Asus ROG Phone 6 Review: Expensive Yet Impressive Smartphone

Posted on July 29, 2022 by LGMadyibi

Looking for a smartphone that is specially catered for gaming? Let me introduce to you the Asus ROG Phone 6, the latest powerhouse gaming smartphone from Asus in hopes to improve on its predecessor, and compete with top-tier handsets such as Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and iPhone 13 Pro Max. With a new design and powerful performance let’s see if this new gaming handset is the best for you.

Asus ROG Phone 6

The Storm White Asus ROG Phone 6

Display: 6.78-inch; (2448 x 1080) AMOLED; Corning^® Gorilla^® Glass Victus protection | Processor: Qualcomm^® Snapdragon^® 8+ Gen 1 CPU (4nm); Qualcomm^® Adreno™ 730 GPU | Storage: 256GB/512GB; UFS3.1 | Memory: 12GB/16GB RAM; LPDDR5 | OS: Android 12 | Rear Camera: triple-lens camera; 50MP f/1.9 (wide); 13MP f/2.2 (ultra-wide); 5MP (macro) | Selfie Camera: 12MP | Video: 8K@24 fps, 4K@30/60 fps, 1080p@30/60 fps, 720p@30/60 fps, image stabilization for rear cameras, HDR10+ support | Battery: 6000 mAh battery, supports Quick Charge 5.0 | Misc: 239 g, In-display fingerprint sensor, face recognition, accelerometer, e-compass, gyroscope, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, ultrasonic sensors for AirTrigger 6 and grip press, 5G or 4G dual-Nano SIM/dual-standby support, WiFi 6, Bluetooth^® 5.2, colors available include Storm White; Phantom Black

Wallmart

Overview

Introducing the Asus ROG Phone 6, the next gaming smartphone on the ROG Phone 6 series. This one comes with a 6.78-inch screen, with the latest overclocked Snapdragon processor, a choice of 12 or 16 GB memory, a choice of 256 or 512 GB storage, a triple camera package, and a 6000mAh battery.

It’s run by Android 12, weighs 239 g, and has 5G network capabilities with WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. All this is encased in a glass aluminum back and front with the strong Gorilla Glass Victus, and water splash resistance.

This is a gaming smartphone but it also functions like a normal smartphone, with specs similar to a top range. So yes, expect to pay a heavy price to get. In the box, you get the Asus ROG Phone 6 smartphone, a 65W power charger, a black USB Type-C cable, and a hard plastic cover. After all, that, let’s what this phone has to offer.

What’s to Like

Impressive Battery Life

There are so many reasons to be impressed by the battery life of the Asus ROG Phone 6. Firstly, it comes with a large 6000mAh battery. The bigger the battery, the longer the battery life. Second, upon moderate use, such as web browsing, making and receiving calls, viewing and editing pictures and videos, the Asus Phone 6 dropped to 20% after 16 hours.

Next is the charging speed. Thanks to the 65W charger included, I was able to charge the phone from 0 to 100% in less than 45 minutes. Those are really impressive numbers. Just a few things to note. When gaming, the Asus phone drains more battery power. No wireless and no reverse charging here. And if you start using one of the many Asus phone accessories, the battery will also drain more.

Overall. Long battery life. Great charging speed. No wireless charging. Battery score: 4.8/5.

Impressive Design

Here are the reasons why we love the design of the Asus ROG Phone 6. Firstly, the phone’s screen is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus, which is a pretty tough glass. So if you drop it by accident, the screen won’t crack or shatter.

Next, the phone comes with a curved, smooth, and frosted glass back that feels comfortable and also looks good with a smaller RGB lighting display. The back does feel slippery but luckily, the box includes a lightweight, hard plastic cover to help with the grip and further protection.

The Phantom Black Asus ROG Phone 6.

The third thing is the phone comes in two colors: Phantom Black and Storm White. There’s also IPX4 splash resistance but not water or dust resistance. So don’t go dropping the phone into the water just to test it, but a few splashes won’t hurt. Overall. Good glass protection. Stunning frosted back with RGB lighting. Splash resistance. Nice phone colors. Design score: 4.4/5

Lots of Cool Accessories

There are a number of accessories that are available for the ROG Phone 6. The Aero Active Cooler is an attachment that helps to cool down the phone during gaming sessions. Next, there are two wireless earphones called ROG Cetra True Wireless Pro and ROG Cetra True Wireless. Then lastly there are two headphones called the ROG Delta 5 Wireless and the ROG Delta 5 Core.

