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MagyarAsus ROG Phone 6D and 6D Ultimate Smartphone review – Gaming phones with great accessories
Asus' gaming phones are a great success. We even named the ROG Phone 6 "probably the best gaming smartphone" in our review. So it makes sense for the manufacturer not to rest on their laurels but to continue expanding the series.
This is exactly what the Taiwanese company has done with the ROG Phone 6D and the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate, which we will be reviewing together as they only have a few fairly minor differences.
Asus has positioned the 6D as a slightly more affordable alternative to the ROG Phone 6 and 6 Pro, in exchange for a smaller working memory and a new SoC. The camera and screen remain unchanged. The ROG Phone 6D Ultimate, on the other hand, is the most expensive phone of the series at the time of writing, and comes equipped with a fair share of accessories.
Possible competitors compared
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Best Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88.5 % | 12/2022 | Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate Dimensity 9000+, Mali-G710 MP10 | 247 g | 512 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.78" | 2448x1080 | |
| 88.6 % | 12/2022 | Asus ROG Phone 6D Dimensity 9000+, Mali-G710 MP10 | 239 g | 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.78" | 2448x1080 | |
| 89.5 % | 01/2023 | Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro SD 8+ Gen 1, Adreno 730 | 239 g | 512 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.78" | 2448x1080 | |
| 84.9 % | 09/2022 | Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro SD 8+ Gen 1, Adreno 730 | 235 g | 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.80" | 2400x1080 | |
| 85.7 % | 06/2022 | Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro SD 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730 | 220 g | 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.67" | 2400x1080 |
Case – Gaming design with Gorilla Glass
"Is it a ROG Phone 6 or 6D"? – A question that is difficult to answer at first, for the models both have a very similar exterior. Only the color options differ: The ROG Phone 6D and 6D Ultimate are only available in silver.
The more expensive model now features a ventilation hatch made of plastic, which is positioned in the center at the top. It is closed as long as the cooling system is not attached, but rattles a little when you hold the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate. Not particularly promising in terms of quality.
This is disappointing, as the remainder of the case is of very high quality and includes great display protection on the front with Gorilla Glass Victus. Annoyingly, neither of the ROG Phone 6D phones are waterproof. They are only certified to IPX4, which promises splash protection.
Connectivity – Two USB-C ports
The Asus ROG Phone 6D and 6D Ultimate are both only available in one configuration:
- Asus ROG Phone 6D 12 GB RAM / 256 GB storage
- Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate 16 GB RAM / 512 GB storage
The two devices have a significant price difference, which comes from the fact that the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate is equipped with the AeroActive Cooler. The Ultimate model also features a matrix display on the back, which the ROG Phone 6D does not have. The third reason for the difference in price is the difference in memory and storage capacity.
Both models are equipped with the same USB C ports that support data transfers of up to 10 GBit/s. They help make it possible to comfortably hold the smartphone while gaming even when it is charging. Both smartphones also feature a notification LED on the front.
It is somewhat confusing that the ROG Phone 6 Batman Edition is actually a ROG Phone 6D with a MediaTek SoC according to its specs. This special edition comes in beautifully designed packaging and features a couple of cool gadgets such as a Batman-style SIM tool or a Batsignal projector. We don't seem to be the only ones to have noticed this discrepancy. Online, the phone often appears as ROG Phone 6D Batman Edition - for example on the German price comparison site Geizhals.
Software – Short update period for the ROG Phone
Asus' gaming phone comes with Android 12, which is complimented by the manufacturer's own ROG UI. This user interface only makes small changes to the system and Android users should have no difficulty finding their way around the phone. Gamers will be most interested in Armoury Crate - an app that allows you to launch games directly as well as to adjust the settings for the cooler or the gaming mode.
A symbol in the top corner shows which maximum refresh rate the screen is currently set to. A nice little feature, if you ask us.
Apparently, the update period is limited to only two years, which is annoying and limits the potential useful life of the gaming smartphone. At least patches are provided fairly regularly, with the last patch dated November 2022 at the time of testing, which is still quite recent.
Communication and GNSS – Fast WiFi 6E
The ROG Phone 6D can hold two SIM cards and supports 5G for both. There are numerous frequencies available in both the 5G and 4G networks, so it should be possible to operate the phone worldwide.
We found the signal strength to be very good and on par with other high-end smartphones.
The devices also feature modern WiFi 6E. This allows very fast and smooth browsing, which our test with our reference router Asus ROG Rapture AXE 11000 confirms. However, the phone does not quite reach the data transfer rates of the ROG Phone 6 Pro.
| Networking | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | |
| Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro | |
| Average of class Smartphone (34.8 - 1875, n=211, last 2 years) | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | |
| Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro | |
| Average of class Smartphone (40.5 - 1810, n=212, last 2 years) | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | |
| Average of class Smartphone (229 - 1894, n=61, last 2 years) | |
| Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | |
| Average of class Smartphone (598 - 1840, n=61, last 2 years) | |
| Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro | |
The ROG Phone 6D allows you to locate your position across all big satellite networks. It even uses the SBAS system for increased precision. Outdoors, location accuracy is very good (and fast!) at 2 meters.
