Computex: ASUS Republic of Gamers Announces ROG Phone, CPU Coolers, Routers, Gaming laprops and Accessories
ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today hosted the For Those Who Dare press event at Computex 2018, unveiling a new lineup of gaming products, including ROG Phone, the first ROG gaming smartphone with a 3D vapor-chamber cooling system.
ROG also announced ROG Rapture GT-AX11000, a tri-band 802.11ax router with Wi-Fi speeds of over 10,000Mbps, and introduced products in other brand-new categories, including the ROG Ryujin and ROG Ryuo CPU coolers and ROG Thor 1200W Platinum power supply. Rounding out the press event were the announcements of the ROG Delta gaming headset and the ROG Strix SCAR II and ROG Strix Hero II gaming laptops.
ROG Phone
With ROG gaming DNA at its core, the ROG phone is powered by the 2.96GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Mobile Platform with Qualcomm Adreno 630 GPU.
If comes with a GameCool vapor-chamber cooling system with detachable AeroActive Cooler for an extra cooling boost, while 6-inch AMOLED (2160 x 1080) display blends a 90Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time with HDR visuals. The display has a wide 108.6% DCI-P3 color gamut and offers high-dynamic-range (HDR) visuals with a 10,000:1 contrast ratio.
The ROG Phone includes side-mounted ports, and responsive game controls - including two programmable ultrasonic AirTriggers and force-feedback haptics.
Two of these sensors are optimized as left/right triggers at the top of the display for landscape-mode gaming (the third is designed for use in portrait mode), and they're programmable to activate any available on-screen action: aiming, firing, inventory selection.
A range of expansion accessories further enhances the ROG Phone gaming experience: the optional TwinView Dock for dual-screen handheld mode; the Mobile Desktop Dock for desktop-style gaming; and the Gamevice controller with WiGig Dock using 60GHz Wi-Fi for big-screen gaming. Other ROG Phone features include ASUS Aura RGB lighting and Aura Sync support, plus ASUS HyperCharge direct-charge technology for faster, safer and cooler battery charging.
The smartphone also comes with up to 8GB of RAM and a massive up to 512GB of onboard storage. It packs Cat 16 LTE and the latest gigabit-class 60GHz 802.11ad Wi-Fi.
In addition, a special X Mode is enabled by a single tap. This mode frees up all background RAM and dedicates it to games, optimizes game-data processing performance, and maximizes the efficiency of the AeroActive Cooler. X Mode also prevents RAM-eating and battery-sapping app activity, based on a customizable list of apps.
The front-facing stereo speakers on ROG Phone are driven by smart amplifiers to maximize volume and minimize distortion, with an audio engine that supports 24-bit/192Khz Hi-Res Audio playback. DTS Headphone:X provides theater-quality virtual surround-sound over headphones, and there's support for high-definition audio via Bluetooth.
ROG Phone is powered by a high-capacity 4000mAh battery. The bundled ROG Phone power adapter supports ASUS HyperCharge, a direct-charge technology that delivers more power (up to 20W).
The ASUS ROG Phone will be available in Q3.
