ASUS ROG Phone 3 to arrive in PH on August 15!

By Kevin Francisco

After ASUS Republic of Gamers announced the new ROG Phone 3 series globally, ASUS ROG Philippines officially announces the launching of the much sought-after phone on August 15, 8:00 PM. Official pricing, promos, as well as specifications will be revealed by then.

ROG Phone 3 is the most powerful ROG Phone ever, using the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus 5G Mobile Platform with advanced 5G mobile communications and Qualcomm Snapdragon Elite Gaming capabilities. Featuring the uprated GameCool 3 cooling system, ROG Phone 3 is engineered to deliver non-stop, ultra-smooth performance for the ultimate mobile gaming experience.

A 144 Hz / 1 ms AMOLED 6.59-inch display provides Delta-E color accuracy of less than one to ensure vivid and accurate imagery, and an industry-leading 25-millisecond touch latency allows a near-instant touch response. The 10-bit display also supports HDR10+ high dynamic range content for ultimate visual realism.

The distinctive ROG Phone 3 design retains the core gamer-centric benefits of its predecessors, including the unique side-mounted charging port and a monster 6000 mAh battery. The intuitive AirTrigger 3 system now includes a motion sensor in addition to the programmable ultrasonic touch sensors, giving gamers even more ways to control the action. The X Mode performance-optimization software now supports the adjustment of multiple system parameters, making it easier than ever to unlock the full power of ROG Phone 3.

The lineup also includes the exciting new ROG Phone 3 Strix Edition, which has the same incredible gamer-centric features as ROG Phone 3. It’s powered by the Snapdragon 865 Mobile Platform with a 256 GB UFS 3.1 ROM and 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM.

Absolute power

ROG Phone 3 is the most powerful ROG Phone ever, using the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus 5G Mobile Platform, which enables staggering multi-gigabit 5G connectivity and advanced WiFi 6 performance, desktop-level gaming with ultra-realistic graphics, professional-quality high-resolution photography, and intuitive AI experiences. ROG Phone 3 also features Snapdragon Elite Gaming, which delivers ultrasmooth HDR gaming experiences with a sustained performance for longer periods of time.

With up to 16GB of the latest LPDDR5 RAM and up to an ultrafast 512GB UFS 3.1 ROM, ROG Phone 3 delivers the ultimate in overall performance, so gamers can enjoy a super-smooth gaming experience with absolutely no limitations or compromises.

The enhanced X Mode performance-optimization software now allows customization of different system parameters to suit any gaming or using scenario. In conjunction with carefully calibrated defaults for optimum performance, it’s easier than ever for serious gamers to unlock the full power of ROG Phone 3.

The upgraded GameCool 3 cooling system has a redesigned 3D vapor chamber, a large graphite film behind the screen to maximize heat transfer, and an enlarged heat sink that’s precisely located to eliminate hotspots. The new cooling system is one of the most effective thermal solutions available on a mobile device and can remove and dissipate the heat generated during full-speed operation via specially designed vents in the back cover.

This allows ROG Phone 3 to easily sustain peak performance during heavy gaming sessions, eliminating throttling to give gamers an expert edge against the competition. For extra cooling during marathon gaming sessions, the new AeroActive Cooler 3 clip-on external fan accessory has been completely redesigned to deliver increased airflow to the hotspots on the casing to lower an astounding amount of heat for greater and longer performance.

Groundbreaking new ROG HyperFusion technology combined with multi-antenna WiFi and 5G allows simultaneous connections to WiFi and the mobile network, with intelligent redirection to whichever has the best signal. This allows mobile gamers to enjoy the strongest possible signal at all times for uninterrupted connections.

Stunning visuals

ROG Phone 3 is equipped with a stunning 144 Hz / 1 ms AMOLED 10-bit display. It’s combined with an industry-leading 270 Hz touch-sampling rate that dramatically decreases touch latency to an unprecedented 25 ms, delivering the extreme responsiveness needed to sustain a winning streak.

To ensure that visuals on ROG Phone 3 look just like the developer intended, each display is carefully color-calibrated to ensure Delta-E color accuracy of less than one — making it one of the most color-accurate displays available on a smartphone.

There’s also HDR10+ high-dynamic range support for enhanced visual realism. To minimize eye strain while delivering impeccable visuals, ROG Phone 3 passes TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light (Hardware Solution) and Flicker Reduced certifications.

Monster battery

The monster 6000 mAh battery in ROG Phone 3 has stamina that can be relied on for even the longest battles. There are multiple passive power-saving mechanisms, including an exclusive hibernate function that can proactively limit background data and power usage in selected apps.

