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The Asus ROG Phone 3's Android 12 update is here at last with some major UI changes
That's the second time the phone's been late to the party
Let's be real — Asus is hardly the brand you'd want to go for if software updates are a priority. Remember when the ROG Phone 3 had to wait for almost a year for Android 11 after the version's release? You'd expect something of its price to be rushed through the fast lane when it comes to updates, but nope, that's far from reality. Still, at least the company is firm with its promises — a guarantee of two years of Android updates was given, and since the device was launched with Android 10 back in July 2020, it's now time for possibly the final major update for it.
The Asus ROG Phone 3 gets its long-overdue Android 11 update
you'll have to download and flash it manually, but I doubt that'll bother owners too much
Owners of the Asus ROG Phone 3 have been waiting for an Android 11 upgrade almost since the phone was released late last year. The update dropped yesterday, without a formal announcement from Asus, but it was spotted by a few users and confirmed to be working with a download. You can grab it now and flash it manually, if you're not patient enough to wait for an over-the-air update.
Asus ROG Phone 5 render pops up at the last place you'd expect
The full-color panel looks set to show notifications and more
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While still a niche, gaming smartphones feature some of the most intriguing hardware and designs. Asus's ROG Phone 3 successor seems to only exemplify this. The upcoming ROG Phone 5 (name not confirmed) has surfaced in a leaked video on Weibo, and it seems to be the wackiest phone from the Taiwanese company yet.
ASUS finally has a software fix for phones losing HD Netflix support
The company previously asked owners to send in their units to get the fix
Some folks using the new ASUS ROG Phone 3 are having issues playing back HD content in certain apps like Netflix. The cause, as some of our more savvy readers might expect, is an issue with Android's Widevine DRM system, with some phone owners reporting that their L1 Widevine state has been lost, relegating them to standard definition playback. ASUS has now fixed the problem with a software update after initially asking customers to send in their phones to get back HD playback.
TWRP v3.5 lands with more Android 10 enhancements, adds 16 devices to official roster
TWRP is splitting up development into two branches
TeamWin Recovery Project, or TWRP for short, is a custom recovery partition often used together with custom ROMs and/or rooting. It can help you create full device backups, install new ROMs, and troubleshoot broken software. TWRP v3.4 was released in June with limited Android 10 support, and now TWRP 3.5 is rolling out to all supported devices.
Asus ROG Phone 3 review, three weeks later: Clearly a bad buy
It's not easy to make a case for this $1,000 phone
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The processing power common to flagship phones means you can expect mobile games to run smoothly on them, but for most devices, that gaming prowess is an afterthought or an added bonus. The ROG Phone 3, launching soon in the US, pairs top-shelf internals with custom hardware and software tailored to creating an excellent gaming experience — and that laser focus on performance means it's great at other things we all use our phones for, too. But nagging flaws more expected from budget phones make it hard to recommend to any but the most ardent mobile gamer.
ASUS ROG Phone 3 priced at a steep $1,000, ships October 16
You can get a 16GB RAM version for an extra $100, if 12GB just isn't enough
ASUS has finally revealed US pricing for the ROG Phone 3, and it's ambitious to say the least: $999.99 for the 12GB/512GB version, and $1,099.99 for the 16GB/512GB model. Amazon, B&H, and ASUS's own site will be offering this pricey gaming phone.For your $999.99, you'll get a 6.59" 1080p AMOLED screen, a Snapdragon 865+, 12GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, a triple rear camera setup (64MP + 13MP ultrawide + 5MP macro), a 24MP front-facing camera, and a 6,000mAh battery. $100 more will get you 16GB of RAM, which — let's be real — nobody will ever really need. For reference, last year's ROG Phone 2 was priced at $899.99.
ASUS ROG Phone 3 has a secret 160Hz mode, can be activated with one ADB command
Because 144Hz just isn't enough sometimes
The ROG Phone 3 debuted just a few days ago with some pretty ridiculous specs, but the high refresh rate is what the ROG Phone line is primarily known for. This latest version has a display said to be capable of 144Hz, but it seems that ASUS has a 160Hz mode in testing that anyone with an ROG Phone 3 can activate with one ADB command.
Download the Asus ROG Phone 3's live wallpapers for your phone right now
Pressing the 'X-Mode' button here is nothing but a placebo
Developer and XDA forums member linuxct, who just last month ported Xiaomi's "super" wallpapers for use on other Android phones, has done it again — this time, they've exported live wallpapers from the Asus ROG Phone 3. And with a few downloads plus a little know-how, you can have them on your phone, too.
ASUS unveils the ROG Phone 3 with the Snapdragon 865+ and up to 16GB of RAM
Time to replace your home computer
Gaming phones are chunky, overpowered beasts with outrageous aesthetics that most consumers don't need. But if you're someone who doesn't care about looks or weight, they pack incredible oomph. ASUS released its ROG Phone 2 last year, and it earned a place on AP's Most Wanted list. Now the company has unveiled its successor, and the ROG Phone 3 is probably more powerful than your home computer.
With the ROG Phone 3 set to be revealed in less than a week, it's not surprising that the pace of leaks is picking up. Our latest look at ASUS's upcoming gaming phone came courtesy of 91mobiles and noted leaker Ishan Agarwal, showing off renders of the back and sides of the phone.
The Snapdragon 865 Plus is a slightly faster 865 — here's what's new
More Wi-Fi galore, more power to the cores
Seemingly on schedule with its tick-tock cycle, Qualcomm is announcing a half-step iteration to its Snapdragon 865 mobile platform, the Snapdragon 865 Plus. With it come the predictable minor performance bumps, but the system-on-a-chip does cross a major threshold in the realm of Wi-Fi.
We're still waiting for a precise date for the Lenovo Legion smartphone, but ASUS has just revealed courtesy of a timer on the ROG Phone 3 site that we can expect that phone to be revealed on July 22nd at 10AM ET (7AM PT).
Asus ROG Phone 3 hands-on video gives us our first real-world look at the phone
We already got to see all the specs on TENAA
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Asus's ROG phones have always been jam-packed with the best hardware you can think of, and it looks like this won't be different for the next smartphone in the series. The ROG Phone 3 has hit the Chinese regulation agency TENAA, and it spilled almost all of the internals. It will run Android 10 out of the box and comes with an overclocked, 5G-enabled Snapdragon 865, and up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Other than the regulatory information, we've also got a first look at the handset thanks to videos and photos leaked on Weibo, via MySmartPrice.