OnePlus 8 vs. Asus ROG Phone 3: A Deep Dive into Performance and Features

The OnePlus 8 and Asus ROG Phone 3 represent distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone experience. The OnePlus 8 aims for a balanced blend of performance, camera capabilities, and everyday usability, while the ROG Phone 3 is unapologetically geared towards mobile gaming enthusiasts. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device delivers the best value for your specific needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a well-rounded experience, the OnePlus 8 offers a compelling package. However, the Asus ROG Phone 3 emerges as the clear winner for gamers and power users, thanks to its slightly faster processor, superior battery endurance, and gaming-centric features.

PHONES
Phone Names OnePlus 8 Asus ROG Phone 3
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 - A version
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 66 - EU1, 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 - A version
5G bands1, 3, 7, 28, 78 SA/NSA - EU1, 2, 3, 5, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - A version
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G 7.5 Gbps DLHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G 4.4 Gbps DL
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN-
Launch
Announced2020, April 142020, July 22. Released 2020, July 23
StatusAvailable. Released 2020, April 21Discontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame
Dimensions160.2 x 72.9 x 8 mm (6.31 x 2.87 x 0.31 in)171 x 78 x 9.9 mm (6.73 x 3.07 x 0.39 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight180 g (6.35 oz)240 g (8.47 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~391 ppi density)
Size6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~88.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.59 inches, 106.6 cm2 (~79.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFluid AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 650 nits (typ)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.10 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G+ (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 650
OSAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, ROG UI
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM
 UFS 3.0, 2-LANE-
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm 2 MP (macro)64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm, 125˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRPanorama, HDR
Single16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm24 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm
Video1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with DTS:X stereo speakers (2 dedicated amplifiers)
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging30W wired, 50% in 22 min30W wired, PD3.0, QC4 10W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4300 mAhLi-Po 6000 mAh
Misc
ColorsOnyx Black, Glacial Green, Interstellar Glow, Polar SilverBlack Glare
ModelsIN2013, IN2017, IN2010, IN2019, IN2011ASUS_I003D, ZS661KS, I003DD, I003D
PriceAbout 840 EURAbout 650 EUR
SAR-0.74 W/kg (head)     1.50 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 108h Endurance rating 120h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -22.5 LUFS (Excellent) -23.1 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 564708 (v8) GeekBench: 13291 (v4.4), 3399 (v5.1) GFXBench: 46fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 621932 (v8) GeekBench: 13306 (v4.4), 3386 (v5.1) GFXBench: 48fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

OnePlus 8

  • Brighter display for better outdoor visibility (803 nits)
  • More compact and sleek design
  • Potentially superior camera image processing

  • Slightly lower CPU clock speed
  • Shorter battery endurance (108h)
  • Lacks reverse wireless charging

Asus ROG Phone 3

  • Faster processor (Snapdragon 865+)
  • Longer battery life (120h endurance)
  • Reverse wired charging capability

  • Lower peak display brightness (719 nits)
  • Larger and more bulky design
  • Gaming-focused design may not appeal to all

Display Comparison

Both phones feature displays with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, the OnePlus 8 boasts a higher peak brightness of 803 nits compared to the ROG Phone 3’s 719 nits, making it more visible under direct sunlight. While both offer a premium viewing experience, the OnePlus 8’s brighter display provides a slight advantage in outdoor scenarios. Neither device specifies refresh rate, but the ROG Phone 3's larger size is better suited for immersive gaming.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are limited in the provided data. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, given the ROG Phone 3’s gaming focus, it’s likely the OnePlus 8 prioritizes camera quality and image processing. The absence of details suggests neither phone is a standout in the camera department compared to other flagships of the era.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G chipset, but the ROG Phone 3 utilizes the slightly enhanced Snapdragon 865+ variant. This translates to a marginally higher CPU clock speed – 3.10 GHz on the ROG Phone 3 versus 2.84 GHz on the OnePlus 8. While the real-world difference may be subtle for most tasks, the ROG Phone 3 will exhibit a performance edge in sustained, demanding applications like games. Both utilize an Octa-core configuration with the same Cortex-A77 and A55 cores, but the ROG Phone 3’s higher clock speed provides a small advantage.

Battery Life

The Asus ROG Phone 3 delivers a longer endurance rating of 120 hours compared to the OnePlus 8’s 108 hours. This suggests more efficient power management or a larger battery capacity, despite both supporting 30W wired charging. The ROG Phone 3 also includes 10W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the OnePlus 8, adding to its versatility. The ROG Phone 3’s 120-hour rating indicates a significant advantage for users who heavily utilize their devices throughout the day.

Buying Guide

Buy the OnePlus 8 if you need a sleek, compact flagship with a strong camera system and a smooth, responsive user experience for daily tasks. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 3 if you prioritize maximum gaming performance, extended battery life during intense sessions, and are willing to accept a larger, more aggressively styled device.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 865+ in the ROG Phone 3 offer a noticeable performance boost in games compared to the Snapdragon 865 in the OnePlus 8?
While both chips are powerful, the ROG Phone 3’s Snapdragon 865+ has a higher clock speed (3.10 GHz vs 2.84 GHz). This translates to a slight performance advantage, particularly in sustained gaming sessions where thermal throttling can occur. The ROG Phone 3 is also likely to have more aggressive cooling solutions, further enhancing its gaming capabilities.
❓ How does the battery life difference (108h vs 120h) translate to real-world usage?
The 12-hour difference in endurance rating suggests the ROG Phone 3 can last noticeably longer on a single charge, especially with moderate to heavy usage. Gamers and power users will particularly benefit from this extended battery life, allowing for longer uninterrupted gaming sessions.
❓ Is the larger size of the ROG Phone 3 a significant drawback for everyday use?
The ROG Phone 3 is considerably larger than the OnePlus 8. This can make it less comfortable to hold and operate with one hand, and it may be more difficult to fit in pockets. However, the larger size also accommodates a larger battery and more robust cooling system, which are key benefits for gaming.