These mechanisms significantly prolong the time between charges and also increase battery lifespan.

Built for gamers, by gamers

Fully immersive gaming with total control is the design goal of ROG Phone 3, which retains the pioneering landscape-oriented ergonomic design of its predecessors.

Upgraded AirTrigger 3 technology provides extra-precise ultrasonic touch controls along the edges of the phone. The gesture capabilities of the AirTrigger 3 side sensors have been further enhanced, including a newly added swipe gesture and dual-partition button emulation, giving gamers a console-level gaming experience.

There’s also a brand-new motion sensor that adds another gesture to the armory, allowing gamers to control the action by shaking the device: it’s a whole new way to interact with the device. AirTrigger 3 gives gamers the very best controls available on a gaming smartphone and sets the ultimate bar for the competition.

The unique side-mounted USB-C charging port lets users keep their battery topped up without cramping their style while gaming. The port also connects accessories such as the AeroActive Cooler 3, which features a pass-through USB-C connector, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a new kickstand on the back to support ROG Phone 3 on a desk or table for a better viewing and gaming experience.

ROG Phone 3 also receives a significant upgrade to its audio performance, tuned in collaboration with audio specialist Dirac. The DXOMARK Audio review gives ROG Phone 3 a high score of 75 for its audio performance, the reviewer stating that “ROG Phone 3 seriously upped its audio game, achieving true flagship level.”

DXOMARK Audio also noted that “Despite noticeable bass resonances, audio played back through its speakers demonstrates good overall tonal balance, good dynamics, and good intelligibility even at minimum volumes.”

There’s now a dedicated Game Mode to further enhance in-game sound effects for immersive gameplay. The powerful dual front-facing speakers positioned at the top and bottom of the phone are now more capable of delivering richer and detailed sound, giving perfect stereo imaging in landscape mode. ROG Phone 3 also supports Qualcomm aptX Adaptive for low-latency high-quality audio over Bluetooth connections.

ROG Phone 3 introduces ROG Connect, a new online social community — built into the Armoury Crate app — that allows ROG Phone 3 owners to join and play with friends or squads, or even wow the crowd with their uploaded genius gameplay footage and screenshots. ROG Phone 3 gives gamers the very best sharing and community experience.

The unrivaled range of modular accessories for ROG Phone 3 includes the new modular ROG Kunai 3 Gamepad which adds physical console-like gamepad controls to ROG Phone 3; the new ROG Lighting Armor Case for a stunning appearance; and ROG Clip to attach the phone to selected console controllers for the ultimate mobile gaming experience.

ROG Phone 3 can also be expanded to provide true 144 Hz dual-screen gameplay with the new TwinView Dock 3, and the Mobile Desktop Dock allows gamers to connect a desktop keyboard and mouse for a desktop-like gaming experience on an external TV or monitor.

ROG Phone 3 is also proudly partnering with Stadia and Unity to establish a truly integrated gaming ecosystem. Together, the partnership aims to build a more complete mobile gaming experience for today’s gamers by providing their favorite gaming content on the go.

Availability

The ROG Phone 3 will be launched this August 15, 2020 at 8:00PM. Stay tuned to the ASUS ROG local social media pages for more updates on the event.

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Xiaomi Redmi 9T review: Setting a high standard for entry-level phones

04/08/2021

Aiming to offer bang-for-the-buck entry-level smartphone, Xiaomi has started the year with the introduction of the Redmi 9T. We’ve had it for a while now and after using it as a daily phone, you might wonder if it’s worth its PhP 6,999 price tag.

Spoiler alert — it is and here’s why!

Design

The Redmi 9T carries a simple yet thought-out design. It has rounded corners and an anti-fingerprint textured back that appears like the sun’s rays. It kind of reminds me of realme C3 from last year’s review.

Anyway, the back panel is available in different colors namely Carbon Gray, Twilight Blue, Sunrise Orange, and Ocean Green which is what we had for this review. For the camera module, it has a mirror-like finish surrounding the quad-camera setup of the Redmi 9T. More on the lenses later on.

Talking about button placements, they’re all lined up on the right with the volume rocker right alongside its power/lock button that also doubles as a physical fingerprint scanner.

Meanwhile on the left is its Dual-SIM tray with a dedicated microSD slot for storage expansion.

Down under is a speaker grille and a USB-C port for faster charging and data transfer. It’s nice to see more and more entry-level phones adapting to Type-C for connectivity.

And for mobile gamers and those who like watching on their phones, you’d be glad to know that it comes with a 3.5mm audio jack up top AND a second speaker grille so that media consumption is more immersive and with balanced audio left and right.

