Update (20/01/2021 @ 06:25 ET): A leaked hands-on video of the upcoming ROG Phone 4 shows off its small secondary screen. Scroll down for more information. The article as published on January 18, 2021 is preserved below.
According to ASUS, they are working on a new ROG smartphone for 2021 in collaboration with Qualcomm, just before the launch of the Snapdragon 888. It is also speculated that the new smartphone will be launched by the end of 2020, followed by a launch in the first half of 2021. Although it did not materialize, ASUS has definitely started teasing the upcoming smartphone, which means that the launch may take place soon.
According to the teaser (via MySmartPrice), the next generation ROG phone has a slimmer edge above and below the screen. The preview also states: ‘Your fighting power will be upgraded soon! The new generation Tencent ROG game phone, all players of faith, stay tuned! This indicates that a Tencent version of the smartphone, just like the ROG Phone 3 and ROG Phone 2, would be launched.
The device was reportedly recently spotted on Geekbench indicating that the phone would be powered by the latest Snapdragon 888 SoC with 8GB of RAM and Android 11 out of the box. According to a recent 3C certification list, the handset is expected to charge fast along with the model number ASUS_I005DA and 65W. By comparison, the ROG Phone 3 charges 30W fast, and we’ve hopeful that ASUS will offer a large 6,000 mAh battery.
Image credits: Weibo
A leaked live image of the upcoming ROG Phone on Weibo also stirred rumors. It shows that the handset has three cameras with a glass back that has a similar design approach as the previous generation smartphone. The primary camera is said to include a 64-megapixel sensor with Quad-Bayer technology. The handset also has the number ’05 ‘on the back panel, along with various brands, which could mean that ASUS will launch it as the ROG phone 5 instead of the ROG phone 4. This is something we have seen in the past from certain smartphone manufacturers, as the number 4 in various Asian countries is considered unlucky China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan. If you look closely, there is also a red shoulder button, which could mean that ASUS will include physical triggers for gamers. Of course, these are just speculations and it looks like the image is not from a credible source, so make sure you take it with a pinch of salt.
UPDATE: Leaked practical video shows the secondary screen of ROG Phone 4
A short practical video of the ROG Phone 4 has now appeared Weibo (via GSMArena), and gives us a look at its small secondary screen. The video shows a device similar to the one we saw in recent images, with a customizable secondary screen on the back panel that shows game alerts and notifications for incoming calls. The video also shows the front of the device, giving us a brief look at the screen and frame. The device looks like its predecessor symmetrically at the top and bottom, but it looks a bit slimmer.