Rog Phones Missing Potential and why you should not update to their phones

[Kr0s]

I am here just to share my thoughts and hopefully have the Asus ROG team hear me out. Let me begin by saying that I love the Asus phone, specifically the ROG 7 Ultimate. I am more than satisfied with its performance from both the phone and the cooler. However, nothing is perfect, and in my opinion, the biggest caveat is a major problem that needs to be resolved by the next generation of phones, even though I was hoping the Series 9 would have addressed it.

I am referring to the phone's network connectivity. The phone lacks major network bands (frequencies), making its connectivity not achieve its full potential. I will be attaching the current bands both the Asus ROG and the iPhone 13 have. How can it be possible that an iPhone that was released 4-5 years ago has a wider support for frequencies, while the Asus phone lacks terribly? And let me remind you, the ROG 7 had a higher price compared to the iPhone 13 at launch.

Asus ROG 7 / 8

• 4G Bands (USA model): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 32, 34, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66, 71
• 5G Bands (USA model): 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79

iPhone 13

• 4G Bands: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71
• 5G Bands (USA model): 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261

Now, let's move on to the support for carrier frequencies:

• AT&T (The ones bolded are the only frequencies supported by the Asus Rog 7/8 phones)
  • 4G: 2, 4, 5, 12, 17, 29, 30, 66
  • 5G: n5, n77, n260 
• Verizon (The ones bolded are the only frequencies supported by the Asus Rog 7/8 phones)
  • 4G: 2, 4, 5, 13, 46, 48, 66
  • 5G: n77, n260, n261
• T-Mobile (The ones bolded are the only frequencies supported by the Asus Rog 7/8 phones)
  • 4G: 2, 4, 5, 12, 66, 71
  • 5G: n41, n71, n258, n260, n261

Currently, the phone seems better suited for AT&T, but it forces you to rely on one carrier, unlike the iPhone 13, which gives you more options. Some companies, including US Mobile, are working on network-switching technologies to utilize both T-Mobile and Verizon antennas. However, in order to use those networks, your phone needs to work with both carriers (Verizon and T-Mobile), which the Asus ROG 7 does not currently support for Verizon. The Asus ROG is also missing 5G bands higher than 71, which becomes a significant issue since companies like T-Mobile have more frequencies. This makes the phone less efficient with 5G speeds.

To add to my frustration, when comparing the network bands of the ROG 7 and ROG 9, it’s clear that Asus has made no meaningful improvements in this crucial area. Despite the ROG 9 being a newer model, the frequency support is virtually identical to the ROG 7, with no substantial changes. This lack of progress in network band support between two generations of phones is incredibly disappointing. It feels like Asus isn’t prioritizing this important aspect, especially considering how much time has passed and how networks are evolving. Here's a comparison of the frequencies between the two models:

Asus ROG 9 Pro

• 4G Bands (USA): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66, 71
• 5G Bands (USA, SA/NSA/Sub6): 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79

Asus ROG 7 Ultimate

• 4G Bands (USA): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 32, 34, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66, 71
• 5G Bands (USA, SA/NSA/Sub6): 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79

As you can see, the band support between the ROG 7 and ROG 9 is almost identical, with no substantial improvements in the network bands, especially for 5G. This is particularly frustrating because, after two years, I expected a significant upgrade in connectivity, but instead, the same limitations persist. It feels like Asus is ignoring a crucial aspect that could greatly enhance the overall experience. What makes it worse is that the ROG 9 is priced similarly to other flagship devices like the iPhone, which offers much more comprehensive network support. It’s disappointing that after all this time, Asus hasn't addressed the connectivity issues, which has made me reconsider not purchasing the newer models. I’m left wondering if Asus is more focused on gaming performance than providing an all-around phone that can compete with others in the same price range. I can’t help but feel like purchasing my Rog 7 Ultimate was somewhat wasteful, and it's only reinforced by the lack of change in the ROG 9.

So for the next iteration of phones, could you consider supporting more network bands? At least for the US and international versions, we are already paying $1k+ for this phone. Why can't it support the same frequencies as other phones in the same price range?

I knew this phone wouldn't support all frequencies, but I didn’t feel it would be this bad. Experiencing these issues made me back down from purchasing the ROG 8 and the ROG 9.

Thanks for hearing me out, and I hope when the ROG 10 releases, it has support for more frequencies. Otherwise, I guess I would be switching to another phone company like Google.

[bettiehutchinso]

Asus ROG phones excel in performance but fall short in network support, limiting carrier flexibility. The lack of progress in frequency bands, even across generations, is disappointing for a premium device. If Asus doesn’t address this, users may look elsewhere.

[Kr0s]

Exactly, it is a missed opportunity to create the ultimate premium device, optimized for both everyday use and gaming. As I mentioned in my post, several carriers, including US Mobile, have incorporated network switching into their plans. The ability to seamlessly switch between networks to ensure a more stable connection cannot be achieved due to the lack of band support. Mentioning this is a gaming phone, having a carrier that uses network switching can be of significant importance for online gaming on the go, demanding games like COD mobile is an easy example where packet loss or high ping can result in losing a match. It remains surprising that Asus has not taken this into consideration when releasing a new model and as you mentioned, users will look elsewhere. I am already looking for another brand as soon as the years of supported updates are over.

[erin_andersen]

Great point! A premium gaming phone should prioritize seamless connectivity, and the lack of band support is a big miss. Network switching could greatly improve online gaming, and it’s surprising Asus overlooked this. Understandable why users are looking elsewhere!