On the final page of our review for the Asus ROG Phone 8/8 Pro, we noted that “The ROG Phone is not a cheap device.” This sentiment was echoed in last week’s poll.
We concluded our review on a positive note, observing that Asus has successfully made the ROG Phone 8 models more appealing to mainstream consumers. While some still view it as a gaming phone and aren’t interested, they may reconsider.
There was much debate in the comments about the decision to switch to a punch hole camera. The ROG phones were among the last to keep the selfie camera embedded in the top bezel, resulting in a thick bezel. The ROG Phone 8 opted for a thin top bezel at the cost of a small blemish on the screen and a downgrade to the speakers (no longer front-firing).
Asus’ phone lineup is in a curious state. The Zenfone line is meant to be the mainstream offering, but recent generations have focused on smaller flagships. Now, the gaming-focused ROG line is attempting to break into the mainstream with a (much) larger phone.
It remains to be seen if this shift in strategy will pay off for Asus. For now, all we can say is that a price cut would greatly benefit the popularity of the ROG Phone 8.
