Asus ROG Phone 5s vs. Huawei P50: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Flagship Features
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers, the Asus ROG Phone 5s is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 888+ chipset, superior cooling, and gaming-centric features outweigh the P50’s camera strengths. However, users prioritizing camera quality, a more compact form factor, and aren't reliant on 5G will find the Huawei P50 a compelling option.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei P50 | 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, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 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, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 1 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 1400/150 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DL |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1x | 2, 3, 5, 7, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 4 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, July 29 | 2021, August 16 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, October 04 | Available. Released 2021, August 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 156.5 x 73.8 x 7.9 mm (6.16 x 2.91 x 0.31 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 | 181 g (6.38 oz) | 238 g (8.40 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | RGB light panel (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1224 x 2700 pixels (~458 ppi density) | 1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 101.6 cm2 (~88.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, 90Hz | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 4G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | HarmonyOS 2.0 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, ROG UI |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.4, (wide) | - |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide) | 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 | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@960fps; 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 | 13 MP, f/2.4, (wide) | 24 MP, f/2.5, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps | 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 | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 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, OTG | 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired | 65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 70% in 30 min, 100% in 52 min 10W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4100 mAh | Li-Po 6000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Gold, White | Phantom Black, Storm White |
| Models | ABR-AL00, ABR-LX9 | ZS676KS |
| Price | About 700 EUR | About 1030 EUR |
Huawei P50
- Excellent camera system (expected)
- More compact and refined design
- Fast 66W wired charging
- Limited to 4G connectivity
- Less powerful chipset compared to the ROG Phone 5s
Asus ROG Phone 5s
- Superior gaming performance with Snapdragon 888+
- Advanced cooling system for sustained performance
- Faster charging and reverse wireless charging
- Larger and more bulky design
- Camera likely prioritizes speed over ultimate quality
Display Comparison
While both phones utilize OLED panels, the specifics aren't provided. However, given Asus's history with high refresh rates, the ROG Phone 5s likely boasts a 120Hz or 144Hz panel, offering smoother visuals during gaming compared to the P50, which is likely a standard 90Hz or 60Hz. The ROG Phone 5s’ larger screen size will also enhance the gaming experience. Bezels are expected to be minimal on both, but the ROG Phone 5s may prioritize screen real estate over extreme thinness. Color accuracy is likely excellent on both, but Asus often calibrates for wider color gamuts favored by gamers.
Camera Comparison
The Huawei P50 is expected to excel in photography, leveraging Huawei’s image processing expertise. While sensor details are missing, Huawei typically employs large sensors and sophisticated computational photography. The P50 likely features a multi-camera system with a focus on detail and dynamic range. The ROG Phone 5s, while capable, prioritizes gaming and likely has a more utilitarian camera setup. The ROG Phone 5s camera is likely tuned for quick snapshots and social media sharing, while the P50 aims for professional-quality results. The absence of detailed sensor information makes a direct comparison difficult, but Huawei’s reputation suggests a significant advantage in image quality.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Asus ROG Phone 5s features the Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5nm), a refined version of the Snapdragon 888 found in the Huawei P50. The ‘+’ variant boasts a slightly higher clock speed (2.99 GHz vs 2.84 GHz on the P50’s Cortex-X1) and improved thermal management. This translates to sustained performance under heavy load, reducing throttling during extended gaming sessions. While both utilize the same CPU core configuration (1x Cortex-X1, 3x Cortex-A78, 4x Cortex-A55), the 5G modem on the ROG Phone 5s adds connectivity benefits. The ROG Phone 5s also benefits from potentially faster LPDDR5 RAM, further boosting performance.
Battery Life
Both phones offer fast charging – 65W/66W – providing quick top-ups. The ROG Phone 5s boasts a more comprehensive charging standard support (PD3.0, QC5) and a claimed 70% charge in 30 minutes and 100% in 52 minutes. The P50’s 66W charging is also fast, but lacks the same level of standard support. The ROG Phone 5s also includes 10W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the P50. Battery capacity isn’t specified, but the ROG Phone 5s, being a larger device, likely houses a larger battery, offsetting the higher power draw of its more powerful chipset and display.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei P50 if you need a well-rounded flagship experience with a strong emphasis on photography and a more manageable size, and if 4G connectivity isn't a dealbreaker. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 5s if you prioritize maximum gaming performance, extended play sessions, and don't mind a larger, more aggressively styled device. The ROG Phone 5s is for those who treat their phone as a portable gaming console.