The accessories include the Aero Active Cooler 6, ROG Cetra True Wireless Pro, ROG Cetra True Wireless, ROG Delta 5 Wireless, and the ROG Delta 5 Core

There are even more accessories for the older models which may work with the ROG Phone 6 but sadly they are sold separately. If you like gaming a lot it’s recommended you get the Aero Active Cooler 6, not that the ROG Phone 6 doesn’t have a cooling system.

Solid Gaming Performance

The Asus ROG Phone 6 comes with an overclocked Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor. Then with memory, you can get 12GB or 16GB of RAM, which helps to enhance the performance of the smartphone.

Then with the storage, you can get 256GB or 512GB. All this with a large 6.78-inch display that includes a 165Hz refresh rate, which also optimizes the performance of the smartphone.

Testing the smartphone I was really impressed with the smoothness as you transition from apps, webpages, and even menus with each swipe. The gaming performance is also impressive with stunning-looking graphics and smooth gameplay.

While the smartphone does heat up during long gaming sessions, my fingers didn’t feel uncomfortable as the main heat is managed at the center where the processor is located.

The back view of the Asus ROG Phone 6.

If you have the extra cash you can get the Aero Active Cooler 6 which helps to cool the smartphone dropping the temperature by 3ºC. It also has more features such as button triggers and a stand to place the phone on a flat surface, but it’s bulky.

Overall, the performance is overall excellent with ROG Phone 6. Not only optimized for daily routine tasks but for gaming as well. The heat is well managed but you can get the Aero Active Cooler 6 attachment to cool even more. Performance score: 5/5

Stunning Display

The Asus ROG Phone 6 comes with a 6.78-inch AMOLED display from Samsung, with Full HD, 2448 x 1080 screen resolution, HD+ support, and a 165Hz refresh rate.

One would expect the new gaming smartphone to come with higher quality or even a 4K display at its current price but the only upgrade from its predecessor is the increase in refresh rate, making it one of the best choice gaming smartphones now.

The display offers an impressive screen-quality experience. The colors are vibrant and accurate, perfect for gaming, and viewing HD pictures, photos, and videos. The brightness is great as well. You get up to 800 nits. Overall, impressive display. Improved refresh rate. Good brightness. Display score: 4.6/5

Decent Photos & Great Videos

Speaking of stunning photos and videos, the Asus ROG Phone 6 comes with a rear triple camera which is made up of a 50MP main camera, a 13MP ultra-wide camera, and a 5MP macro camera. The front-facing camera comes with a 12MP camera. The ROG Phone 6 can record up to 8K videos at up to 30fps, 4K videos at up to 60fps, and Full HD videos at 60fps.

The main camera takes decent photos and pictures. There’s a fair amount of detail, good contrast, and good color accuracy. Taking pictures using the main camera in low light, look equally decent with the night mode switching on automatically. The not-so-good side of the camera package is the ultrawide and macro camera option. The pictures look average, with good colors but a noticeable loss of detail, and sharpness.

The Strom White and Phantom Black Asus ROG Phone 6.

Luckily, the front-facing camera takes impressive pictures for those who love taking selfies, and the video quality of recorded clips looks impressive equally. There are a few features missing that other top-tier phones have yet are still impressive.

Overall. The ROG Phone 6 takes impressive pictures using the main camera, great selfies using the front-facing camera, and good quality videos. The ultrawide and macro pictures are not so good. Stick to using the main camera to take pictures and videos, and selfies too. Camera score: 3.6/5

Good Software to Control & Optimize Gaming

The ROG Phone 6 runs with Android 12 OS, and all games and apps are available through the Google Play store. The common apps are available as usual, but the games you install will be available through a user interface called Armory Crate.

It gives the phone a whole new ‘gamers’ theme (and wallpaper change) if I put it lightly, as well as an optional X-mode upon which when activated, it switches the phone to performance. You can also use it to control phone accessories, find other games, and gain access to the ROG community online.

Another app is called Game Genie, where you can create your own gaming profile, especially graphic settings, set or map keys, crosshairs, connect console controllers, etc. The list is endless. One feature I’m impressed with is that it can help to connect the phone to your HD TV using an HDMI adapter and play games like a console.

Overall. Good operating system. Better software to optimize gaming, control phone accessories, and the overall look and feel of the ROG Phone 6. Software score: 4.5/5

What’s Not to Like

Expensive

Starting with the entry model (which includes 12GB RAM and 256GB storage), you are looking at spending between US$900 – US$1000. Alternatively, if you want a more powerful model, which is the 16GB RAM 512GB storage, you’re looking at paying just over US$1200.