Overall, it’s got a solid feel on the hand and is on the chunky side which is understandable due to its large battery capacity. It definitely has a heft to it but not too much and one-hand operation is easy even when you spend a bit too much time scrolling on social media.

Display and multimedia

With gaming and power consumption in mind, the Redmi 9T features a large 6.53-inch Full HD+ display. The screen real estate is not fully maximized, though, as it has a small chin and a water drop-shaped camera notch.

Still, it’s more immersive than other phones with a regular display size when it comes to streaming videos or playing games. Colors are lively enough and clarity is more than passable.

Those on Netflix or other streaming platforms would be glad to know that this phone supports Widevine L1 so you can watch movies and TV shows in HD quality.

And to complete the mobile media experience, its stereo speakers are loud enough and can help put you in a different environment whether you’re going for a quick match with friends or watching your favorite TV show.

You also don’t have to worry too much about spending time on your phone as it passed and received TUV Rheinland Low Blue Light certification. And finally, reinforcing the screen is a Gorilla Glass 3 that adds a layer of protection against scratches.

Cameras

This is one department that the company is proud of for the Redmi 9T. Equipped with a quad-camera setup with AI, this phone promises to capture and produce quality images straight out of the camera.

With a 48-megapixel main sensor, 8-megapixel ultra-wide, and 2-megapixel lenses for both macro and depth, the Redmi 9T was able to capture overall decent images.

Outdoors, colors are vibrant without being too overly saturated. HDR improves the balance between light and dark areas and helps produce quality photos.

Shooting indoors, details are still intact but it’s a bit prone to showing artifacts when you look closely. It’s not a deal-breaker, though, and it still produces decent detail and colors. For selfies, you get almost the same level of quality with a good dynamic range.

The phone also comes with additional features like Movie Frame that makes your photos look like movie stills and time-lapse for capturing more creative shots.

Performance

Running at the heart of the Redmi 9T is a Snapdragon 662 processor. It’s a midrange CPU that not only makes it possible to improve photos captured, it also promises capable gaming with its onboard graphics processor.

It’s then partnered with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage with the option for up to 512GB of additional microSD storage. Definitely not the highest on a phone but it’s powerful enough for ordinary day-to-day tasks like scrolling through different social media feeds and switching between multiple apps.

There are certain hiccups every now and then when you browse through MIUI 12 but overall, it was a smooth experience day in and day out.

It was also able to run games like Call of Duty and Mobile Legends in high settings and with no distracting lags. Inputs were responsive enough especially for titles that need quick reflexes. It was also able to run heavier games like Genshin Impact but with settings on the moderate side.

In terms of heat management, the phone does get warm while playing games but nothing too uncomfortable. With our time, the top part near the cameras gets warm after around 2-3 matches of Mobile Legends.

Battery

As mentioned earlier, the heft of the phone is mainly due to its large 6000mAh battery pack. This makes it possible to power its bigger-than-average display for extended periods.

As with our usual battery test, we subjected the device to stream a Full HD video with 50% brightness and no audio. This resulted in 13 hours and 35 minutes of continuous playback.

We’ve seen other phones with the same 6000mAh battery go beyond 13 hours. But they do have smaller displays so Redmi 9T’s performance wasn’t bad at all.

Plus, it even comes with MIUI’s power-saving mode so, with that activated, you should get more juice out of the phone. You may also choose to charge other devices via its reverse wired charging — something that might come in handy during certain situations.

And on top of those, it supports 18W fast charging and comes with a 22.5W charger. The difference is noticeable when compared to its competitors as the Redmi 9T fully tops up in just a little over two hours.

Phones with this battery size usually go for around three hours or more and that’s with fast charging already included. For comparison, the realme narzo 30A which is a little bit more affordable, clocks in at 3 hours and 30 minutes with the same battery specs.

Creature Feature

As always, in our reviews, The Modern Creatures aims to find special features in devices that would make them worth having — a Creature Feature if you will. And for the Xiaomi Redmi 9T, it would have to be its capable cameras and battery performance.

For an entry-level smartphone, the Redmi 9T comes with a decent set of optics and a useful lineup of features to achieve certain effects. Meanwhile, its battery performance is reliable for long periods of usage and comes with features that could save you when you’re in a pinch.

Final Thoughts

The Redmi 9T delivers adequate performance as an everyday phone with useful additions like a large, fast-charging battery. Gone are also the days when entry-level phones would only have basic camera tools as this phone carries AI-powered quad cameras.

With a price tag of PhP 6,999, the Xiaomi Redmi 9T is worth your hard-earned cash if you’re looking for an affordable but reliable smartphone.