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Asus' latest ROG phones marked a notable design shift for the brand. While previous phones, like the ROG 7 Ultimate, were flashy gaming devices, the ROG 8 and 8 Pro attempt to interest mainstream Android users. While this means the phones don't look out of place compared to the Samsung Galaxys and Google Pixels that regularly top our list of the best Android phones, gaming enthusiasts may be disappointed by the compromises made to reach this point.
Asus started 2024 in great fashion, launching the powerful ROG Phone 8 last month. Since then, we've also received extensive information on a potential Zenfone 10 successor launching soon, dubbed the Zenfone 11 Ultra. However, prematurely leaked renders indicated that the new device would merely be a rebrand of the ROG Phone 8. We don't have to wait much longer to get confirmation on this front, as Asus has just sent out invites for the phone's launch, and it's not when you'd expect.
Last year, there was a rumor floating around that Asus would stop making the Zenfone, to the chagrin of all small phone lovers out there. This rumor turned out to be untrue, but with a recent leak that showcases the upcoming Zenfone 11 Ultra, brought to light by Mishaal Rahman on X (via Reddit user Td3v1l), it looks as though Asus has rebadged the ROG 8 as a Zenfone Ultra, complete with a 6.78-inch screen, which surely doesn't sound very small, lending credence to the once squashed rumor small Zenfones might become a thing of the past.
Best Asus Chromebooks in 2024
Asus has a lot of Chromebooks, and we've handpicked the best of the best
Asus makes some of the most well-rounded laptops on the market at just about every price point. Whether you need one of the best Chromebooks on the market or something more budget-friendly, Asus surely has a laptop to suit your needs.
The Asus ROG Phone 8 redefines what gaming phones look like
Asus’ latest gaming phone is 15% thinner than its predecessor
The problem with the best gaming phones is that they are big and bulky. This makes it difficult to carry them around, though it is a compromise you have to make if you want all the extra goodies that such phones usually come with. Asus is changing the game with its latest gaming phone: the ROG Phone 8 series. The device ships with a revamped design, which is a lot sleeker than what you find in previous ROG phones. Additionally, the Taiwanese company has equipped its 2024 gaming phone with decent cameras, including a telephoto sensor.
Asus' next ROG Phone could regain a feature from the past
The ROG Phone 8 series goes official in less than a week
The Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate was our favorite gaming phone of 2023, and for good reason. The phone is packed to the gills with top-notch hardware, excellent build quality, and all the features you could ask for as a gamer. For 2024, the Taiwanese company is gearing up to announce the ROG Phone 8 earlier than usual, with the device scheduled to debut at CES next week. Leaks have already revealed the Phone 8's design and specs. A new leak now gives us our first look at the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro and its unique LED lights at the rear.
The Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate upped the ante of what a gaming phone should be
Asus reigns supreme with the most gamer-oriented gaming phone we've seen
The votes are in, and the entire team has determined the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate was indeed our favorite Android gaming phone of the year. It was also the most expensive, retailing for $1400. Of course, I'm not shy about how much I like the phone in my review, as it offers a culmination of Asus's gaming experience, resulting in a device clearly tuned for playing the best mobile games, from its front-facing speakers, dual USB-C charging ports, to the unobstructed high framerate screen (no pinhole cameras to be found). Sure, you'll have to pony up a sizeable chunk of change to get such a polished device made for gaming, but for anyone who takes video games seriously, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate truly is the best of the best smartphones made for gaming we've seen this year.
Latest ROG Phone 8 leak reveals otherworldly specs
Asus could make two variants, including a beastly Pro model
Gaming smartphones used to be all the rage back in the day, as they were seen as the next step to handheld gaming. Readers may remember the Sony Xperia Play, which legitimately had a PSP Go-style control scheme and slide-up hinges that made it priority number one on gamers’ Christmas lists. There’s been pushback against that ideology in the years that followed, as many people want a distinct divide in portable gaming sessions and phone usage. Some companies persist, though, and there are very few out there who have invested as much into handheld gaming in recent years as Asus. Creators of the ROG Ally handheld gaming PC, Asus has put itself in a great position for gamers on the go. Asus’ gaming-centric smartphones are an example of this, and we now know more of what to expect and get excited about from the upcoming Asus ROG Phone 8 after renders and specs were leaked.
Despite the presence of several powerful flagships today, gaming phones are not quite as common as they should be. But one of the few companies that continues to provide something for gamers is Asus. Under its ROG (Republic of Gamers) range of gaming handsets, the company has annually released power-packed phones, albeit with a steep price tag. We loved this year's ROG Phone 7, which serves as the rightful heir to our gaming phone of 2022. We're now getting official confirmation of the next-generation ROG Phone 8's imminent launch, along with a small glimpse of the phone itself.
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 review: Productivity on point
Subtly sweet software and sturdy hardware make for a dependable laptop
A new generation of Chromebooks is upon us! The Chromebook Plus series aims to pull Chromebook specs into the present and help users find the best Chrome OS experience without having to obsess over numbers and standards. (After all, that’s my job.) This is a promising idea, taking the guesswork out of buying a great Chromebook for consumers while also providing a clear standard for Chrome OS devices moving forward.