Processor | 2.96Ghz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Mobile Platform |
GPU | Qualcomm Adreno 630 |
UI | ROG Gaming UI |
Display | 6.0" 18:9 (2160x1080) AMOLED
90Hz refresh rate with 1ms pixel response time 108.6% DCI-P3 color gamut 10000:1 contrast ratio Capacitive touchscreen with 10-point multi-touch (supports Glove Touch) Discrete image processing chip support HDR display - gaming, video & images |
Dimensions | 158.8 x 76.2 x 8.6mm |
Weight | 200g |
Battery | 4,000mAh |
Memory | LPDDR4 8GB RAM |
Storage | UFS 2.1, 128GB / 512GB |
Sensors | Accelerometer, e-compass, proximity sensor, Hall sensor, ambient-light sensor, fingerprint sensor, gyroscope, 2 x ultrasonic AirTrigger sensors |
Wireless connectivity | Qualcomm Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ad: 2x2 MIMO Wi-Fi Direct and WiGig (11ad/60GHz Wi-Fi) wireless display support Bluetooth 5.0 Qualcomm Snapdragon X20 LTE Modem: Up to 1.2 Gbps Cat 18 LTE download speeds Up to 5x20MHz carrier aggregation, 4x4 MIMO on up to 3 aggregated carriers, License Assisted Access (LAA) |
GPS | Supports GPS, aGPS, Glonass, BeiDou |
I/O ports | Side:
Custom USB-C Supports USB 3.1 Gen 1 / DP 1.4 (4K) / fast charging (PD 3.0) (15W) ASUS HyperCharge direct charging Bottom: USB-C Supports USB 2.0 / fast charging (PD3.0) (20W) / Direct Charge 3.5mm headphone jack |
Front Camera | 8MP |
Main Camera | 12MP + 8MP (120° wide-angle) |
Voice Wakeup | Yes |
Speakers | Dual front-facing stereo speakers with smart amplifier
24-bit/192KHz Hi-Res Audio DTS Headphone:X 7.1 virtual surround-sound Qualcomm aptX High-definition Bluetooth wireless audio |
NFC | Supported |
New Lineup of 802.11ax Routers
ASUS also announced a family of new routers. The ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 is joined by the ASUS AiMesh AX6100 WiFi System, a compact mesh networking system that spreads WiFi between multiple hubs to expand coverage for larger homes, and the ASUS RT-AX88U, a feature-packed router tuned for performance and configurability.
The new ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 is the first tri-band 802.11ax router. It's built for demanding networks, with peak aggregate throughput of nearly 11,000Mbps: up to 1148Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and up to 4804Mbps on each of its dual 5GHz bands. The extra 5GHz band can be reserved for gaming devices to prevent other wireless activity from interfering with your primary machines.
Most wireless routers also include Gigabit Ethernet for wired connections, but the Rapture GT-AX11000 goes one step further with a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port.
Game Boost adaptive QoS analyzes network activity and automatically bumps gaming traffic ahead of everything else, preventing high-bandwidth tasks like downloading and streaming from introducing lag to multiplayer gaming. A new Turbo Key conveniently located on the outside of the chassis allows you to toggle various functions like Zero Wait DFS on or off without using the web GUI or App interface.
All of the 802.11ax routers will support AiMesh, an ASUS technology that allows mixing of multiple routers to create your own mesh network, but the new AiMesh AX6100 WiFi System (RT-AX92U 2-Pack) is purpose-built for the task. It comes in a two-pack that extends coverage across the far corners of your home, eliminating the dead spots that can occur with single routers. It's also possible to add nodes using other AiMesh-compatible routers, even if they're based on 802.11ac.
The AiMesh AX6100 WiFi System is a tri-band design capable of peak aggregate throughput up to 6100Mbps. Most of that bandwidth is in the 5GHz 802.11ax band, which offers up to 4804Mbps on its own. Another 5GHz band offers 866Mbps of bandwidth for 802.11ac gear, while the 2.4GHz band serves up 400Mbps of 802.11n connectivity for legacy devices.
The RT-AX88U router has much of the same underlying hardware as the Rapture applied to a more conventional dual-channel design. Both bands support 802.11ax devices, with up to 1148Mbps on 2.4GHz and up to 4804Mbps on 5GHz, for peak total bandwidth around 6000Mbps.
Like its tri-band ROG counterpart, the RT-AX88U is controlled by a potent quad-core processor. It has dual USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports for shared peripherals like storage or a printer, and you can even add a 4G dongle for a backup WAN connection in case your normal internet service is disrupted.
The ROG Rapture GT-AX11000, AiMesh AX6100 WiFi System, and RT-AX88U will arrive in Q3 2018.
ROG Ryujin 360/240 CPU Cooler
ROG Ryujin is the first ROG AIO cooler and the first cooler with an OLED display. The 1.77-inch LiveDash color OLED shows real-time system stats and personalized images and GIFs. An embedded micro fan provides additional cooling to the VRM and M.2 SSDs located near the CPU socket to reduce temperatures by up to 20°C, and Noctua industrial PPC radiator fans improve airflow with lower noise levels. Embedded Aura RGB adds extra flair to the whole build. In addition, ROG Ryujin has reinforced sleeved tubing for increased durability.
