The ROG Phone 3 turns mobile gaming up to 144Hz
When we launched the original ROG Phone back in 2018, it reshaped the mobile gaming market as we know it with its 90Hz display, top-end specs, and gamer-friendly controls. The ROG Phone II built on those successes with a new design and an even faster screen. Today, we’re thrilled to continue leading the mobile gaming market forward with the new ROG Phone 3.
We’ve kept many of the best features of the ROG Phone II, including the expansive 6.6” screen size and the same huge 6000mAh battery. But we’re always pushing the envelope, which is why we’ve packed in a powerful new Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus mobile platform and a beautiful 144Hz AMOLED screen that will advance what’s possible for elite mobile gamers in today’s hottest titles.
Behold, the ROG Phone 3
We’ve listened to your feedback on the ROG Phone II in order to create the best mobile gaming device possible. Features such as a second, side-mounted USB-C port for charging while gaming, a 6000mAh battery that lasts all day, and a high-refresh display are all essential elements that we’ve carried over into the ROG Phone 3. But while the two phones may look similar at first glance, there’s a lot more power under the hood that’s ready to level up your game.
One of the biggest challenges on a gaming phone is balancing screen size and the overall size of the device. We found that the 6.6” screen size and 21:9 aspect ratio of the previous ROG Phone gave users the largest screen size that was still comfortable for landscape gaming. A high-refresh-rate display is essential for fast-paced mobile shooters, which is why we’ve outfitted the ROG Phone 3 with a 144Hz AMOLED display to give gamers a new edge against the competition. High-refresh-rate panels just feel better for all the other things you do on a phone, too.
The bold aerodynamic look of its predecessors still shines through in the ROG Phone 3. The comfortable rounded edges, etched lines, diamond-cut bezel and Aura RGB LED ROG logo are all still here. We’ve refined the look with a transparent panel that shows off the heatsink underneath the back cover, much like a transparent window on a PC chassis. The latest Corning Gorilla Glass 6 protects the display, while tough Gorilla Glass 3 forms the back of the device.
Since the overall form factor of the ROG Phone 3 is similar to its predecessor, some of your existing ROG Phone II accessories are compatible: the TwinView Dock II, Professional Dock, Mobile Desktop Dock, and the ROG Kunai Gamepad via Bluetooth. Others have been redesigned specifically for the ROG Phone 3, such as the bundled Aero case. This new design capably protects the phone while still showing off the illuminated ROG logo and visible heatsink on the rear.
Performance without compromises
Coming out on top in today’s most popular mobile games requires the best hardware, which is why the ROG Phone 3 comes with some of the fastest mobile chips on the market. For the most demanding users, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus 5G mobile platform is capable of speeds up to 3.1 GHz for the best CPU performance. It’s accompanied by an overclocked Adreno 650 GPU that can deliver up to 10% better performance than its predecessor to push those high frames in your favorite games.
Our engineers ensured that nothing is going to slow down the ROG Phone 3. We outfitted it with up to 16GB of super-fast LPDDR5 RAM that’s 20% more power efficient and 51% faster than LPDDR4. Apps and games are going to load lightning-quick, thanks to up to 512GB of UFS 3.1 SSD storage. This cutting-edge tech lets you spend more time on the battlefield and less time waiting on loading screens.
To bring the power of the ROG Phone 3 to more users, we’ve also created a Strix Edition of the device that pairs the same great screen, huge battery, and industrial design with the flagship performance of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 mobile platform. The Strix Edition features 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage space.
The final reckoning in many of today’s games comes down to split-second decisions between victory and defeat, so having a fast and reliable network connection is vital. The ROG Phone 3’s sub-6 5G support on compatible mobile networks enables higher bandwidth for fast downloads and lower latency to ensure your shots are communicated to the server as quickly as possible.
Running games at 144FPS generates a lot more heat than standard 60FPS gaming. To address this challenge, we designed a new GameCool 3 cooling system that uses a heatsink that’s six times larger than the one found in the previous ROG Phone. This larger heatsink cools both the Snapdragon processor and the 5G modem so your phone won’t throttle back when the action heats up.
The GameCool design uses a layered sandwich design that stacks different cooling elements to effectively distribute and dissipate heat from the device’s internal components. From the large graphite film directly underneath the screen, to the 3D vapor-chamber design and heatsink, and even an integrated vent on the back cover, heat has nowhere to go but out in the ROG Phone 3.
If you’re planning lengthy gaming sessions at 144Hz, you may want to consider attaching our redesigned AeroActive Cooler 3. This clip-on accessory delivers up to 4° C lower surface temperatures by adding focused airflow to the Snapdragon application processor and 5G modem. The integrated fan also keeps your fingers cooler for those marathon Call of Duty: Mobile sessions. It also features a built-in kickstand for those times when you’re gaming with an external controller such as the ROG Kunai Gamepad.
A pass-through USB-C port is located on the bottom of the AeroActive Cooler 3 to charge the ROG Phone 3 while you game. If you prefer to use a traditional wired headset while playing, you’ll be pleased to find a 3.5mm headset jack for maximum compatibility.
