Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL is a game-changer in the world of smartphones. With its sleek design and powerful performance, it's a device that every gaming enthusiast dreams of. This phone boasts a 6.0-inch AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and HDR support, delivering stunning visuals. Thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset and Adreno 630 GPU, you can expect top-notch gaming performance. The device comes with 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 512GB of internal storage. The Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL also features a dual-camera setup, a massive 4000mAh battery, and a 30W fast charging capability. This gaming beast is available in a stylish black color, and with a price tag of around 1110 EUR, it's definitely worth the investment.

Design and Build Quality

The Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL boasts a striking physical appearance that is specifically designed for gaming enthusiasts. Its sleek and robust design is characterized by a combination of premium materials, including a Gorilla Glass 6 front, Gorilla Glass 5 back, and an aluminum frame. These materials not only enhance the phone's aesthetics but also contribute to its overall durability. The device measures 158.8 x 76.2 x 8.3 mm and weighs 200g, making it slightly larger and heavier than most smartphones. However, this size and weight are intentional to accommodate the phone's gaming-focused features and ensure an ergonomic and comfortable grip during extended gaming sessions.

The construction of the Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL is top-notch with attention to detail evident in every aspect. The use of glass and metal gives it a premium feel and adds a touch of elegance to its overall design. The phone also features three ultrasonic pressure-sensitive zones, allowing users to utilize unique gameplay controls. Additionally, it is water-resistant, which adds an extra layer of durability and protection.

The display of the Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL is a standout feature, featuring a 6.0-inch AMOLED panel with a 90Hz refresh rate and HDR support. This high refresh rate ensures smooth and fluid visuals, while HDR enhances the color and contrast for a more immersive gaming experience. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 6, offering added durability against scratches and accidental drops.

In terms of design and build, the Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL excels in both aesthetics and functionality. Its premium materials, ergonomic design, and attention to detail make it a visually appealing and comfortable device to hold. Moreover, its durability and construction ensure that it can withstand the demands of intense gaming sessions. Overall, the design and build of the Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL are a testament to its focus on providing a high-quality gaming experience.

Display

The Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL boasts a 6.0-inch AMOLED display, offering a visually stunning and immersive experience for gamers and multimedia enthusiasts. With a resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels and an aspect ratio of 18:9, the display delivers sharp and vibrant visuals with a pixel density of approximately 402 pixels per inch. The AMOLED technology ensures deep blacks, high contrast, and vivid colors, enhancing the overall viewing experience.

In terms of color accuracy and vibrancy, the display of the ROG Phone excels, providing rich and lifelike colors that enhance gaming and multimedia content. The screen also offers excellent brightness levels, allowing for comfortable viewing even in bright outdoor environments. Additionally, the device features an anti-reflective coating that minimizes glare, further improving outdoor visibility.

The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 6, ensuring durability and resistance against scratches. This robust protection allows users to enjoy their gaming sessions without worrying about accidental damage to the screen.

The Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL also features a 90Hz refresh rate, which makes animations and scrolling appear smoother and more fluid. This higher refresh rate enhances the overall gaming experience, providing a competitive edge to gamers.

With support for HDR (High Dynamic Range), the display offers a wider range of colors and improved contrast, resulting in more realistic and immersive visuals. The wide color gamut ensures that content creators' intentions are accurately represented on the screen.

The viewing angles of the ROG Phone's display are excellent, allowing users to enjoy content from various positions without experiencing significant color shifts or loss of clarity. The device also offers an always-on display feature, allowing users to quickly glance at important information without unlocking the phone.

To ensure user comfort, the ROG Phone includes a blue light filter and adaptive brightness feature. The blue light filter reduces eye strain during extended use, while the adaptive brightness feature automatically adjusts the screen brightness based on ambient lighting conditions.

Overall, the display of the Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL is a standout feature, delivering a high-quality visual experience with its vibrant colors, sharp resolution, excellent brightness levels, and advanced display technologies like HDR and wide color gamut.

Performance

The Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL is a powerhouse when it comes to performance, thanks to its impressive chipset and GPU benchmarks. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, this device delivers exceptional gaming capabilities and a smooth user experience. The octa-core CPU, consisting of 4x2.96 GHz Kryo 385 Gold and 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver cores, ensures excellent multitasking performance and app loading speeds.

