 Pro
- Compact and manageable size
- Excellent battery life (99h endurance)
- Versatile camera system
- More understated design
- Older chipset (Snapdragon 865)
- Slower charging speed (30W)
Asus ROG Phone 5s
- Significantly faster charging (65W)
- More powerful chipset (Snapdragon 888+)
- Optimized for gaming
- Likely higher refresh rate display
- Larger and heavier form factor
- Potentially shorter battery life due to higher power consumption
Display Comparison
The Zenfone 7 Pro boasts a display capable of reaching 741 nits of peak brightness, providing good visibility outdoors. While the ROG Phone 5s’s display specs aren’t provided, ROG phones typically prioritize high refresh rates over absolute peak brightness. The Zenfone 7 Pro’s infinite (nominal) contrast ratio suggests a strong OLED panel. The ROG Phone 5s, being a gaming phone, likely features a higher refresh rate panel, crucial for smooth gameplay, but this comes at the cost of potentially higher power consumption. The Zenfone 7 Pro’s smaller size also contributes to a higher pixel density, potentially resulting in a sharper image.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable camera systems, but their approaches differ. The Zenfone 7 Pro’s camera is described as focusing on both photo and video, suggesting a well-rounded experience. Without specific sensor details, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. However, the Zenfone 7 Pro’s emphasis on photography suggests a focus on image quality and versatility. The ROG Phone 5s, while having a camera, is primarily geared towards gaming, so its camera system is likely less prioritized. The ROG Phone 5s’s camera is likely tuned for quick snapshots and social media sharing, while the Zenfone 7 Pro aims for more detailed and professional-looking results.
Performance
The ROG Phone 5s’s Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5nm) represents a significant leap over the Zenfone 7 Pro’s Snapdragon 865 (7nm+). The 888+ features the newer Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.99 GHz, offering substantial performance gains over the 865’s Cortex-A77. The 5nm process node also improves thermal efficiency, reducing throttling during sustained workloads. While the Zenfone 7 Pro’s CPU configuration (1x3.10 GHz Cortex-A77, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) is respectable, it cannot match the raw power of the ROG Phone 5s. The ROG Phone 5s is designed for sustained peak performance, while the Zenfone 7 Pro prioritizes a balance between performance and efficiency.
Battery Life
The Zenfone 7 Pro achieves an impressive endurance rating of 99 hours, indicating excellent battery life. It supports 30W wired charging, reaching 60% in 34 minutes and 100% in 93 minutes. The ROG Phone 5s, with its 65W wired charging, significantly outperforms the Zenfone 7 Pro, achieving 70% in 30 minutes and 100% in 52 minutes. While the ROG Phone 5s’s battery capacity isn’t specified, its faster charging and gaming-focused design suggest it’s optimized for quick top-ups during gaming sessions. The Zenfone 7 Pro’s longer endurance is better suited for users who prioritize all-day battery life without frequent charging.
Buying Guide
Buy the Asus Zenfone 7 Pro if you need a compact, high-quality camera system in a relatively understated package, and value long battery life. It's ideal for photographers and everyday users who don't require extreme gaming performance. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 5s if you prioritize mobile gaming, demanding applications, and the fastest possible charging. Its larger size and more aggressive design are trade-offs for its superior performance capabilities.