Razer has just announced a sequel to their popular smartphone. The new Razer Phone 2 is now here and it brings tons of polishing and improvements over its predecessor.
If you haven’t noticed, gamer-centric smartphones are gaining a lot of steam lately. And considering that Razer is prominently known for their gaming products, we expect nothing less from the Razer Phone 2.
However, Razer isn’t the only tech company that has gaming DNA running on its veins. ASUS’ Republic of Gamers brand, as what the name suggests, is also known for their high-powered and RGB-lit hardware.
The ASUS Republic of Gamers, much like Razer, has also ventured the gaming smartphone business with their aptly named ASUS ROG Phone.
Just recently, the company announced that they will be bringing their highly-anticipated device here in the country. That’s after a couple of months since the handset was made official.
With that, we’re excited to see how it stacks up with another resounding name in the mobile gaming field. So here in our Razer Phone 2 versus ASUS ROG Phone specifications and features comparison, we’ll see which between these top-caliber gaming smartphones should you get once they arrive here in the Philippines. Let’s begin!
| Razer Phone 2 | ASUS ROG Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 8.1 Oreo | Android 8.1 Oreo ROG Gaming UI |
| SIM | Single SIM | Single SIM |
| Display | 5.7-inch QHD IGZO 2560 x 1440 pixel resolutio ~515ppi 16:9 aspect ratio 120Hz refresh rate HDR DCI-P3 color gamut Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | 6-inch FHD+ AMOLED 2160 x 1080 resolution ~402ppi 18:9 aspect ratio 90Hz refresh rate 1ms response time 108.6% DCI-P3 color gamut HDR Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Processor | 2.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 octa-core Vapor Chamber Cooling | 2.96GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 octa-core Vapor Chamber Cooling |
| GPU | Adreno 630 | Adreno 630 |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 64GB UFS expandable via microSD up to 1TB | 64GB /128GB UFS 2.1 non-expandable |
| Front Camera | 8-megapixel f/2.0 | 8-megapixel f/2.0 |
| Rear Camera | 12-megapixel (f/1.75, OIS) + 12-megapixel (f/2.6, telephoto) dual-pixel PDAF dual-tone flash | 12-megapixel (f/1.8, OIS) + 8-megapixel (120-degree wide-angle) dual-pixel PDAF AI scene detection LED flash |
| Security | Fingerprint scanner | Fingerprint scanner |
| Audio | Stereo front speaker Dual Amplifiers Dolby Atmos USB-C to 3.5mm adapter w/ 24-bit DAC included | Stereo front speaker DTS Headphone:X 7.1 virtual surround 24-bit Hi-Res Audio |
| Connectivity | HSPA+, 4G LTE WIFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ad, 2×2 MIMO Bluetooth 5.0 GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou USB Type-C | HSPA+, 4G LTE WIFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ad, 2×2 MIMO WiGig 802.11 ad wireless display support Bluetooth 5.0 GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou NFC Custom USB port on the side (supports USB 3.1, DisplayPort 1.4, 15w fast charging) |
| Others | Razer Chroma RGB logo IP67 water resistant | 2x Ultrasonic AirTriggers ASUS AURA RGB Logo Compatible with ASUS mobile gaming accessories Water resistant |
| Dimensions | 158.5 x 78.99 x 8.5mm | 158.8 x 76.2 x 8.6mm |
| Weight | - | 200g |
| Colors | Mirror Black Satin Black | Black |
| Battery | 4,000mAh non-removable Quick Charge 4.0+ Fast wireless charging | 4,000mAh battery non-removable Quick Charge 4.0+ ASUS HyperCharge |
| Price | USD799 (~Php43,400) | 8GB + 128GB — CNY 5,999 (~Php47,100) 8GB + 512GB — CNY 7,999 (~Php62,800) E-sports Armor Limited Edition — CNY 12,999 (~Php102,000) |
Both Razer and ASUS have come up with some of the most interesting high-end devices today. As you can see, both the Razer Phone 2 and ASUS ROG Phone pack tons of features that would appeal not just mobile gamers, but also the casual smartphone fans who want to get the most out of their smartphones.
With that said, it’s really hard to say which between these two devices is the winner. But from what it looks like, the ASUS ROG Phone has more gaming-centric features than the Razer Phone 2.
For one, its aggressive and edgy design can easily make any gamer drool. The design accent, color scheme, and tons of tiny touches clearly say that this is indeed a device made for gamers.
On the other hand, Razer went with the minimalistic route on the Razer Phone 2. The device has a cleaner design, but keeps the Razer Chroma RGB-lit logo on the back as a signage that says this is a gaming device.
Other than the design, ASUS has also come up with tons of gaming accessories that are designed specifically for the ROG Phone. Some of them include the TwinView Dock, AeroActive Cooler, Phone dock, and more.
ASUS even included two Ultrasonic AirTriggers, which acts as built-in dedicated controls when playing compatible games.
But if you want something that’s more subtle and feels like a real and elegant flagship device, then you might want to go with the Razer Phone 2.
Besides the minimalistic design, Razer’s offering has a more compelling set of cameras. Its secondary 12-megapixel rear camera offers more sharpness than the 8-megapixel wide-angle shooter that the ROG Phone has.
Razer also prioritized the listening experience on their newest smartphone. It may lack a built-in headphone jack, but Razer did include an adapter in the box, which comes with a 24-bit DAC for the best audio output on your headphones.
See also: ASUS ROG Phone vs Samsung Galaxy S9: Specs Comparison
Lastly, the Razer Phone is slightly cheaper than the ASUS ROG Phone. Although the official prices in the Philippines are yet to be announced, their converted prices from other markets suggest that Razer’s offering will be at least Php3,000 cheaper than ASUS’ if and when it gets here.
But if you’re wondering about the performance, you don’t have to. These two devices are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor, which is easily one of the most powerful chipsets in the market today.
They also come with Vapor Chamber Cooling, which keeps the temperatures down so the performance wouldn’t be compromised even when you’re playing for hours.
In conclusion, if you really are a gamer by heart, then the ASUS ROG Phone is, without a doubt, the one for you. But if the ROG Phone’s gaming shenanigans don’t fit your taste, but still want an uncompromised gaming performance, then you might want to check out the Razer Phone 2.