Asus’ ROG Phone Is the Dumb Fun RGB Handset Gamers Deserve

A lot of people still aren’t convinced gaming phones are something that should even exist. But if there was one phone that might be able to sway peoples’ opinions, it’d be Asus’ Republic of Gamer (or ROG) Phone. In fact, based on some recent corporate shuffling, Asus is so emboldened by the ROG phone that the company is shifting its mobile strategy to focus even more on mobile gaming and high-end users. That’s an ambitious bet, but after playing around with ROG Phone, I have to admit there is a little sparkle to this mobile battle bus. Sure, the phone features an overly edgy design that caters to an increasingly played out gamer aesthetic. But on the ROG Phone, Asus goes so hard with all the gunmetal and orange, it’s honestly kind of impressive. In front, there are two stereo speakers adorned with shiny copper grilles, while around back, there’s a pseudo circuit board thing going complemented by another tangerine grille (this time for air circulation) and a hexagonal fingerprint reader and camera module. And to top everything off, Asus’ angry ROG logo is dead center and sports, you guessed it, customizable RGB lighting. Truly, this is a masterclass showcase of gamer design. *kisses fingers* But behind its aggressive facade, there’s actually a lot to like about the ROG Phone’s chassis. Down below, there’s a USB 3.1 Type-C port and a 3.5mm jack, but if you look around to the side, there’s a tiny silicone plug that hides two more…