Yes, the Asus ROG Phone 6 handset comes at a high cost but you get a relatively large internal storage for games, apps, photos, movies, and music, and a refined software experience.

Verdict

Like it or not, this is a great smartphone for gaming. It has all the software and features, great battery life, stunning display and design, and great gaming performance, worthy to be this year’s top mobile gaming device. It is not for everyone though, as the high price, and the camera package will drive people to look elsewhere. Yet, be that as it may, this is an improved ROG Phone 5.

The front and back view of the Phantom Black Asus ROG Phone 6.

Should you buy it? Well, if you love gaming on the go, and want a powerful smartphone that has good battery life, then get the Asus ROG Phone 6. If you want a cheaper smartphone with wireless charging and great camera features, this is not the phone for you.

So what do you think of this amazing gaming smartphone? Does the Asus ROG Phone 6 appeal to you? Are you looking to upgrade your current ROG Phone 5 smartphone? If you’re inclined to then add your comments and questions below. I look forward to hearing from you. So what’s next? If you’ve decided you want the Asus ROG Phone 6, then click here or the button above, to see your purchasing options for getting the new Asus ROG Phone 6.

Other options to consider are the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, the iPhone 13 Pro Max, or the budget gaming smartphone, the Redmi K50 Gaming Edition. Check out my reviews now.

2022 Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop Review: Is it Worth the Buy?

Posted on July 22, 2022 by LGMadyibi

Are you looking for a gaming laptop that’s not gonna cost you so much? Let me introduce you to the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop, the latest budget gaming laptop released from Acer. The Acer Nitro series of gaming laptops has always been the budget choice for gamers, yet year after year it receives disappointing scores from experts and reviewers. With that in mind, is the 2022 release going to be the difference maker or is it doomed to follow the same trend? Let’s check out the review.

Acer Nitro 5 (2022)

Main view of the Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop.

Specs

Model: Acer Nitro 5 (AN515-58-527S)
Display: 15.6-inch FHD 144Hz (1920 x 1080)
Processor: Intel Core i5-12500H 2.5GHz
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, 6GB GDDR6
Memory: 16GB DDR4
OS: Windows 11 Home
Storage: 512GB SSD
Webcam: 720p
Ports: 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x Ethernet, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x 3.5mm audio jack
Connectivity: WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1
Dimensions: 14.19 x 10.67 x 1.06-inches
Weight: 5.51 pounds (2.5 kg)
Price: Click Here!

Overview

The Acer Nitro series of gaming laptops has always been the budget choice for gamers, with a price range from US$700 and US$2000. From past reviews of older Nitro model gaming laptops, the scores were not the best, but with the latest 2022 release, I had hopes that things would be different – and to my surprise, it has.

This is the 2022 release of the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop, one of Acer’s budget gaming laptops. The model reviewed comes with a 15.6-inch Full HD display, the latest twelfth generation Intel Core i5 processor with 6GB GeForce RTX 3060 graphics, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD internal storage. It also includes the Windows 11 Home operating system.

The back view of the Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop.

From the initial view of the specs, the Acer Nitro 5 looks promising with a 12th-generation processor, 6GB of graphics, and 16 GB of RAM. But is it worthy of your purchase?

What’s To Like

Good Design

The Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop comes in a simple clamshell design with pinstripes on the back lid, the name Nitro written in red, and an RGB backlit keyboard that comes with four different color zones. Not groundbreaking but it works out and looks good.

The back lid and side view of the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop.

It’s 1.06 inches thick. It weighs 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg), so yeah it’s quite heavy. Input ports include two USB 3 on the right side, a charge port, with a USB-C and an HDMI port on the backside, a 3.5mm headphone audio jack, another USB 3, and an ethernet port on the left side of the laptop.

The display is 15 inches long with a 720p webcam above. Then below is the RGB backlit keyboard and a relatively medium-sized touchpad. Overall. Good design. A good set of input ports. Stunning RGB backlit keyboard. Standard design features with a webcam included.

Design score = 3.9/5

Good Performance

For normal use of daily routine tasks, the performance of the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop is top-notch, with no signs of slowness, and smooth scrolling while web browsing, video streaming, and editing of photos and videos.

For gaming, the performance is decent. I was able to play Cyperpunk 2077 and other high-demanding games in medium to high graphics settings with no problems in performance. The overall gaming graphics look good and had no problems with the gameplay. Set it to high/ultra graphic settings then there’s a significant drop in frame rate.

The audio sound output is decent. The speakers are placed on both sides of the gaming laptop and sound good for casual gaming. Once the cooling fans start kicking off they get quite loud but bearable especially whilst gaming. That’s when headphones come in handy. Overall. Impressive for normal tasking. Decent for gaming.

Performance score = 4/5.

Good quality for a standard display

Looking at the 15-inch screen, it’s quite large and bright with good use of color, good sharpness, and impressively detailed thanks to the 144 Hz refresh rate and a 1080p screen resolution included. Nowadays, a Full HD display is the standard feature for all gaming laptops. Not groundbreaking but it looks surprisingly detailed. Not much more to say here but overall, good quality for a standard display.

Display score = 4/5.

Affordable price

As I previously stated, the price range of the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop averages between $700 and $2000. With the one on review you can also expect a decent but affordable price range of between $1000 and $1600. To see the actual price, click here or click on the button above.

What’s To Dislike

Short but average battery life

The average battery life for gaming laptops, even the most expensive ones, is 4 hours or less. When testing the battery life, the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop lasted for 3 hours and 20 minutes until shutdown. It’s not impressive but that’s the norm for gaming laptops. So if you decide you wanna game-on-the-go, make sure you have a power cable.

The side view of the slim Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop.

Overall. Short battery life but is average for gaming laptops.

Battery life score = 3.5/5.

Verdict

If your budget is tight, prefer gaming laptops over consoles, or just want one that’s not heavy on design, then the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop is most definitely for you. I recommend it cos it’s fun to use for everyday tasks, and not mind-blowing for gaming, but it’s an average gaming laptop, with an average design, and average performance, and is available within the budget gaming laptop range.

So what are your thoughts on the Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop? Are you looking for a cheaper gaming laptop? Do you prefer consoles or handheld mobile devices? Please leave your comments here below along with your opinion of the gaming laptop on review. If you have questions, leave them here below and I’ll answer as soon as I can.

All that’s left is to decide if Acer Nitro 5 is the laptop for you. Check it out here to see the latest price or to buy if you so desire. But hurry while stocks last.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio Review: Is It Worth It?

Posted on July 8, 2022 by LGMadyibi

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is the most innovative laptop to release this year. With an innovative design and unique features, Microsoft aims to target not only the elite laptop business users but creative designers and digital artists as well. Looking at the high degree of other elite business laptop brands in the market, is the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio better enough to compete or even be the best? Let’s check out the review.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio

Side view of the ‘tent’ mode.

Specs

Display – 14.4in LCD 2,400×1,600 (201 PPI; 120Hz) | Processor – Intel Core i5 or i7 (11th generation) | Ram – 16 or 32GB | Storage – 256, 512GB, 1 or 2TB | Graphics – Intel Iris Xe or Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti | Operating system – Windows 11 | Camera – 1080P front-facing webcam, Windows Hello | Connectivity – WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, 2x Thunderbolt 4/USB 4, headphones, Surface Connect | Weight – 1,743 or 1,820g

Overview

BUY NOW

So what’s the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio? It’s a business workstation/3-in-1 laptop. It comes with a 14.4-inch touch screen that you can pull towards you for touch interaction, or you can lay it flat to write on or touch on the screen like a tablet. The display has a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate with a 1600p screen resolution. It also includes a keyboard and a relatively large trackpad.

Inside the laptop, it’s equipped with either an 11th generation Intel i5 or an Intel i7 processor, with either 16GB or a 32GB of RAM, storage options from 256GB to 2TB SSD, and either an Intel Iris Xe integrated or a 4GB GeForce 3050 RTX graphics.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio in normal laptop view.

Just so you know, this is a business workstation laptop, not a gaming laptop, besides you need a minimum of 6GB of graphics to play the latest retail games, but digital artists and creative designers can make better use of this laptop.

The starting price for the entry model starts at US$1400, which is not cheap, but with the specs available, you’re getting a pretty impressive laptop, so it’s worth the purchase. The entry model comes with an 11th Gen Intel i7 processor, with 16GB of RAM, 256GB storage, and Intel Iris Xe graphics.

Overall, my first impression of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is good. I found the fold-forward screen very interesting. Upon use of the entry model, I found that performance was impressive with smooth transitions, fast-loading apps, a responsive touch screen, and a comfortable typing experience. All this brings a whole new experience and a great addition to the Surface Laptop series.

What’s to Like

Side view of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio.

Innovative display

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio includes a small 14,4-inch touch screen that comes with small bezels and curved-round corners. The fact that you can move the screen towards you is innovative, making it look like a 2-in-1 laptop. It comes with a screen resolution of 2400 x 1600 pixels which looks stunning and with crisp detail and includes a refresh rate of 120Hz which supports smooth scrolling.

