Asus’ gaming smartphones have been a remarkable success. Many gamers even called the ROG Phone 6 “potentially the finest gaming smartphone.” It’s only logical for the manufacturer to keep pushing forward rather than resting on their achievements.
And that’s precisely what the Taiwanese company has done with introducing the ROG Phone 6D and the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate. In this review, we’ll cover both, as they have only a few minor distinctions.
Asus has positioned the 6D as a more budget-friendly alternative to the ROG Phone 6 and 6 Pro. You’ll get slightly less RAM and a new processor in return for a lower price. The camera and screen remain unchanged. On the other hand, the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate is currently the priciest phone in the series and comes bundled with a range of accessories.
Case: Gaming design with Gorilla Glass
“Is It a ROG Phone 6D or Ultimate 6D?” is an intriguing question at first glance; both models appear quite similar, with silver being the sole differentiating feature between the models.
The more expensive model now sports a plastic ventilation hatch at the top centre. When not attached to cooling systems, it remains closed; however, when held, it does rattle slightly when handled, and this does not bode well in terms of build quality.
Disappointingly, while the rest of the ROG Phone 6D models boast excellent build quality and display protection through Gorilla Glass Victus on the front display panel, neither model offers waterproof protection – only an IPX4 certification provides splash proofing.
Connectivity: Two USB-C ports
The Asus ROG Phone 6D and 6D Ultimate have only one configuration each:
- The 6D: 12 GB RAM || 256 GB storage
- The 6D Ultimate: 16 GB RAM || 512 GB storage
There is an obvious price disparity between these phones due to the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate’s inclusion of an AeroActive Cooler and matrix display compared to that found on its counterpart, plus differing memory capacities and storage capacities.
Both models boast USB C ports that support high-speed data transfers of up to 10 GBit/s for seamless gaming while charging. Also, both phones include front notification LEDs.
Interestingly enough, the ROG Phone 6 Batman Edition is actually just a ROG Phone 6D equipped with a MediaTek SoC. Nonetheless, its name suggests otherwise and includes various goodies like stylish packaging and cool extras like a Batman-inspired SIM tool and Batsignal projector – something other consumers have also noted.
Software update period is quite short (very annoying)
Asus’ gaming phone runs Android 12, with ROG UI adding subtle tweaks to the operating system. Most Android users should find it intuitive; gamers, in particular, will appreciate Armoury Crate – an app designed specifically to launch games and adjust cooler and gaming mode settings.
A small symbol in the top corner indicates the current screen refresh rate – an extremely useful feature.
However, updates are limited to just two years – which could limit its useful life considerably. On the plus side, patches have been released fairly regularly (including one from November 2022), providing some security updates that may be helpful later.
It’s worth noting that the Asus ROG Phone 6D is great for playing lightweight games, such as Lottoland Casino games. However, it’s not the best for heavy games. We will provide more details on the gaming experience later in this guide, so keep reading 😊.
A fast and bright display
The Asus ROG Phone 6D features the same AMOLED display as its predecessor with 2448 x 1080 resolution and up to 165Hz refresh rate.
Though its maximum brightness is slightly reduced, it still provides enough lumens for extended gaming sessions in bright environments and for experiencing HDR content in smaller spaces. Colours remain vibrant while content seamlessly displays thanks to a dynamic refresh rate, which can switch between 60-165 Hz.
However, this model exhibits PWM flickering common of OLED panels – something sensitive users might find distracting – which should be tested before purchasing. A 60Hz DC dimming mode is available if necessary, but that would mean giving up one of gaming phones’ main benefits: high refresh rates.
Gamers will enjoy 165 frames per second
Naturally, any gaming smartphone must pass our rigorous gaming test. Unfortunately, the ROG Phone 6D failed to live up to its full potential of 165 frames per second across any of the games we tested, peaking out at 90 while playing PUBG Mobile on low settings; when switched into Ultra HD mode, it only managed 40 fps.
At Diablo Immortal, our frame rate measurements showed an overall average of 60 frames per second across all settings; however, one notable drop to 36fps and several minor dips below this were observed – all conducted using GameBench software as our trusted partner for frame rate tracking.
Notably, frame rates depend heavily on the game being played, and smartphone manufacturers typically prioritize battery life by restricting high refresh rates.
Gaming isn’t all about frame rates; the ROG Phone 6D excels in other aspects. It comes equipped with an extensive array of accessories and boasts ultrasound triggers on its right side that can be programmed for in-game commands.
The Armoury Crate app provides a handy solution for managing games and customizing cooler settings. Furthermore, its user interface features an in-game overlay for quick in-game adjustments.