ROG Ryuo 240/120 CPU cooler
Designed for compact and mid-size gaming builds, the ROG Ryuo series is available in 120mm and 240mm radiators. It features ROG designed radiator fans for optimized air flow and static pressure. It also comes with 1.77 inch LiveDash Color OLED display to show real-time system stats, and Aura Sync RGB support for ultimate customization.
ROG Thor 1200W Platinum PSU
ROG Thor 1200W Platinum is the first ROG power supply, featuring an IP5X-certified 135mm wing-blade fan, OLED Power Display and 100% Japanese capacitors. The 1,200-watt power supply also has 80 PLUS Platinum certification for energy efficiency, a 10-year warranty and Aura Sync for lighting synchronization with an extensive Aura ecosystem.
ROG Ryujin 360/240, ROG Ryuo 240/130, and ROG Thor 1200W Platinum will be available in Q3.
15.6" ROG Strix SCAR II and Hero II Laptop
ROG Strix SCAR II Edition is an all-new version of the esports gaming laptop built exclusively for FPS titles. Its new design includes two contrasting brushed finishes across the lid, a new keyboard layout with Kevlar-inspired markings, and a front light bar with customizable Aura Sync lighting. ROG Strix Hero II Edition is a new version of the esports gaming laptop built exclusively for MOBA titles. The new design includes two contrasting brushed finishes across the lid, a new keyboard layout with cyberpunk-inspired markings, and a front light bar with customizable Aura Sync lighting.
ROG Strix SCAR II and Hero II feature a 144Hz super-narrow-bezel display with a 3ms gray-to-gray (GTG) response time, a HyperStrike Pro gaming keyboard for improved control, and HyperCool Pro technology to cool its high-performance CPU and GPU. They are also the first laptop to feature multi-antenna Wi-Fi for improved connectivity.
Despite packing a similarly sized 15.6" screen to its ROG Strix (GL503) predecessor, the ROG Strix are nearly an inch narrower, and the smaller footprint also takes up less lap and tabletop space. The thinner borders around the display create a more vivid image, and the thicker bezel and the bottom elevates the screen to a comfortable viewing height.
The ROG Strix gaming laptops are powered by up to the latest 8th Generation Intel Core processor with up to 32GB of DDR4 2666MHz memory. They use Pascal-based discrete graphics and are available with a GeForce GTX 1060 or a GTX 1070. For storage, it can be specified with up to a 512GB M.2 NVMe SDD and a 1TB Seagate FireCuda solid-state hybrid drive (SSHD).
Multiple display outputs are available, including HDMI 2.0 for 4K output at 60Hz, and Mini DisplayPort are included for connecting to larger external monitors.
Both laptops deliver clearer audio via powerful side-firing speakers.
ROG Strix (GL504) Hero II is priced starting at $1,699 USD MSRP and is available at ASUS, Amazon, B&H, and Newegg.
The SCAR II is available today for $1,999 USD, and can be purchased at ASUS, Amazon, B&H, and Newegg.
ROG Delta
ROG Delta is the latest ROG gaming headset and features a Hi-Fi-grade ESS quad-DAC. The headset also features an airtight chamber and exclusive ASUS Essence drivers with audio signal diversion technology design to further improve sound quality. ROG Delta is the first gaming headset with circular-rainbow RGB lighting effects. The headset comes with D-shaped ear cushions and USB-C connectivity.
ROG Balteus Qi
ROG Balteus Qi is an RGB gaming mouse pad that combines a surface with the convenience of Qi wireless charging on the desktop. A 370 x 320mm portrait-oriented surface offers ample space for simultaneous charging and gaming, while the micro-textured hard surface enables pixel-precise tracking. Featuring 15 individually customizable Aura Sync RGB lighting zones for personalization, the mouse pad is also equipped with an on-pad lighting mode button for on the fly adjustments and a USB 2.0 passthrough port for easy connections.
ROG Gladius II Wireless
ROG Gladius II Wireless is an optical gaming mouse. Offering dual wireless connectivity with signal stability, movements tracked by the 16000dpi sensor are perfectly translated to on-screen action via 1ms 2.4GHz or low latency Bluetooth wireless connectivity. The mouse features ergonomic contours to ensure comfort in the hand, and an ROG-exclusive socket design that enables easy switch-replacements to customize click force for personalized play.
