Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate review: specs, battery & used prices

Summary

The Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is the 2023 peak of Asus's gaming line before the design pivot: a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, a 165 Hz OLED, and a 6,000 mAh battery in a 246 g body. 16/512 GB units list at $1,399 new and now sell used for around $716 with a three-sale sample — flagship-tier endurance at mid-flagship money.

Display and design

The 6.78-inch OLED runs at 165 Hz with a 1,000-nit peak, scoring 72/100 on our screen-quality axis. Compactness is 54/100 — this is a large, heavy device by design — and the rating is IP54, splash protection only. The Ultimate trim adds the AeroActive ecosystem and a second rear screen window that mainstream flagships do not offer.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 was the most complete chip of its generation, and our gaming score of 40/100 still positions it firmly above the current midrange. Everyday responsiveness is 90/100. The thermal headroom of the ROG chassis is the durable advantage: long sessions hold frame rates that slimmer flagships sacrifice.

Camera

A 50 MP main sensor leads, with a 13 MP ultrawide and a 5 MP close-up lens; video records to 8K at 24 fps. Our camera score of 37/100 mirrors the 6D generation — dependable main-sensor output, no pretence at a versatile camera system.

Battery and charging

The 6,000 mAh battery scores 60/100 on battery life, and 65 W wired charging lands at 46/100 on our charging axis. For a gaming phone the endurance-to-recharge ratio is the practical headline: long play, short stops.

Verdict

At around $716 used, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate suits buyers who want the classic ROG formula at its most complete: top 2023 silicon, a 165 Hz panel, and the big battery. IP54 and the weight are the accepted trade-offs of the species. The ROG Phone 8 Pro switched to a slimmer, camera-conscious design the following year; the plain ROG Phone 7 shares the platform without the Ultimate trim.