Today the ASUS ROG (Republic of Gamers) crew showed off a collection of new computers and accessories. In addition to some fantastical laptops running the newest in new graphics processors, they delivered a new mechanical RGB gaming keyboard, a 19,000 dpi wireless gaming mouse, and a 32-inch HDMI 2.1 gaming monitor, all under the ROG brand name.
ASUS has a new ultraportable gaming laptop, and the ROG Flow X13 takes a little explaining. Making its debut at CES 2021 today, the 13-inch laptop is Republic of Gamers' first 2-in-1 convertible gaming notebook, but it also comes with a ROG XG Mobile external graphics card that doubles as a docking station with extra ports and power.
ASUS' dual-screen laptop has had a CES 2021 revamp, with the Republic of Gamers Zephyrus Duo 15 SE keeping the twin displays but throwing in more screen options and faster processors. As before, there's a 15.6-inch main display on top, with a 14.1-inch secondary display underneath, on a tilting panel just above the keyboard.
The pointy crown-looking WiFi 6E router you see before you was revealed by ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today. This is the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 Tri-Band 10 Gigabit Wireless Router, the "world's first router to use the latest WiFi 6E (802.11ax) wireless network standard." Users will be able to roll with the latest in fastest-possible Wi-Fi internet speed while remaining compatible with devices that connect with older forms of Wi-Fi data.
Razer may have started the whole gaming smartphone trend but it seems that ASUS is the one that's taking it to the extreme. Of course, ASUS' ROG Phones have also been the most expensive among its peers so buyers will want to know they're getting they're money's worth. That will partly depend on how well the phone performs which, in turn, depends on how cool it can stay under pressure. Fortunately, JerryRigEverything's Zack Nelson was willing to sacrifice the ROG Phone 3's screen to find the answer.
The ASUS Republic of Gamers crew revealed the ROG Phone 3 this morning with a giant collection of accessories and peripherals for gaming. This device has a new range of modular accessories like the ROG TwinView 3 Dock, ROG Lighting Armor Case, ROG Kunai 3 Gamepad, and the ROG Clip. This phone also rolls with a ROG Strix XG16 portable gaming display, ROG Centra RGB in-ear gaming headphones, and the ROG Falchion (ultra-portable wireless mechanical keyboard).
It's almost ironic that just when gaming has become even more pervasive, gaming-centric smartphones have seemingly gone under the radar. Compared to last year, we aren't hearing much about these souped-up handsets, especially not from Razer. Lenovo has yet to unveil its first-ever Legion-branded smartphone and ASUS has yet to launch its third stab at that still niche market. If you've been holding your breath for the ROG Phone 3, though, you might want to start breathing again. If these new official and unofficial details are any indications, we won't be seeing anything spectacularly new this year.
The ASUS Republic of Gamers Zephyrus Duo 15 has two displays. There's the standard display in the lid of the laptop, then there's another display (another touchscreen display) just above the keyboard. Both displays work with the same operating system, and both operate together. This isn't the first time we've seen a similar sort of machine, but it is definitely the most elegant execution of a dual-screen laptop such as this.
Following the footsteps of the Razer Phone, a few phone makers have started carving a niche gaming smartphone market that combined the usual high-end specs you'd see in premium flagships with a few gaming-centric touches. The ASUS ROG Phone, both the first and the current second-gen model, is arguably the most expensive of the group but while the ROG Phone 2 does have the makings of a topnotch gaming phone, it seems to have missed out on one of the most important aspects of modern phones today: the cameras.
The ROG Phone and its current successor the ROG Phone 2 arguably represent the spirit of PC gaming transferred to mobile with their looks, specs, and accessories. They are also arguably the most expensive of the current generation of gaming smartphones and may also be burdened by ASUS' track record when it comes to Android updates. ASUS seems to be turning over a new leaf when it started the beta program for the ZenFone 6 last week. And exactly as many hoped, the ROG Phone 2's turn has come.
Gaming smartphones are designed for a niche market but many of them actually offer the same high-end features of regular flagships at almost half the price. ASUS' second stab at that market is perhaps the one exception. Yes, it does have one of the best combination of specs this year but the $900 price tag might scare off some mobile gamers into the arms of its rivals. Perhaps more damning, however, is the revelation of the ROG Phone II's one weakness, making it not only an expensive investment but also a risky one.
If you ask people what the best smartphone is this year, they might easily give name a Samsung Galaxy or an Apple iPhone or maybe even a Huawei Mate. Ask them what the most powerful smartphone is, however, and they might stumble a bit. While those premium phones do offer some of the best specs in the market, one phone tries to outdo them all in that game. Quite appropriately, that's the ASUS ROG Phone 2 gaming smartphone and JerryRigEverything is testing whether its strength doesn't just come from within.