ROG reveals new products at Computex 2018: mobile, laptops, components, and more
ROG is more than just a gaming brand; it’s a commitment to enhancing your gaming and enthusiast experience through innovative engineering and thoughtful design. Starting in 2006 with motherboards, we dared to defy conventional thinking in pursuit of our passion to produce the world’s best gaming hardware. That drive led us to expand into graphics cards and laptops, and then into monitors and peripherals as we found ways to apply ROG fundamentals to create a larger ecosystem of components and devices built with the same values.
The early focus was on making individual products stand out, which helped achieve excellence within each category but didn’t necessarily ensure consistency with the rest of ROG. We covered most key categories by 2016 and faced a resurgent PC gaming scene with more refined sensibilities, so we shifted strategy to focus on bringing the family closer together, starting with a more cohesive design language complemented by Aura Sync lighting that enables new possibilities through color-coordinated customization.
At Computex 2018 on our home turf in Taipei, Taiwan, we’re filling in the missing members of the family by introducing the first ROG entries in fresh categories with the Thor 1200W Platinum PSU, Strix concept chassis, and Ryujin and Ryuo all-in-one liquid coolers. Aura Sync binds them together and has also spread to pre-built machines like the narrow-bezel Strix Scar II and Hero II laptops making their debut at the show. We’re unifying custom and complete systems under a common software platform and also have new peripherals that work with both, like the Gladius II Wireless mouse, Balteus Qi mouse pad, and Delta Type-C headset.
The Delta spans PC and mobile devices and provides a tangible link to our biggest Computex reveal: the ROG Phone. True to its roots, our first smartphone exemplifies ROG’s drive to lead critical categories for gamers. Along with a collection of complementary accessories, it echoes our new direction of deeper integration on an entirely new frontier.
On the road with the Republic
Gaming is increasingly mobile, in part thanks to the fact that our omnipresent digital sidearms make it easy to play a few rounds whenever a free moment arises. The technology and games have advanced to a point that the experience is really compelling overall, and we saw opportunities to make it even better. The ROG Phone uses an exclusive version of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor that’s faster than stock and backed by upgraded cooling that helps sustain peak gaming performance. Graphics look amazing on the no-compromise AMOLED, which combines the smoothness and clarity of a 90Hz refresh rate and 1-ms response time with the phenomenal colors and contrast of a wide DCI-P3 gamut and HDR support. On the edges, programmable AirTriggers optimize input while a side-mounted port keeps cables out of the way for a more comfortable grip. You still get all the features of a high-end smartphone, plus tightly integrated accessories for WiGig display, dual-screen play, and gaming desktop day-to-day that allow the ROG Phone to become something much more than just another gaming phone.
Though too large to be pocketable, the new Strix Scar II and Hero II esports gaming laptops are more compact thanks to narrow bezels that shrink the overall footprint. We worked closely with AUO to develop a class-leading IPS-type display with an ultra-fast 144Hz refresh rate and 3-ms response time. Combined with an Intel Core i7 six-core CPU and up to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics, it gives esports pros the triple-digit frame rates and visual clarity they need when they hit the road. Additional cooling keeps performance on point for prolonged play, while 802.11ac Wave 2 WiFi and smart quad-antenna array maintain a better wireless connection. The slashing motif and enhanced Aura Sync lighting channel common ROG themes across Scar II and Hero II flavors inspired by FPS and MOBA games.
The ROG Delta Type-C headset ties together all your gaming devices with clear audio from a pristine digital interface. These comfortable cans plug right into the ROG Phone and new Strix laptops, and they come with a Type-A adapter compatible with most PCs and even consoles, so you can wear them all day as you move between devices. Inside, quad DACs split the stereo signal to expose every detail, enabling an impressive 127-dB(A) SNR that’s much higher than what’s available on mobile devices, laptops, and even our best motherboards. The Delta also works with a new APO injection feature built into the Strix Scar II and Hero II laptops that brings surround sound and other Sonic Studio effects to any USB headset or DAC.
As the number of gaming and other computing devices grows, so does the volume of wireless clients clogging networks with packets that can interfere with multiplayer matches. To prevent other home network traffic from lagging your game, the tri-band ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 router router has an extra 5GHz band that can be reserved specifically for high-priority clients like your personal laptop and phone. It’s based on the latest 802.11ax version of WiFi, which boasts higher speeds but more importantly the ability to efficiently manage much busier networks brimming with active wireless devices. We added a 2.5G Ethernet port to keep up with greater-than-gigabit internet services or provide more bandwidth to a LAN-based NAS, and you’ll be able to use it for blistering wired backhaul with an upcoming firmware release that adds full AiMesh support that can expand your network’s coverage and capacity even further.
