Meizu 20 vs. Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance

The Meizu 20 and Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate represent opposite ends of the flagship spectrum. The Meizu 20 aims for a refined, compact experience, while the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is a no-compromise gaming powerhouse. Both leverage the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but their execution and target audiences diverge significantly, making a direct comparison crucial for discerning buyers.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a balanced, pocketable flagship, the Meizu 20 offers a compelling package. However, the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is the clear winner for dedicated mobile gamers who demand maximum performance, cooling, and gaming-centric features.

PHONES
Phone Names Meizu 20 Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 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, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE (Up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - China
Launch
Announced2023, March 302023, April 13
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, May 22Available. Released 2023, May
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame
Dimensions157.9 x 73.5 x 8 mm (6.22 x 2.89 x 0.31 in)173 x 77 x 10.3 mm (6.81 x 3.03 x 0.41 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight190 g (6.70 oz)239 g (8.43 oz)
 IP54Built-in motorized cooling air vent (AeroActive Portal) IP54 water resistant 2" OLED display (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density)
Size6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~89.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, 500 nits (typ), 800 nits (HBM)AMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 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)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 740Adreno 740
OSAndroid 13, Flyme 10Android 13, up to 2 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM512GB 16GB RAM
 UFS 4.0 UFS 3.1 - 128GB onlyUFS 4.0 NTFS support for external storage
Main Camera
FeaturesRing-LED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.4, 16mm, 122˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP, f/2.450 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)
Video8K, 4K, 1080p; gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRPanorama, HDR
Single32 MP, f/2.5, (wide)32 MP, f/2.5, 29mm (wide), 1/3.2", 0.7µm
VideoYes1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers)
 -32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1 (side), DisplayPort 1.4; USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 а/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging67W wired, PD3 PPS, QC4+65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 42 min 10W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4700 mAhLi-Po 6000 mAh
Misc
ColorsGray, Yellow, Mint, Rose GoldStorm White
PriceAbout 400 EURAbout 780 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 131h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.5 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 1325105 (v9) GeekBench: 5139 (v5.5), 5567 (v6) GFXBench: 107fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Meizu 20

  • Compact and pocketable design
  • Fast 67W charging with modern standards (PD3 PPS, QC4+)
  • Premium build quality expected from Meizu

  • Battery life likely inferior to ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
  • Gaming performance may throttle under sustained load
  • Camera specifications unknown, potential compromise

Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate

  • Exceptional battery life (131h endurance)
  • Advanced cooling system for sustained gaming performance
  • Fast 65W charging with reverse wireless charging

  • Large and bulky design
  • Aggressive gaming aesthetic may not appeal to all
  • Potentially higher price point

Display Comparison

Both devices utilize the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2's capabilities to drive high-refresh-rate displays, but their approaches differ. The Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate boasts a measured peak brightness of 1095 nits, suggesting superior outdoor visibility compared to the Meizu 20 (brightness data unavailable). While both likely employ AMOLED panels, the ROG Phone's focus on gaming suggests a higher probability of LTPO technology for variable refresh rates, optimizing battery life during less demanding tasks. The ROG Phone's infinite contrast ratio (nominal) is typical of AMOLED, but the Meizu 20's panel characteristics remain unknown. Bezels are likely minimized on both, reflecting current design trends, but the ROG Phone's larger form factor allows for a more expansive screen real estate.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking for both. Without sensor size, aperture, or OIS details, a direct comparison is difficult. However, given the ROG Phone’s gaming focus, its camera system is likely optimized for general use rather than competing with dedicated photography flagships. The Meizu 20, positioned as a premium all-rounder, *may* prioritize camera quality more, but this is speculative. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on either device is unlikely to be a significant selling point, serving primarily as a spec-sheet filler.

Performance

Both the Meizu 20 and Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate are powered by the Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) chipset, featuring the same Octa-core CPU configuration. This means raw processing power will be largely comparable. However, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate benefits from Asus’s advanced cooling solutions – a critical factor for sustained performance. The ROG Phone’s larger chassis allows for a more substantial vapor chamber and fan system, mitigating thermal throttling during prolonged gaming sessions. While the Meizu 20’s 4nm node offers improved thermal efficiency, it’s constrained by its smaller form factor. RAM specifications are not provided for either device, but the ROG Phone likely utilizes faster LPDDR5x RAM to further enhance gaming performance.

Battery Life

The Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate boasts an endurance rating of 131 hours, indicating excellent battery life. While the Meizu 20’s battery capacity is unknown, the ROG Phone’s larger size allows for a significantly larger battery. Charging speeds are comparable, with the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate offering 65W wired charging (100% in 42 minutes) and the Meizu 20 providing 67W wired charging with PD3 PPS and QC4+ support. The ROG Phone also includes 10W reverse wired charging, a feature absent from the Meizu 20. The ROG Phone’s superior battery endurance, combined with its faster charging, makes it the better choice for users who prioritize all-day battery life and quick top-ups.

Buying Guide

Buy the Meizu 20 if you need a premium smartphone experience in a more manageable size, value fast charging and a clean software experience, and don't require specialized gaming features. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate if you prioritize uncompromising gaming performance, extended battery life during intense sessions, and are willing to accept a larger, more aggressively styled device.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate's cooling system significantly impact long-term gaming performance?
Yes, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate's advanced cooling system, including its vapor chamber and fan, is designed to prevent thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions. This allows the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 to maintain peak performance for longer periods, resulting in smoother frame rates and a more consistent gaming experience compared to devices with less robust cooling solutions.
❓ Is the Meizu 20's smaller size a disadvantage for gaming?
The Meizu 20's compact form factor, while appealing for everyday use, does present a potential disadvantage for gaming. The smaller chassis limits the effectiveness of cooling solutions, potentially leading to thermal throttling during demanding games. Additionally, the smaller screen size may not provide the same immersive gaming experience as the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate's larger display.
❓ What charging protocols does the Meizu 20 support, and how does it compare to the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate?
The Meizu 20 supports 67W wired charging with PD3 PPS and QC4+ protocols, offering fast and versatile charging options. The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate supports 65W wired charging with PD3.0 and QC5. While the wattage is similar, the Meizu 20's support for PPS may offer slightly more efficient charging with compatible chargers.