When it comes to tweaking performance, most phones are closer to consoles than they are to gaming PCs. Many system settings and configurations locked away from users’ control. We wanted to give users a more PC-like experience with the ROG Phone 3 by allowing them to overclock and increase the throttle limit of the SoC. You can control these settings inside of the bundled ASUS Armoury Crate app to push performance potential to the limit.
We know that not every app demands the same performance level. By using Scenario Profiles, you can set custom performance settings for each game. You have the option of choosing between three performance levels in Gaming Tuning mode, or you can take full control in Hardcore Tuning mode. In that mode, you can take total control of your phone to find the best combination of settings for your needs, all without rooting it.
Supercharged visuals
The ROG Phone 3’s stunning 6.6” 144Hz 1ms AMOLED screen is prepared to take your mobile gameplay to the next level. The 144Hz refresh rate offers the most fluid and blur-free gaming experience that you can get in a phone.
But just because you can run every game at 144FPS doesn’t mean it’s always the best option. More casual titles don’t need the benefits like lower input lag, even if the visuals are more fluid at higher frame rates. And the more frames per second your phone is pushing out, the more power it uses. This is why you can set the operating mode of your screen to 144Hz, 120Hz, 90Hz, or 60Hz. You can also set your screen’s refresh rate to an Auto mode that strikes the best balance between battery life and performance.
The touchscreen on a gaming phone is the equivalent of the keyboard and mouse on your desktop battlestation. Since your movement and actions are channeled through the touchscreen, minimal latency is paramount. That’s why the ROG Phone 3 has a touch latency of 25ms and a slide latency of 18ms, the lowest latency of any phone. It also features an incredibly fast 270Hz touch-sampling rate, which means the screen is reporting on a touch point’s location 270 times every second. The higher the frequency of the sampling rate, the quicker your device registers movement or a trigger pull.
Color accuracy might not be at the top of every competitive gamer’s wishlist, but it can have a profound effect on your immersive experience. That’s why the ROG Phone 3’s display is one of the most color-accurate mobile screens on the market. Each display is calibrated to an average Delta-E of <1 with a wide 113% DCI-P3 gamut coverage to ensure that it displays perfect colors right out of the box. HDR10+ support and a peak brightness of 1000 nits let HDR content shine brightly when it’s time to kick back with Netflix or other content sources.
Landscape gaming at its finest
If you’ve ever tried to play a mobile shooter on a traditional phone while it’s charging, then you’ll understand why we’ve kept the ROG Phone’s trademark side-mounted USB-C port on our third-generation design. This port allows you to charge your phone or connect other devices without interfering with your hand placement.
Speaking of hand placement, you’ll find that your index fingers naturally curl around the corners of your phone in landscape mode, just as they do on a game controller. We put those corners to use with AirTrigger 3 technology. These ultrasonic sensors register presses to emulate the functionality of a typical controller. These buttons are tied to specific touch points on the screen that are activated when pressed.
Previously, the AirTriggers served as simple shoulder buttons, but we’ve upgraded them to do so much more. They now support twice as many contact points, swiping gestures, and motion control, giving you five different ways to use them. You can now configure them as two traditional shoulder buttons, or divide each of them into a pair of narrower shoulder buttons. You can also hold down the buttons to trigger multiple clicks, swipe left or right on the buttons to trigger a new set of touch points, or shake the entire phone to trigger yet another custom input.
Nonstop stamina for all-day gaming
One of the features on the ROG Phone II that made waves was its impressive all-day battery. We know how important it is to game without worrying about how much juice you have left, so we’ve kept the same impressive 6000mAh battery in the ROG Phone 3.
Just having a large battery isn’t enough, however. ASUS PowerMaster software puts smarts behind the battery to maximize its potential. You can now choose from two different custom modes that give you full control over a variety of functions and features that impact battery life. You can customize six connectivity options, five display options, and audio volume settings for the perfect balance of performance and power consumption. You can also choose to hibernate apps to limit their background activity, which can save up to 67% of power in standby.
To charge this huge battery swiftly, we’ve included a 30W charger that supports Quick Charge 4.0. ASUS Hypercharge technology places the charging circuitry inside the adapter instead of the phone. This design minimizes the amount of heat produced in the phone to maintain the overall health of your device’s battery. And if you need to top off your phone during the day, it takes just 45 minutes to charge the battery up to 4510mAh.
The most immersive audio experience for mobile gaming
Audio fidelity is a critical, if oft-overlooked, part of any gaming experience. We’ve upgraded the ROG Phone 3 with our GameFX technology. This approach includes bigger dual front-facing speakers with seven magnets in each. Both speakers are individually powered by NXP Smart Amplifiers for the highest fidelity possible in such a small package.
The ROG Phone 3 uses Dirac HD Sound Technology Software to deliver impulse and frequency response correction, bass enhancement, volume enhancement, and crosstalk cancellation with sound stage widening to help you create the best audio experience possible. The exclusive game mode actively adapts to gameplay and enhances the stereo effect while tuning specific frequencies to make things like footsteps easier to hear during battle.