Into new territory for DIY desktops
Fans have long requested for more components to build all-ROG rigs, so we're bringing our own style and enhancements to new categories. While our focus on cooling is evident across many products, including the ROG Phone and Strix Scar II and Hero II laptops, the ROG Ryujin and Ryuo are the first stand-alone coolers to bear our name. They’re both based on proven Asetek hardware infused with Aura Sync lighting and capped by a full-color LiveDash OLED that strikes the right balance between purely cosmetic enhancement and functional system monitoring. The Ryuo comes in 120- and 240-mm radiator sizes with fans based on the same Wing-Blade technology as our graphics cards and new PSU. It’s joined by the Ryujin, which pairs industrial-grade Noctua fans with a 240- or 360-mm radiator. This flagship model also adds a premium pump cover and additional fan that help cool VRMs and M.2 SSDs near the CPU socket.
A similar approach brings ROG into the PSU world with the Thor 1200W Platinum, which delivers the reliable power high-end systems require with impeccable 80 Plus Platinum efficiency. We added beefier heatsinks to accelerate thermal dissipation on the inside and installed a system-facing Wing-Blade fan that helps exhaust warm air from your chassis. Our 0dB mode turns off the fan completely when it’s not needed, allowing the PSU to run in complete silence even when playing some games. You can monitor the output wattage for different loads in real time using the external OLED, and customize the integrated Aura Sync lighting by connecting the PSU to an addressable RGB header on one of our recent motherboards.
The upcoming Strix gaming chassis brings everything together with a true family home for all our internal components. Although the case isn’t completely finalized, we’re providing a early look at two designs that blend tempered glass with brushed surfaces. The Strix chassis has room for high-end liquid coolers like the Ryujin 360, and it will include a vertical GPU bracket to showcase Strix graphics cards. Separate addressable lighting zones on the side and front panel plug directly into headers on ROG motherboards, illuminating everything with your personalized palette. There are also woven handles up top for easy carrying to LAN parties.
Broadening beyond the box
While the chassis contains your build, our new peripherals provide additional set pieces for the rest of your battlestation. A natural fit for both laptops and desktops, the Gladius II Wireless frees our most coveted gaming mouse from the shackles of a USB tether. It pairs RF and Bluetooth technologies with a new Pixart sensor that provides impeccable tracking. We helped optimize the sensor’s power consumption to improve battery life, allowing the Gladius II Wireless to game for 24 hours with the lighting turned off. Aura Sync illumination is still available, and topping up the battery is easy with the included USB cable, which switches the mouse into wired mode for the best possible connection.
Armoury II software handes the Gladius II’s extensive programmability, including calibration for different surfaces like our new Balteus and Balteus Qi. These hard surfaces offer fast tracking without being too rough on your wrist. They’re ringed by 15 Aura Sync lighting zones that highlight the boundaries and further reinforce our comprehensive approach to full-system illumination. The tracking area is deeper to accommodate a range of positions from slouching back to hunching forward. The additional real-estate also leaves room to rest your phone, and the Balteus Qi takes further advantage by adding a wireless charging zone for compatible devices.
We don’t have any new ROG displays at Computex this year, but our long-awaited HDR gaming monitors are on display and even starting to roll out with the ROG Swift PG27UQ shipping this month. Now bolstered by official DisplayHDR 1000 and UltraHD Premium certification, plus guaranteed color accuracy, this 4K 144Hz G-Sync wonder raises the bar for high-end PC gaming displays. It will be joined later this year by the massive 65” ROG Swift PG65 introduced at CES, another 4K monster with high-refresh G-Sync HDR. Among the HDR displays at the ROG press event, our colleagues at ASUS snuck in something of their own: the new CG32 console gaming monitor. This 32” 4K display supports Adaptive-Sync across multiple inputs and boasts an HDR-capable panel that nearly covers the DCI-P3 color gamut.
Charting the next chapter
ROG isn’t the only division producing gaming products at ASUS, but it stands alone with an unmatched history of innovative products and industry-leading technologies. Now bound together more closely with consistent aesthetic designs and increasing functional integration, our expanding ecosystem is taking gaming to the next level on multiple platforms.
