ASUS on Monday announced that its latest gaming smartphone, the ROG Phone 3, is now available in the U.S., and you can get it through Amazon, B&H, or the ASUS Store for $999. There’s also a version you can get with a whopping 16GB of RAM for $1,099. The phone is compatible with AT&T, T-Mobile, and their various MVNOs, and yes, that includes support for VoLTE/VoWiFi.
The ASUS ROG Phone 3 stands out for its raw power and focus on a premium gaming experience. If all you care about is specs, the device features many of the latest advancements, including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus processor with sub-6GHz 5G support, a massive 6000mAh battery, a triple-camera setup, and up to 512GB of storage. There are also ultrasonic shoulder buttons, two USB-C ports, and a clip-on fan accessory called the AeroActive Cooler. These features mean you’ll get a superior gaming experience for titles like PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, and more.
ROG Phone 3 features a large 6.59-inch AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate (and a hidden 160Hz refresh rate), Bluetooth 5.1, and integrated dual-band WiFi 6. In other words, this thing is future-proof, making it a great option against other flagships on the market. The device also has an under-display fingerprint sensor, which is convenient in today’s world where wearing a mask has become part of the norm.
In terms of gaming, the ROG Phone 3 offers a lot of features that elevate the experience, including X-Mode, GameGenie and AirTrigger gestures, AeroActive Cooler 3, Bypass Charging, and more. These features combine to offer an incredible gaming experience — and if you pair a controller with the phone (like the ROG Kunai 3), you’ll never see mobile gaming the same way again, especially with services such as Stadia on the market.
We reviewed the ROG Phone 3 over the summer and concluded that not only is the device the king of gaming smartphones, but it’s among the best smartphones overall. About the only complaint we had is the fact that the device doesn’t feature a 3.5mm headphone jack, which the company said it eliminated in order to accommodate the extra PCB space needed for the external Snapdragon X55 5G modem.
The device runs ROG UI based on Android 10 out of the box, but the stock OS and kernel can be swapped after unlocking the bootloader. ASUS has sent several ROG Phone 3 units to developers on our forums, so if you're interested in modding this gaming phone, keep an eye out on our forums in the coming weeks.
Overall, we think the ROG Phone 3 is the best gaming smartphone of 2020, and now you can buy it in the U.S. The device is powerful, the features are great, and it offers plenty of the market’s latest innovations. Whether you’re searching for a gaming smartphone or simply just want a good smartphone, the ROG Phone 3 is worth checking out.
ASUS ROG Phone 3
- Amazon
- View at Amazon
You can check out the ROG Phone 3 from the ASUS online store, B&H Photo, or Amazon starting today. You can also pick up a bunch of the phone's accessories at various prices. We'll have our reviews up on these accessories soon, so keep an eye out in the coming days!
