ASUS ROG Phone 5 to ASUS ROG Phone 6: Is It Worth Upgrading?
A plain-English look at what actually changes, 1 year apart.
Yes — the ASUS ROG Phone 6 is a worthwhile upgrade
The ASUS ROG Phone 6 is 1 year newer than the ASUS ROG Phone 5, and the BeastScore rises from 87.0 to 90.0. The biggest improvements: performance rated 5 points higher, camera rated 4 points higher, display rated 4 points higher. Trade-offs to know: lower-resolution main camera (−14 mp).
What you gain with the ASUS ROG Phone 6
- Performance rated 5 points higher
- Camera rated 4 points higher
- Display rated 4 points higher
- Newer Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset (replaces Snapdragon 888)
- Smoother display (+21Hz refresh rate)
- 400 nits brighter peak display
- 4 GB more RAM
What you give up
- Lower-resolution main camera (−14 MP)
Head-to-head
| Spec | ASUS ROG Phone 5 | ASUS ROG Phone 6 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BeastScore (overall) | 87.0 | 90.0 | +3.0 (3%) |
| Performance score | 90 | 95 | +5 (6%) |
| Camera score | 84 | 88 | +4 (5%) |
| Battery score | 98 | 98 | No real change |
| Display score | 92 | 96 | +4 (4%) |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 888 | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 | New generation chip |
| Battery capacity | 6,000 mAh | 6,000 mAh | No real change |
| Wired charging | 65W | 65W | No real change |
| Screen size | 6.8" | 6.8" | No real change |
| Refresh rate | 144Hz | 165Hz | +21Hz (15%) |
| Peak brightness | 800 nits | 1,200 nits | +400 nits (50%) |
| Main camera | 64 MP | 50 MP | −14 MP (22%) |
| RAM | 12 GB | 16 GB | +4 GB (33%) |
| Weight | 238 g | 239 g | No real change |
| Launch price | $999 | $999 | No real change |
Upgrade if…
- Photo quality is a priority for you
- You play demanding games or want the newest on-device AI features
- You use your phone outdoors a lot and want a brighter, smoother screen
ASUS ROG Phone 5 to ASUS ROG Phone 6: Common Questions
Is it worth upgrading from the ASUS ROG Phone 5 to the ASUS ROG Phone 6?
Yes — the ASUS ROG Phone 6 is a worthwhile upgrade. The ASUS ROG Phone 6 is 1 year newer than the ASUS ROG Phone 5, and the BeastScore rises from 87.0 to 90.0. The biggest improvements: performance rated 5 points higher, camera rated 4 points higher, display rated 4 points higher. Trade-offs to know: lower-resolution main camera (−14 mp).
What is the biggest difference between the ASUS ROG Phone 5 and ASUS ROG Phone 6?
Performance rated 5 points higher: 90 on the ASUS ROG Phone 5 vs 95 on the ASUS ROG Phone 6.
Does the ASUS ROG Phone 6 have a bigger battery than the ASUS ROG Phone 5?
No — both have about the same battery capacity (6,000 mAh vs 6,000 mAh).
Who should upgrade to the ASUS ROG Phone 6?
Upgrade if: Photo quality is a priority for you; You play demanding games or want the newest on-device AI features; You use your phone outdoors a lot and want a brighter, smoother screen.