You don’t have to take our word on the effectiveness of this careful fusion of hardware and software tuning, either. In the DXOMark Audio test of audio fidelity, the ROG Phone 3 received a score of 75, making it the second-highest-rated phone by that measure so far.
For further tuning, our ASUS AudioWizard app is an easy-to-use 7-band equalizer with an additional boost for treble and bass. You can select one of the six EQ presets or set your own to finely tune the audio from your speakers or another external device. If you’re using one of our ROG headsets, then you’ll benefit from special profile support that unlocks advanced impulse and frequency response correction, and gives you access to the same exclusive Game Mode audio settings used by the integrated speakers.
Capturing life beyond gaming
With the powerful Snapdragon 865 Plus application processor and stunning 144Hz AMOLED screen, it would be easy to pigeonhole the ROG Phone 3 as a gaming device and nothing more. We understand that when you’re not fighting it out on the battlefield, your phone is your gateway to the rest of the connected world. It’s also your lens for capturing your most important moments. To help you share your triumphs with the world, we’ve equipped the ROG Phone 3 with a flagship Sony IMX686 64MP primary sensor that gets its photons through a fast f/1.8 lens. You also get a 13MP ultrawide camera with a 125° field of view and a 5MP macro camera to take the best shots possible outside of a virtual battleground.
We’ve also upgraded the ROG Phone 3’s video capabilities. You can now record HDR video with directional audio for the best audio and visual fidelity in your videos. You can shoot video in resolutions up to 8K at 30FPS and 4K at up to 60 FPS. Stretch out fast-moving moments with slow-motion recordings at 480FPS in Full HD or 120FPS in 4K. And for those videophiles that want full control over their recordings, you’ll be thrilled to hear that we’ve added a new Pro Video mode that gives you access to all of the manual video settings, just like you can in our Pro Photo mode for still images.
Round out your arsenal with ROG Phone 3 accessories
Just like the last generation, we’ve constructed an entire arsenal of new accessories to help transform your ROG Phone 3 into the ultimate portable gaming device.
The ROG Kunai 3 Gamepad has been redesigned to provide the best versatility, whether you’re using the phone by itself, or with an external display. The Kunai 3 is made up of four modular components that can be rearranged depending on how you’re playing. Handheld mode attaches one Bluetooth controller to each side of the phone, or you can attach both controllers to either the full-size or lightweight gamepad, depending on your preference.
The ROG Gaming Clip holds your phone in landscape mode and clips onto an Xbox, PlayStation, or Stadia controller. The variable clip is compatible with any phone that’s between 69mm and 80mm wide, including the ROG Phone 3, and can be adjusted to the optimal viewing angle for gaming.
If the bundled case isn’t eye-catching enough for you, then look no further than the ROG Lighting Armor Case 3. This case keeps your phone protected from wear and tear, and sports a head-turning Aura RGB ROG logo on the back that you can customize with various lighting effects to match your style. The case uses NFC to communicate with your phone to apply a matched theme with wallpaper, icons, and sounds for a unique and uniform look.
One 6.6” 144Hz AMOLED screen is great, but what about a second? If you multitask while gaming, it can be difficult to keep an eye on things like chat apps or Twitch streams. But with the ROG TwinView Dock 3, you can add a second display above your phone. This is great for streaming, watching YouTube videos or tutorials while you play, or for games that let you take advantage of a second screen. The TwinView Dock and Kunai Gamepad can also be used together for the most comfortable mobile gaming experience.
While a pair of USB-C ports are enough for most people, those who like to connect extras like headsets, external monitors, and wired controllers to their phone will appreciate the Professional Dock. This dock uses a single USB-C port and gives you an HDMI output, two USB Type-A ports, an Ethernet jack, and an additional USB-C port for charging.
If you want to transform your ROG Phone 3 into a desktop gaming rig, then our Mobile Desktop Dock lets you do just that. This dock gives you everything a laptop or desktop would offer: Four USB 3.1 Type-A ports, a DisplayPort and HDMI connections capable of outputting 4K 60Hz, Gigabit LAN, and 3.5mm audio jacks. What’s more, you can connect a PC to the dock to seamlessly switch between the same hardware on both devices.
It might seem a bit strange to connect a keyboard and mouse to your phone, but with Game Genie in the Armoury Crate app, you can remap touchscreen actions to a traditional keyboard to play just like you would on a desktop.
Lucky number 3
We designed the ROG Phone 3 with a laser focus on the needs of the most demanding mobile gamers around, and we’ve changed the game again. The powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus mobile platform and our comprehensive GameCool 3 heatsink system, plus the 144Hz HDR screen, massive 6000mAh battery, AirTriggers, and flexible accessory ecosystem let you use the ROG Phone 3 to play how you want, when you want, all with the leading performance you need to come out on top.
For more information on pricing, availability, and specifications of the ROG Phone 3 in your region, please contact your local ASUS representative.