In terms of gaming performance, the Asus ROG Phone truly shines. It is specifically designed for gamers, with features such as ultrasonic pressure-sensitive zones and a dedicated gaming UI. The Adreno 630 GPU provides stunning graphics and smooth gameplay, making it a dream device for mobile gamers. The phone's AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and HDR support further enhances the gaming experience, offering vibrant colors and fluid visuals.

When it comes to benchmark tests, the Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL performs exceptionally well. It achieves impressive scores in synthetic benchmarks, showcasing its processor efficiency and GPU power. The device handles demanding gaming benchmarks with ease, providing a lag-free gaming experience even with graphics-intensive games.

One of the key strengths of the Asus ROG Phone is its system optimization and thermal management. The device is equipped with advanced cooling technology, including a 3D vapor chamber and a copper heat spreader, which effectively dissipate heat during intense gaming sessions. This ensures that the phone maintains optimal performance without overheating.

The performance metrics of the Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL speak for themselves. With its powerful processor, efficient GPU, and optimized system, this device offers a seamless and fluid user experience. Whether it's gaming, multitasking, or everyday tasks, the Asus ROG Phone delivers exceptional performance and speed.

In conclusion, the Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL is a true gaming powerhouse with its impressive chipset performance, GPU benchmarks, and overall gaming capabilities. Its powerful processor, efficient GPU, and optimized system provide a smooth and lag-free gaming experience. With its thermal management features and system optimization, the device maintains optimal performance even during intense gaming sessions. If you're a mobile gamer looking for top-notch performance and a seamless gaming experience, the Asus ROG Phone is definitely worth considering.

Software and User Interface

The Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL runs on the Android 8.1 (Oreo) operating system, which can be upgraded to Android 9.0 (Pie) with the ROG Gaming X UI. This provides a familiar and user-friendly interface for Android enthusiasts. The device is powered by the Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 chipset and an octa-core CPU, offering smooth and efficient performance for gaming and multitasking.

In terms of customization, the ROG Phone offers a variety of options to personalize the user experience. Users can customize the theme, wallpapers, and icons to suit their preferences. Additionally, the ROG Gaming X UI adds a unique touch to the interface, with gaming-inspired elements and features.

As for pre-installed apps, the ROG Phone comes with a selection of useful applications. These include the ROG Game Center, which provides quick access to various gaming settings and features. It also offers Game Genie, a tool that allows users to record and stream gameplay, as well as optimize system performance while gaming.

While the device does come with some pre-installed apps, commonly referred to as bloatware, they are relatively minimal compared to other smartphones on the market. This ensures a cleaner and more streamlined experience for users, without excessive unwanted applications taking up storage space.

Overall, the software of the Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL provides a user-friendly interface, powerful performance, and customization options to enhance the gaming experience. With its Android operating system and the added ROG Gaming X UI, this device caters to gamers and offers a seamless and enjoyable interface for both gaming and everyday use.

Camera

The Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL boasts a dual-camera setup, with a 12 MP main camera and an 8 MP ultrawide lens. The main camera has a wide f/1.8 aperture and 24mm focal length, allowing for sharp and detailed photos. The 12 MP sensor size and 1.4µm pixel size contribute to excellent image quality, especially in daylight photography. The camera also features 4-axis optical image stabilization (OIS), ensuring steady shots and reducing blur caused by hand movements. The Asus ROG Phone excels in outdoor photography, producing vibrant and natural colors with good dynamic range.

In low-light situations, the camera performs admirably with its low-light sensitivity and noise reduction capabilities. It also includes a dedicated night mode for capturing stunning night photography. The camera app provides various shooting modes, including portrait mode for capturing professional-looking portraits with a blurred background. HDR and panorama modes are also available to capture wider scenes with improved dynamic range.

The Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL is capable of recording 4K videos at 30 or 60 frames per second, ensuring high-quality video footage. Video stabilization helps to reduce shakiness and maintain smooth footage. Slow-motion video recording and time-lapse features add creativity to your videos. The camera supports various video formats, providing flexibility for sharing and editing your recorded videos.

Overall, the camera of the Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL offers impressive performance in both photography and videography, delivering excellent image quality, sharpness, and dynamic range. Whether you're capturing the beauty of daylight landscapes or experimenting with low-light photography, the Asus ROG Phone's camera is well-equipped to meet your needs.

