Razer announced earlier today their newest gaming smartphone and successor to the Razer Phone, the Razer Phone 2. With the ROG Phone just around the corner, can Razer’s new mobile gaming machine steal the spotlight? Let’s find out in our specs comparison.
| Specification | Razer Phone 2 | ASUS ROG Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.72-inch QHD (2560 x 1440) 16:9 IGZO LCD, 514ppi, 120GHz | 6-inch FHD+ (2160 x 1080) 18:9 AMOLED display, 403ppi, 90Hz |
| Glass Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 2.8GHz octa-core | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 2.96GHz octa-core |
| GPU | Adreno 630 | Adreno 630 |
| RAM | 8GB LPDDR4 | 8GB LPDDR4 |
| Storage | 64GB UFS | 128GB/512GB UFS 2.1 |
| MicroSD | microSD up to 1TB | n/a |
| Rear Camera | 12MP f/1.7 main + 12MP f/2.6 telephoto, Dual PDAF, OIS | 12MP f/1.8 main + 8MP 120-degrees wide-angle |
| Front Camera | 8MP f/2.0 | 8MP f/2.0 |
| SIM | Single nano SIM | Single nano SIM |
| LTE | 4G LTE Cat. 18 | 4G LTE Cat. 18 |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2x2 MIMO | -Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ad, 2x2 MIMO -Wi-Fi Direct and WiGig wireless display support |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, Glonass, and BeiDou | GPS, A-GPS, Glonass, and BeiDou |
| Audio | - Dual front-firing stereo speakers with dual amplifiers - Dolby Atmos Technology - 24-bit DAC Audio Adapter | -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 |
| 3.5mm audio port | n/a | Yes |
| Port | USB 3.1 Type-C | USB 3.1 Type-C |
| Sensors | Fingerprint scanner | -Fingerprint scanner -2x AirTrigger -Advanced vibration |
| Other features | - Vapor Chamber Cooling - Razer Chroma RGB logo - IP67 water resistance - Razer Cortex Mobile app - Razer Chroma Wireless Charger | -GameCool vaper-chamber cooling system w/ detachable AeroActive Cooler -ASUS RGB lighting support -ASUS Aura Sync support -Mobile Desktop Dock -Twinview Dock -Gamepad accessory |
| OS | Android 8.1 Oreo | Android 8.1 Oreo |
| Battery | 4,000mAh battery w/ Qualcomm QC 4.0+, Wireless charging support | 4,000mAh battery with HyperCharge technology, QC 4.0 |
| Dimensions | 158.5 x 79 x 8.5 mm | 158.8 x 76.2 x 8.6mm |
| Weight | TBA | 200g |
Summary of advantages
Razer Phone 2:
- Higher resolution display
- 120Hz panel
- microSD card support
- Higher resolution telephoto lens
- IP67 water resistance
- Wireless charging
ROG Phone:
- Slightly larger 18:9 display
- Corning Gorilla Glass 6
- Slightly higher clocked processor
- Larger storage options
- Wide-angle camera
- 3.5mm audio jack
- Extra sensors: AirTriggers and grip press
- AeroActive Cool included in the package
- Plenty of gaming accessories available
Looking at their specs, both phones really have something serious to offer that will appeal to hardcore mobile gamers. The display alone says a lot. In the case of the ROG Phone, it has a slightly larger 18:9 Super AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate for that smooth and immersive viewing experience and punchy colors. The Razer Phone 2, however, one-ups it by offering a higher resolution screen and 120Hz. So if you want a smoother viewing experience, the Razer Phone 2 is the one to get.
Storage is also where both phones differ. The Razer Phone 2 is only available in 64GB, while the ROG Phone goes all out at 128GB and 512GB. However, the former offers expandable storage via microSD, while the latter does not.
Imaging-wise, both have 12MP main shooters and 8MP front cameras. The two only differ in their secondary cameras where the Razer Phone 2 has a 12MP telephoto, while the ROG Phone has an 8MP wide-angle. Both have merits and you might want to consider them but since this is a gaming phone, I don’t think it will matter. As for camera quality, we’re yet to test both phones so we’ll skip that for now.
The two devices shine when it comes to multimedia and gaming features. Both have dual front-firing speakers with support for 24-bit hi-res audio as well as RGB logos at the back. The ROG Phone, however, has the advantage of having a 3.5mm audio jack and ultrasonic sensors like two AirTriggers, grip press, and advanced haptics. When it comes to accessories, the ROG Phone definitely wins here. It even comes with an AeroActive Cooler in the package for maximum cooling and extra ports.
As for what’s powering these two monster phones, both have Qualcomm Snapdraong 845 chipsets. The ROG Phone though has a slightly higher clock speed but I doubt you’re going to notice it. The two also has 4,000mAh batteries with fast charging although the Razer Phone 2 wins for having wireless charging support. Not to mention, it uses a Razer Chrome wireless charging base station, although sold separately.
As for the price, the Razer Phone 2 is cheaper at USD 799, whereas the ROG Phone is at USD 899. So if you’re thinking of saving USD 100 and want the best screen possible, go for the Razer, but if you want maximum cooling and all the gaming bells and whistles, get the ROG.
How about you guys, which one will you pick – the Razer Phone 2 or the ROG Phone? Let us know in the comments below.
