Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro review: Pushing the boundaries of mobile gaming
Like Google, ASUS has refined its hardware strategy with its sixth effort. The ROG Phone 6 Pro is a distinct upgrade over last year’s ROG Phone 5, coupled with a continued focus on delivering the best mobile gaming experience on the market.
The combination of powerful hardware and useful software ensures that gaming is a breeze, but those who intend to use it as their daily driver may run into disappointments here and there. With an asking price of $1,000, the ROG 6 Pro is a niche device for a certain group, but it certainly excels in its niche.
Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro: Network compatibility and connectivity
The ROG Phone 6 Pro launched with new features etc, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, and support for the global 5G band. But without CDMA community compatibility, US customers may not be capable of using the ROG 6 Pro on Verizon or Sprint’s networks (now beneath neath T-Mobile).
However, the most important bands are accessed on AT&T networks. The ROG Phone 6 Pro supports AT&T’s 700MHz band, which is the backbone of its LTE network. Unfortunately, there’s no mmWave support, so while AT&T subscribers should get nationwide coverage, they’ll lack the blazing speeds that similarly priced phones can access.
Outside of the US, where CDMA networks are virtually non-existent, users will have support for most major networks in their area. For example, in the UK, ROG Phone 6 Pro owners can access the major bands of each network. While testing the phone on Vodafone’s network, I encountered zero connectivity issues while streaming data.
During my month with the phone, I had regular pace and connectivity, whether or not making voice calls, streaming music, or video calling friends. Everything becomes clear. I also tested streaming games via Xbox’s Game Pass app and ran through multiple rounds of Halo Infinite on Vodafone’s 5G network without issue, so data connections were solid.
What is in the box of the Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro
ASUS recently downplayed the gamer aesthetic, but the ASUS ROG 6 Pro takes it back a notch. Using the ROG Phone 6 Pro as my daily driver, I asked a few people what on earth I was using as the phone stood out in a crowd.
The ROG 6 Pro echoes the same aesthetic and features as last year’s ROG 5. Two touch-based triggers also return, along with ROG’s two USB-C ports. There’s still no notch or cutout camera, and the dual speakers are still up front. The good thing is that you get contrasting colors with the SIM slot and power button, which offer a pop of color that stands out from the rest of the design.
Powering the ROG 6 Pro is a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, coupled with 18GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage. These are the top-of-the-line specs necessary to run the phone’s HD screen at high frame rates.
The screen is 1080p, a 6.78-inch display similar to last year’s model, with sharp, bright colors. A 165hz refresh rate may be unnecessary, but I found myself going out of my way to play games with an uncapped frame rate just to enjoy the screen’s capabilities. While you can lock the refresh rate, sticking with the phone’s auto setting will automatically adjust the frame rate, depending on the app, game, or battery life.