Battery Life

Connectivity and Networking

The Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL offers a wide range of connectivity options to keep you connected wherever you go. It supports various network technologies including GSM, CDMA, HSPA, and LTE, ensuring compatibility with most carriers. With its dual SIM capability, you can easily switch between two different numbers or plans. The phone also supports 5G connectivity, which promises faster data speeds and enhanced network performance in the future.

When it comes to wireless connectivity, the ROG Phone ZS600KL is equipped with Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ad, allowing you to connect to both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. This ensures a stable and fast internet connection, especially when paired with its Wi-Fi Direct feature for direct device-to-device communication.

Bluetooth 5.0 is also supported, enabling seamless wireless audio streaming and file transfers. The phone also features NFC (Near Field Communication) for convenient contactless payments and easy pairing with compatible devices.

In terms of physical connectivity, the ROG Phone ZS600KL comes with a USB Type-C 3.1 port, which offers fast data transfer speeds and the ability to connect various accessories. Additionally, the phone supports GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, and QZSS for accurate positioning and navigation.

The ROG Phone ZS600KL also has the capability to act as a mobile hotspot, allowing you to share your internet connection with other devices. Overall, the Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL provides a comprehensive range of connectivity options, ensuring that you stay connected and enjoy a seamless experience.

Additional Features

The Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL comes with a range of additional features that enhance its functionality and user experience. First, it is equipped with water resistance, ensuring that it can withstand accidental spills or light rain. With an IP rating, the phone is also dustproof, protecting it from particles and debris. The device offers expandable storage options with a microSD card slot, allowing users to easily increase their storage capacity. It supports dual SIM functionality, enabling users to use two SIM cards simultaneously. The phone is equipped with a suite of advanced sensors, including an accelerometer and gyroscope, which provide precise motion tracking for gaming and other applications. Additionally, the Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL supports wireless charging, making it convenient to charge the device without the need for cables.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

The Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL stands out in the market of gaming smartphones with its impressive specifications and unique features. When comparing it with other related devices, such as the Razer Phone 2 and the Xiaomi Black Shark, the Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL holds its ground with its powerful performance and dedicated gaming features.

In terms of market positioning, the Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL is aimed at gamers and offers a range of features tailored to enhance the gaming experience. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset and Adreno 630 GPU ensure smooth and lag-free gameplay, while the 90Hz AMOLED display with HDR support delivers vibrant visuals.

When comparing specifications, the Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL boasts a large 6.0-inch AMOLED display, similar to the Razer Phone 2, but with a higher refresh rate. It also has a dual-camera setup consisting of a 12 MP primary camera and an 8 MP ultrawide camera, which is comparable to the Xiaomi Black Shark.

In terms of performance, the Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL excels with its AnTuTu score of 288,821 and GeekBench score of 9,406. These scores are higher than those of the Razer Phone 2 and the Xiaomi Black Shark, indicating a superior gaming performance.

When it comes to pricing, the Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL is positioned at a higher price point compared to its competitors. However, its unique gaming features, such as the ultrasonic pressure-sensitive zones and the accessory connector, justify the higher price tag for avid gamers.

In the competitive landscape of gaming smartphones, the Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL holds a competitive advantage with its dedicated gaming features and powerful performance. Its product differentiation lies in its gaming-centric design and optimized software, giving it an edge over other devices in the market.

Overall, the Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL offers a compelling package for gamers, with its impressive specifications, dedicated gaming features, and strong performance. While it may come at a higher price point, the value for money it provides to gaming enthusiasts makes it a worthy competitor in the market.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL is a formidable gaming smartphone that offers impressive specifications and features. Its sleek design, complete with a durable glass front and back, along with an aluminum frame, exudes a premium feel. The AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and HDR support delivers stunning visuals, enhancing the gaming experience. The powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor and generous RAM ensure smooth performance, even with intensive gaming sessions. The dual-camera setup captures detailed photos and videos, while the front camera is perfect for selfies. Additionally, the ROG Phone's long-lasting battery and fast charging capabilities make it ideal for extended gaming sessions. Overall, the Asus ROG Phone ZS600KL is a top choice for gamers and tech enthusiasts alike, providing a comprehensive and immersive gaming experience.