Our field test (a bike ride) with the smartwatch Garmin Venu 2 as a comparison device shows that the gaming phone is very exact and only occasionally locates us next to the path instead of on it. If you need a very precise navigation system, you should get along fine with the ROG Phone 6D and 6D Ultimate.
Telephone functions and call quality - occasional interference
The Asus ROG Phone 6D uses a proprietary telephone app; users who don't like it can easily install different apps from the Play Store.
We rather like the voice quality via the earpiece: The call partner's voice can be turned up very loud if needed, making them easy to understand even in busy surroundings, although this means that people around you will also be able to hear the caller's voice. The microphone occasionally generates dropouts and background noise.
When calling via speakerphone, the call partner often sounds more distant and the volume is more difficult to regulate. The microphone, on the other hand, fares better in this scenario. Our voice was transmitted clearly and without any interference.
Cameras – High quality but not perfect
The camera might not play such an important role for gaming smartphones as it does for other high-end phones, but if you pay a lot of money for a phone, you still expect it to produce decent pictures. The Sony IMX766, the ROG Phone 6D's main sensor, fulfills these expectations. It can also be found in other high-quality phones such as the OnePlus 10T and the ROG Phone 6. There is not much difference in camera quality between these phones.
Photos taken in daylight have a good level of detail and sharpness, although the main camera could brighten the pictures up a bit more. This is particularly noticeable in the landscape image: The iPhone 14's image appears a lot less dull. The Sony sensors' digital zoom is good, provided you don't overdo it. When taking photos in the dark, the phone would benefit from more photosensitivity. Other smartphones do a better job in this scenario, although the ROG Phone 6D's photos are still passable.
The wide-angle camera is suitable for snapshots but does not retain many details. The phone copes well with the distortion and you can zoom in fine increments between the wide-angle and main camera.
Videos can even be recorded at 8K and 24 fps without image stabilization. In 4K resolution, the phone supports up to 60 fps. Brightness adjustment and autofocus respond very quickly and produce nice, smooth videos.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Hauptkamera BlumeHauptkamera UmgebungHauptkamera Low LightWeitwinkelkamera
In our lab, the camera exhibits very good imaging performance overall, with slight sharpness issues with black text on a red background and at the edges.
The image remains easily recognizable but appears very grainy at 1 Lux.
Accessories and guarantee – All out
The ROG Phone 6D comes in simpler packaging and is equipped with a 65-watt AC adapter, a USB C cable, a SIM tool and even a protective cover.
The ROG Phone 6D Ultimate is packed into a fancy, hexagonal tower that can be opened at the side. In addition to the 6D's basic accessories, the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate comes with the AeroActive Cooler 6 - a cooling system that users would otherwise have to purchase for $100. It has a practical kick-stand, features shoulder buttons and - how could it not - RGB effects. The cooler does not affect the USB C ports, so you can still choose which port to use to recharge your phone.
If you would prefer to have a real gaming controller for your ROG Phone, you may want to take a look at the ROG Kunai 3, which is available for $100. The more affordable ROG Clip will enable you to use an existing GamePad.
Input devices & operation – Good fingerprint scanner
The touchscreen has a very fast 165-Hz refresh rate and 720-Hz sample rate. This not only looks good, it also enables very easy operation. Scrolling and zooming feels incredibly smooth, which is also thanks to the phone's great system performance.
The phone can be unlocked via the fingerprint reader that is positioned below the screen. If the screen is turned off, a symbol indicates the position of the sensor, which is already very intuitive on its own. Once your fingerprint has been registered, the sensor recognizes it very reliably, although you do have to wait a moment for the display to actually unlock.
Face recognition also unlocks the phone reliably but isn't quite as safe as it is based only on a software solution.
Display – Bright and fast
The Asus ROG Phone 6D generally uses the same panel as its predecessor, an AMOLED screen with 2448 x 1080 pixels and a refresh rate of up to 165 Hz.
The maximum brightness is slightly lower, which may be connected to changed handling by the SoC. Nonetheless, the ROG Phone 6D still has enough luminosity for long gaming sessions in bright surroundings and for HDR content in small areas.
Colors appear very strong and content is displayed very smoothly thanks to the high refresh rates, which can dynamically switch between 60 and 165 Hz.