ROG Strix Gaming Chassis
Designed in aluminum and smoked glass with addressable AURA Sync lighting technology, ROG Strix Chassis features an ergonomic woven-pattern handle for easier transportation. It has been designed for an EATX motherboard and offers liquid cooling upgradeability with dual 360mm radiators on the top and front of the case. ROG Strix Gaming chassis comes preinstalled with magnetic bearing PWM 140mm fans. In addition, ROG Strix Chassis features a Quick Charge 3.0 port, a USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port, a tool-free ROG SSD caddy, a magnetic dust filter, and a vertical graphics card design.
New TUF Gaming Products
New additions to the TUF gaming lineup include the TUF Gaming M5 mouse, K5 keyboard, H5 headset, and GT501 chassis.
The TUF Gaming M5 is coated in durable paint that stands up to heavy use. The Omron switches under the left and right buttons are rated to survive 50 million clicks. And all the buttons are programmable with functions or macros using our Armoury II software, which saves settings for up to three profiles directly on the mouse's internal memory, making them available on any machine.
Pixart's PAW3327 optical sensor monitors motion at resolutions up to 6200 DPI. Aura Sync adds configurable accent lighting .
Keyboards also suffer a lot of hands-on abuse, including accidental spills if you get bumped inadvertently. But the TUF Gaming K5 isn't afraid of a little liquid; its splash-proof design can withstand up to 60 ml, preventing small spills from ruining your night.
The key caps are also covered by three layers of paint, one more than typical keyboards, which helps them hold up to everyday use. Under each cap, Mech-Brane switches use a specially tuned membrane to mimic the feel of a mechanical design. Five-zone Aura Sync backlighting stretches across the keys, powering a personalized array of colors and effects that you can synchronize with the M5 mouse. Like with the M5 mouse, Armoury II lets you record custom macros and save them to onboard storage.
The TUF Gaming H5 headset has a stainless steel headband, and each ear cup contains a 50-mm Essence driver backed by an airtight chamber that improves sound quality. A removable boom hangs down from the left with an analog mic for communicating with your squad. You can also plug in the included USB adapter to add virtual surround sound that puts you at the center of the action.
The GT501 chassis clads your PC components in matching armor. Steel dominates the construction, with plastic limited to pieces for front-panel connectors and the base of the front face. A sheet of smoked tempered glass provides a stealthy window into your battle station and woven cotton handles make it a simple transport to LAN parties.
The thumb screws holding the window can sometimes be affixed too tightly at the factory, so the case ships with a TUF Gaming tag that doubles as a screwdriver. Once you're inside, ample routing options and a 30-mm gap behind the motherboard tray make it easy to thread cables cleanly. Asus even left space to neatly run RGB strips.
The GT501 has plenty of room for fans and radiators. It includes a trio of high-flow 140-mm PWM fans right out of the box. There are additional mounts for three fans up top and three more at the front, with both locations supporting dual-fan radiators up to 280 mm and triple-fan units up to 360 mm. Removable filters in the bottom, front, and top panels prevent dust and other particles from getting sucked into the case.
The TUF Gaming FX504 laptop offers upgrades in key areas. The top model's 15.6" display hits all the right notes: high refresh, quick response, and wide color gamut. Its 120Hz refresh rate makes gameplay and graphics much smoother and with its NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 GPU, the FX504 can hit triple-digit frame rates in many popular games. It's available with up to a six-core Intel Core i7-8750H processor.
For stationary battle stations, the new TUF Gaming FX10CP features a Radiating-X design on the side panels, while dual chambers with dedicated intakes optimize cooling on the inside.
With up to an Intel Core i7-8700 six-core CPU and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics, there's enough horsepower for casual gaming and other tasks.
In addition, ROG showcases a lineup of other gaming products in the For Those Who Dare press event demo area. Gaming products on display include, the ROG Strix GL12 and ROG Huracan (G21) desktops; ROG Strix XG258Q, ROG Strix XG32VQ, ROG Swift PG65 and ROG Swift PG27UQ monitors; and ROG G703, ROG Zephyrus (GX501) and ROG Zephyrus M (GM501) laptops.