The overall screen quality looks impressive. I really like how stunning HD photos and images look on the screen. It really delivers a good range of colors and good brightness, making it an ideal tool for processing photos and images.

Design

The Surface Laptop Studio comes in a premium aluminum alloy build with a platinum finish – which is a common build for other Surface devices. No other alternative color finishes for this one, yet still it maintains a professional look. A few things to note:

It’s quite thick and heavy, making it not really portable
There’s a storage and charging compartment underneath for the Slim Pen 2 stylus
There’s a long split across the laptop to help position the display
The grilles on each side of the laptop which are two of the the audio speakers

The only thing unique with the Surface Laptop Studio is the changing positioning of the display, which switches it from a laptop up to a tablet.

Solid performance

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is currently the most powerful laptop to date, thanks to the internal hardware. The starting model performs well, but if you want better performance and don’t mind paying a bit more you can get one with an Intel i7 processor and a discrete GeForce 3050 Ti graphics.

The performance is excellent with the 32GB of RAM model. Not to say the 16GB of RAM model isn’t, it just performs better. Upon use, I was able to do all my daily tasks well with the laptop showing no signs of a slowdown, stuttering, or freezing – which includes sending emails, web browsing, video streaming, etc. The laptop is also capable of gaming, but with 4GB graphics, it’s not the best for the latest games.

Battery life

The battery life of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is equally impressive. After 8 hours of working on the Laptop Studio, I was really impressed that I still had plenty of battery power left without using a power cable – okay, it was about 30% left.

On average you’re looking at up to 15 hours of battery life for this laptop. And that’s not all. Charging the laptop, it reached about 35% in 30 minutes, and reached full charge in a little over 2 hours.

‘Tent’ view of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio using the touchpad.

Other features

There are so many other features to take note of with the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio. Firstly, the laptop comes with a 1080p webcam, which is much clearer and looks better than a 720p webcam.

Secondly, not only does the keyboard offer a great typing experience, but it’s also backlit as well. Perfect for night typing and looks awesome too. It’s a pity that the functional Fn keys at the top are rather small.

Thirdly, the laptop has four speakers: two speakers venting out of the sides, and the other two are under the keyboard. It sound output is rather good. It’s crisp and sounds better than average.

And lastly, the front bottom panel is a place where you can place the Surface Slim Pen 2 (which is a stylus pen), for storage and to charge it. Sadly, it’s not included upon purchase of the Surface Laptop Studio.

What’s Not to Like

The input ports are available but few on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio.

Expensive price

The price tag of the entry model Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio starts at US$1400, and the top-range model comes with a price tag of US$3800. If you ask me, those prices are pretty high.

But you’re looking at a laptop that starts with an Intel i5 processor and 16GB of RAM. Those are pretty impressive for an entry model. If this laptop is on your radar, I recommend saving up for it and buying it. If it’s too expensive for you, then consider these budget laptop alternatives.

Few input ports

The port selection strikes me as the most disappointing part of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio. Microsoft has continued to use the Surface Connect as the primary charging method, then there are two USB-C ports (compatible with Thunderbolt 4) and a 3.5mm headphone jack. That’s all sadly. If you want more, you’ll have to get a USB hub that offers more input ports.

Quite thick & heavy

If you take a ruler and measure the height of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, you’ll notice that it’s 18.9 mm which is thicker than other 14-inch laptops. As for the weight, it depends on which model to go for. If you get the Intel i5 model it will weigh 1.7 kg. If you get the Intel i7 model it will weigh 1.8 kg. That’s close to 2kg which is heavier than most other laptops in its range. So if you’re the type who likes to travel, freelance, or work on the go, just know that you’ll feel the weight of this laptop.

Verdict

The Surface Laptop Studio from Microsoft is a great new addition to the Surface laptop series. It’s an impressive laptop that has a lot to offer, whether you’re an executive in the corporate world that needs a reliable workstation, or a digital artist who needs a device to spice up their creativity. It has the performance, battery life, display, and other great features to meet your needs.

Front & side view of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio

It may not be cheap. It may not be as portable as other common laptops out there now or it may not come with many input ports, but it can handle everything you throw at it. If you’re one that wants a laptop for daily tasks, then take the Intel i5 entry model. If you’re on the creative side and can dig deeper into your pocket, then the Intel i7 model is more for you.

So what are your thoughts on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio? Is it the laptop you’re looking for? What other laptops are you looking forward to? Please leave comments below and let’s talk about this amazing laptop. If you’re still not convinced that this laptop is for you, then click here to find out more, and purchase options should you desire to buy.