ASUS launches smartphone to make gaming experience ‘immersive’ — the first in its Republic of Gamers line-up

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  • The ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) phone just launched in India at the price of ₹69,999.
  • This is the first smartphone from ASUS’ ROG lineup.
  • It is also the first phone to feature the Snapdragon 845 chipset in India.
  • Asus hopes the phone and its five accessories will change the content viewing experience for gamers to be completely ‘immersive’.
  • The phone’s unique selling point is its ‘Game Center’ that comes on most ROG devices.
Initially announced at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018, the ASUS ROG was finally launched in India today at the price of ₹69,999. This is first smartphone in the Republic of Gamers (ROG) line-up by ASUS.

At this high price point, the phone caters to a niche audience of gamers who are looking for a phone that is optimised for gaming. That being said, as a gaming phone the device’s specifications are at par with what you would find on any feature phone.

ASUS launches smartphone to make gaming experience ‘immersive’ — the first in its Republic of Gamers line-up

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First impressions
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​The ASUS ROG phone seems to be a pretty comprehensive device for any individual’s gaming requirements. And considering that it’s a gaming phone, ASUS has ensured that durability hasn’t been compromised despite its high-end specifications.

​The ASUS ROG phone seems to be a pretty comprehensive device for any individual’s gaming requirements. And considering that it’s a gaming phone, ASUS has ensured that durability hasn’t been compromised despite its high-end specifications.

The phone, which is lighter than it looks, seemed smooth during the time we used it and definitely made gaming more fun while using its features -- TwinView Dock and GameVice. The former allows your game to distribute itself across two screens while the latter allows you to operate your phone in a PSP or GameBoy fashion.

The phone, which is lighter than it looks, seemed smooth during the time we used it and definitely made gaming more fun while using its features -- TwinView Dock and GameVice. The former allows your game to distribute itself across two screens while the latter allows you to operate your phone in a PSP or GameBoy fashion.
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The phone has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset, making the ASUS ROG phone the first device in India to feature that system-on-a-chip (SoC). The front of the phone has Gorilla Glass 6 protection, while on average, most phones are still only offering Gorilla Glass 3 protection. Even the back of the phone has Gorilla Glass 5 protection that blended into its metal exterior.

The phone has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset, making the ASUS ROG phone the first device in India to feature that system-on-a-chip (SoC). The front of the phone has Gorilla Glass 6 protection, while on average, most phones are still only offering Gorilla Glass 3 protection. Even the back of the phone has Gorilla Glass 5 protection that blended into its metal exterior.

The 6-inch AMOLED screen has be optimised for gaming since it can support a 90 hertz (Hz) refresh rate at 1 milliseconds (ms), which is the most that any game in the market requires at this point of time.

The 6-inch AMOLED screen has be optimised for gaming since it can support a 90 hertz (Hz) refresh rate at 1 milliseconds (ms), which is the most that any game in the market requires at this point of time.
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Many gamers complain that phones tend to overheat after excessive gaming. To address this, ASUS has a built-in 3D vapour chamber cooling system that includes a cooling pad, heat spreaders and chamber cooling.

Many gamers complain that phones tend to overheat after excessive gaming. To address this, ASUS has a built-in 3D vapour chamber cooling system that includes a cooling pad, heat spreaders and chamber cooling.

In addition, the air cooler module comes in-box with the device and the company claims that it reduces heating by 4.7%. Attaching the air cooler module to the phone won’t hamper usage since it’s a center weighted device that doesn’t block the charging port, it says.

In addition, the air cooler module comes in-box with the device and the company claims that it reduces heating by 4.7%. Attaching the air cooler module to the phone won’t hamper usage since it’s a center weighted device that doesn’t block the charging port, it says.
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Speaking of charging ports, the ASUS ROG phone has two: there’s a Quick Charge 3.0 port at the bottom and a Quick Charge 4.0 port on the left hand side.

Speaking of charging ports, the ASUS ROG phone has two: there’s a Quick Charge 3.0 port at the bottom and a Quick Charge 4.0 port on the left hand side.

The left-side port is useful when gaming since most games require a horizontal orientation.

The left-side port is useful when gaming since most games require a horizontal orientation.
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The phone also can be configured to the squeeze of your hand that can be configured to four different actions, a short or long squeeze that can variate functions depending on whether your phone is locked or unlocked.

The phone also can be configured to the squeeze of your hand that can be configured to four different actions, a short or long squeeze that can variate functions depending on whether your phone is locked or unlocked.

The phone’s ‘X Mode’ — that can also be called the gaming mode — enables the phone’s ‘Game Center’. The ‘Game Center’ allows users to customise game profiles, monitor phone performance and disable notifications while gaming.

The phone’s ‘X Mode’ — that can also be called the gaming mode — enables the phone’s ‘Game Center’. The ‘Game Center’ allows users to customise game profiles, monitor phone performance and disable notifications while gaming.
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According to Dinesh Sharma, the Head of Mobile Business for ASUS India, the ROG phone looks to make the gaming experience completely ‘immersive’ for users through its 5 accompanying accessories — the air cooler module, the ASUS professional dock, GameVice, TwinView Dock, Mobile Desktop Dock.

According to Dinesh Sharma, the Head of Mobile Business for ASUS India, the ROG phone looks to make the gaming experience completely ‘immersive’ for users through its 5 accompanying accessories — the air cooler module, the ASUS professional dock, GameVice, TwinView Dock, Mobile Desktop Dock.

While the air cooler module comes in-box, the four accessories will have to be bought separately.

While the air cooler module comes in-box, the four accessories will have to be bought separately.
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The ROG phone will exclusively be available on Flipkart at ₹69,999. Users can opt to buy it through 12 months no cost EMI models across all debit and credit cards. Through this offer the phone will cost ₹5,833 per month.

The ROG phone will exclusively be available on Flipkart at ₹69,999. Users can opt to buy it through 12 months no cost EMI models across all debit and credit cards. Through this offer the phone will cost ₹5,833 per month.
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