Meizu 18 Pro vs Asus ROG Phone 5s: A Detailed Comparison of Snapdragon 888 Powerhouses
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a balanced experience and a more manageable size, the Meizu 18 Pro offers a compelling package. However, the Asus ROG Phone 5s is the clear winner for dedicated mobile gamers, thanks to its superior cooling, faster charging, and gaming-centric features, despite its larger size.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Meizu 18 Pro | Asus ROG Phone 5s |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 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, 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, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 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, LTE, 5G | 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 | 2021, March 03. Released 2021, March 08 | 2021, August 16 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, August 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 162.5 x 73 x 8.1 mm (6.40 x 2.87 x 0.32 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 | 189 g (6.67 oz) | 238 g (8.40 oz) |
| Waterproof | RGB light panel (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~526 ppi density) | 1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 107.6 cm2 (~90.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 420 nits (typ), 1300 nits (peak) | 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 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 11, Flyme 9 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, ROG UI |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB 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 | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP f/2.4, 79mm (telephoto), 1/4.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, 3x optical zoom 32 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 130˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, f/1.4, (depth) | 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, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p; gyro-EIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | Panorama, HDR |
| Single | 44 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/2.65”, 0.7µm | 24 MP, f/2.5, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 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, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavIC | 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 а/b/g/n/ac/6e, 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, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 40W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 40% in 15 min, 100% in 50 min 40W wireless 10W reverse wireless | 65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 70% in 30 min, 100% in 52 min 10W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 6000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Blue, White, Gray | Phantom Black, Storm White |
| Models | - | ZS676KS |
| Price | About 640 EUR | About 1030 EUR |
Meizu 18 Pro
- Compact and pocketable design
- Fast 40W wired and wireless charging
- Balanced feature set for everyday use
- Snapdragon 888 is slightly less powerful than 888+
- May throttle under sustained heavy load
Asus ROG Phone 5s
- Snapdragon 888+ offers a performance edge
- Superior cooling system for sustained gaming
- 65W fast charging for quick top-ups
- Large and bulky design
- Less emphasis on camera features compared to Meizu
Display Comparison
While both phones likely feature high-refresh-rate AMOLED panels (data not provided), the focus differs. The Meizu 18 Pro’s compact size suggests a higher pixel density for sharpness. The ROG Phone 5s, with its larger display, likely prioritizes screen real estate for immersive gaming. The Asus ROG Phone 5s benefits from a larger canvas for gaming, while the Meizu 18 Pro’s smaller screen will appeal to those who prefer one-handed use. The lack of specific display specs makes a direct comparison difficult, but the ROG Phone 5s’ larger size inherently offers a more expansive viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications, a direct comparison is limited. However, the Meizu 18 Pro, as a flagship, likely emphasizes overall image quality and color accuracy. The ROG Phone 5s, while capable, likely prioritizes camera features less than gaming performance. The absence of sensor size or aperture data prevents a definitive assessment, but the Meizu 18 Pro’s positioning suggests a more refined camera experience for everyday photography. It's reasonable to assume both phones offer competent camera systems, but the Meizu likely focuses on a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing output.
Performance
Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 series, but the ROG Phone 5s utilizes the Snapdragon 888+, a slightly overclocked version with a Cortex-X1 core running at 2.99 GHz compared to the Meizu 18 Pro’s 2.84 GHz. This translates to a marginal performance increase in CPU-intensive tasks. More importantly, the ROG Phone 5s benefits from a more robust cooling system, crucial for sustaining peak performance during prolonged gaming sessions and mitigating thermal throttling. While both use LPDDR5 RAM (spec not provided), the ROG Phone 5s’ thermal management gives it a clear edge in maintaining consistent frame rates.
Battery Life
The Asus ROG Phone 5s boasts a significant charging advantage with 65W wired charging, achieving 70% charge in 30 minutes and 100% in 52 minutes, compared to the Meizu 18 Pro’s 40W wired charging (100% in 50 minutes). The ROG Phone 5s also offers 10W reverse *wired* charging, while the Meizu 18 Pro provides 10W reverse *wireless* charging. The faster charging speed of the ROG Phone 5s is a major benefit for gamers who need to quickly top up their battery between matches. The Meizu 18 Pro’s 40W wireless charging is a convenient feature, but the ROG Phone 5s’ faster wired charging is more practical for power users.
Buying Guide
Buy the Meizu 18 Pro if you need a premium Android experience in a compact, pocketable form factor, and value balanced features like fast wired *and* wireless charging. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 5s if you prioritize maximum gaming performance, extended play sessions, and don't mind a larger, more aggressive design. The ROG Phone 5s is built for sustained high frame rates and competitive gaming.