Google's new Chromebook Plus category doubles performance standards
The next generation of Chromebook standards are here with 8 new laptops
No matter how far Chromebooks come, they continue to be defined by "cheap," budget-focused laptops that "don't get the job done." I strongly disagree with this sentiment, as I've worked full-time from Chrome OS computers for the last seven years, but there's no denying that when normal folks go hunting for a new laptop, it can get tricky to figure out which ones are the best Chromebooks without having to dig into reviews for each and every model.
Asus sues Samsung for infringing mobile patents, may take several years to resolve
Alleged violations of wireless communication patents could see Samsung in hot water
Asus is slowly but surely gaining more ground in global markets. After years of success selling computers, the Taiwanese electronics company shifted gears to curating smartphones, a progressive process that could take some more time to reach maturity. Being a high-end tech company, Asus could be exposed to legal threats due to its numerous inventions. Hence, it has established a wide variety of patents to not only shield itself from legal violations but also make revenue.
Asus shoots down rumors it's done making Zenfones
The Taiwanese manufacturer rejects claims it could join LG and HTC in leaving the smartphone market
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Your options are limited if you are in the market for a compact phone. Besides Samsung's Galaxy S23, Asus is the only Android manufacturer making small phones with flagship specs. As noted in our Asus Zenfone 10 review, it is among the few of the (good) small phones worth buying. Sadly, the Zenfone 10 could end up being the last flagship compact smartphone from the Taiwanese company, as the entire Zenfone team has been laid off.
Asus swears its Zenfone bootloader unlock tool is not going anywhere
A company’s support report erroneously claimed the bootloader unlock tool won’t work with the Zenfone 10
Back in the day, there were plenty of custom ROMs and mods you could install on your phone as long as you were ready to unlock its bootloader. As Android has matured, though, the custom ROM community is no longer as active. Plus, many manufacturers have stopped offering the ability to unlock their phone's bootloader, citing safety and security concerns. Asus was an exception to this list, and despite some recent confusion, the company remains committed to its bootloader unlock tool.
Sharing links from Android's Recents menu is no longer a Pixel-exclusive feature
With Android 12, Pixels gained the ability to share links from the Recents menu — now it's time for Asus devices to join the fun
Google's Pixel hardware leads the pack of the best Android phones around, and part of that success rests on loads of software features that you can’t find on other devices. Pixel-exclusive features like Now Playing, Live Translate, Call Screen, and more are so nifty that people jump through hoops to install ported/modded/replicated versions of them — or even custom ROMs that enable them. As a consequence, we're always happy to see when an effort is made to bring some of that functionality to other Android devices — and that seems to be what's happening right now.
Gaze at the colorful Asus Zenfone 10 ahead of its official launch
Leaked images leave nothing to the imagination
The Asus Zenfone 9 is currently our favorite small phone with flagship-tier specs and dual cameras in an era where even the best budget phones have three lenses on the back. Now, we are preparing to see its successor, the Asus Zenfone 10, launch later this month. We already know quite a lot about the phone, but ahead of the launch, we now have a first look at the hardware design.
The next Asus ROG gaming superphone will be here in under a month
Asus launched the ROG Phone 6 series in July 2022
Asus made a name for itself with its small but capable flagship phone, the Zenfone 9. On top of that, the company virtually owns the smartphone gaming sector with the ROG (Republic of Gamers) series of phones. Last year's iteration, the ROG Phone 6, is among the best gaming phones we know, and for good reason. While the ROG Phone 6 and its Pro sibling broke cover in July 2022, it looks like Asus may be ready to launch the successor(s) a few months earlier this year, with the company sharing a virtual ROG Phone 7 event invitation scheduled for April 13.
The Zenfone 10 may lose the best part of flagship Asus phones
New leak spills the beans on the next Asus flagship
The Asus Zenfone 9 broke cover in the middle of last year with an impressive spec sheet and a rather complex pre-order period. Regardless, we were quite impressed with the device, especially the unique display size, which placed it among the most comfortable phones to use. While the Zenfone 9 wasn't particularly a chart-topper, it's clear that Asus isn't giving up on its smartphone dreams yet. To this end, a new leak has now detailed the successor to the company’s 2022 flagship, dubbed the Zenfone 10, supposedly arriving later this year.
The Asus ZenFone 9 gets its first taste of Paranoid Android Topaz
Also, a bunch of OnePlus phones get stable builds
Asus's ROG Phone 6 was our gaming phone of the year for 2022, but the Taiwan-based manufacturer has also become known for tiny yet zippy flagship phones such as the ZenFone 8 series which received its Android 13 update from the company last month. The more recent ZenFone 9 got the update in early December. While ZenUI offers a lot of great extras on top of vanilla Android, Zenfone 9 owners can now try a different take of Android 13 with Paranoid Android.
Some of 2022's best gaming phones are finally getting Android 13
Asus ROG Phone 6 and 6 Pro’s stable Android 13 build is out
Asus detailed the Android 13 release schedule for its phones in mid-November 2022, three months after Google rolled out the update for all eligible Pixels. Towards the end of the year, the Zenfone 9 became the first phone in the company's stable to get a taste of Android 13. A month later, the latest Android release reached the Zenfone 8. Now, sticking to its previously announced schedule, the Taiwanese smartphone maker has turned its attention to the ROG Phone 6 series and is rolling out its stable Android 13 update.