Like with the ROG Phone 6, we measured PWM flickering. Unfortunately, this is a fairly normal feature of OLED panels. It may cause problems for sensitive users and we recommend trying out the screen before purchase. There is a DC dimming mode, but this only works at 60 Hz, which would mean renouncing on one of the main advantages of gaming phones - the high refresh rates.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 94 %
Center on Battery: 763 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.97 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 4.4 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
99.6% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.24
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate AMOLED, 2448x1080, 6.78 | Asus ROG Phone 6D AMOLED, 2448x1080, 6.78 | Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro AMOLED, 2448x1080, 6.78 | Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.80 | Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.67 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 0% | 27% | 4% | -3% | |
| Brightness middle | 763 | 763 0% | 860 13% | 618 -19% | 642 -16% |
| Brightness | 768 | 768 0% | 868 13% | 627 -18% | 637 -17% |
| Brightness Distribution | 94 | 94 0% | 97 3% | 91 -3% | 96 2% |
| Black Level * | |||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 3.97 | 3.97 -0% | 2.4 40% | 2.9 27% | 3.19 20% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 7.66 | 7.66 -0% | 3.9 49% | 5.7 26% | 7.12 7% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 4.4 | 4.4 -0% | 2.5 43% | 4 9% | 4.9 -11% |
| Gamma | 2.24 98% | 2.24 98% | 2.08 106% | 2.35 94% | 2.22 99% |
| CCT | 7566 86% | 7566 86% | 6640 98% | 6098 107% | 7671 85% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 689.2 Hz |  | |
The display backlight flickers at 689.2 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 689.2 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17900 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
Measurements with fixed zoom and different brightness settings
Color accuracy is good but could be better in the "natural" mode. Users can manually adjust the white balance in order to somewhat counteract the blue cast that we noticed during our screen test.
Even so, it is mostly whites and grayscales that stand out. The reproduction of the remaining colors can hardly be distinguished from the reference color space with the naked eye.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1.9 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 1 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 0.9 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 5 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.5 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 2.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 1.4 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 1.4 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 7 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.7 ms). | ||
Outdoors, the phone is fine to use even on sunny days - although we would recommend avoiding direct sunlight as the display is very reflective.
The brightness only changes minimally when you look at the screen from wide angles.
Performance – MediaTek has no problem keeping up
The new MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ puts the ROG Phone 6D more or less on par with the ROG Phone 6 and its other high-end Snapdragon competitors.
Although the processors are very similar with clock rates of up to 3.2 GHz and a similar selection of cores, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen.1 actually has to admit defeat in some benchmarks. But at around 5%, the differences aren't earth-shattering.
The GPU's results vary depending on the benchmark. The more modern and complex, the better the ARM Mali-G710 MP10 in the ROG Phone 6D can keep up or even gain an advantage.
There are also some slight differences in performance between the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate and the ROG Phone 6D, which are probably due to the larger working memory.
Generally, whether you choose a ROG Phone 6 or 6D, you will be getting one of the most powerful Android gaming phones around.
| Antutu v9 - Total Score | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | |
| Average MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ () | |
| Average of class Smartphone (102602 - 1650926, n=153, last 2 years) | |
| CrossMark - Overall | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | |
| Average MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ () | |
| Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro | |
| Average of class Smartphone (200 - 1474, n=165, last 2 years) | |
| UL Procyon AI Inference for Android - Overall Score NNAPI | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | |
| Average MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ () | |
| Average of class Smartphone (207 - 84787, n=150, last 2 years) | |
| AImark - Score v3.x | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | |
| Average MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ () | |
| Average of class Smartphone (298 - 245629, n=105, last 2 years) | |
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7: T-Rex Onscreen | 1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen
GFXBench 3.0: on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL | 1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen
GFXBench 3.1: on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen
GFXBench: on screen Car Chase Onscreen | 1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | 2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme Unlimited | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | |
| Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | |
| Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | |
| Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | |
| Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Unlimited Score | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | |
| Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro | |
| Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Onscreen | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | |
| Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Offscreen | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | |
| Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / Manhattan Onscreen OGL | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | |
| Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / 1080p Manhattan Offscreen | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | |
| Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D | |
| Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | |
| Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Onscreen | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | |
| Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Offscreen | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D | |
| Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | |
| Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro | |
| Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | |
| Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro | |
| Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D | |
| Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | |
| Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D | |
| Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | |
| Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro | |
The ROG Phone 6D is fast when browsing the web, although you will need to wait occasionally when loading complex and large websites. Other high-end smartphones manage to be even quicker.
| Jetstream 2 - Total Score | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro (Chrome 103) | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | |
| Average MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ () | |
| Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 351, n=173, last 2 years) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro (Chrome 103) | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate (Chome 108) | |
| Average MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ () | |
| Average of class Smartphone (14.9 - 445, n=157, last 2 years) | |
| WebXPRT 4 - Overall | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro (Chrome 103) | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate (Chrome 108) | |
| Average MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ () | |
| Average of class Smartphone (22 - 202, n=160, last 2 years) | |
| WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro (Chrome 103) | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate (