Asus ROG Phone 7 Series: The Last Dedicated Gaming Phone in India?
As far as the cameras are concerned, the Asus ROG Phone 7 on the rear packs a triple camera setup featuring a 50-megapixel primary camera; a 13-megapixel (ultra wide-angle) camera, and an 8-megapixel (macro) camera. It has a single front camera setup for selfies, featuring a 32-megapixel sensor.
The Asus ROG Phone 7 runs ROG UI is based on Android 13 and packs 256GB of inbuilt storage. The Asus ROG Phone 7 is a dual-SIM mobile that accepts Nano-SIM and Nano-SIM cards. The Asus ROG Phone 7 measures 173.00 x 77.00 x 10.30mm (height x width x thickness) and weighs 239.00 grams. It was launched in Storm White and Phantom Black colours. It features an IP54 rating for dust and water protection.
Connectivity options on the Asus ROG Phone 7 include Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, GPS, Bluetooth v5.30, NFC, and USB Type-C. Sensors on the phone include accelerometer, ambient light sensor, compass/ magnetometer, proximity sensor, and in-display fingerprint sensor.
As of 19th April 2023, Asus ROG Phone 7 price in India starts at Rs. 74,999.
Asus ROG Phone 7 Full Specifications
AUSU ROG PHONE 7 REVIEW
In India, Asus is now the only company still selling powerful, dedicated gaming phones. The ROG Phone 7 series features the latest flagship Qualcomm SoC, indicating that the Taiwanese giant is still committed to making improvements even as its competitors have fallen back. However, the question remains: is a gaming phone still relevant in 2023, and would a more mainstream phone that is less powerful, more affordable, and easier to carry be a better choice?
The two versions of the phone - the standard ROG Phone 7 and the ROG 7 Ultimate, which has more RAM and storage, a small PMOLED display on the back, and a vent that can physically open for better cooling - are similar in terms of design and features to previous models. Both phones have the same specifications and dimensions, but the Ultimate version costs a whopping Rs. 99,999, while the AeroActive Cooler 7, which is included with the Ultimate unit, costs Rs. 6,999. The phone's thickness and weight are similar to those of other flagship phones, but it may not be as comfortable for everyday use. The phone's borders around the screen are thick, providing no notch or hole for the front camera, and there are dual front-firing speakers for balanced stereo sound.
The ROG Phone 7 series has a 6.78-inch screen with a 1080x2448-pixel resolution, a 165Hz maximum refresh rate, and a 720Hz maximum touch sampling rate, with a 1500nit peak brightness and auto HDR conversion. The phone is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 with its integrated Adreno 740 GPU, with the standard version having 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage, and the Ultimate version having 16GB and 512GB, respectively. The phone also features two 3000mAh battery units, which allow for quicker charging and improved heat dissipation, 65W USB-PD fast charging, and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity. The phone has Gorilla Glass Victus on the front and Gorilla Glass 3 on the back, with an IP54 rating for both models. However, the Ultimate model's cooling vent on the back negates the IP54 rating when open.
The AeroActive Cooler 7 is a clip-on fan attachment that interfaces physically with the phone's cooling system to conduct heat out of its body. The attachment has a small subwoofer, four physical trigger buttons, and RGB LEDs. The ROG Phone 7 features gamer-centric design, prioritizing things like front-firing speakers and highly effective cooling over reducing weight. It also has dedicated “AirTrigger” sensors on the frame which line up with your forefingers to act as physical controls in games. Moreover, there are plenty of software tweaks, letting you program the AirTriggers and create macros, apply game-specific UI themes, choose a performance preset, and fine-tune graphics and other hardware parameters. However, the phone's cameras may not match those of today's more common premium Android phones at this price. The phone is not for everyone, as it only makes sense for those who value gaming performance above all else, and who will use the triggers and software tweaks.
At the end of the day, whether a gaming phone is relevant or not in 2023 depends on individual preferences and needs. If you're a serious gamer and want the best possible experience on a mobile device, then the ROG Phone 7 series may be worth considering. However, if you prioritize a more mainstream phone with a better camera and more affordable price point, then the ROG Phone 7 series may not be the best option for you.
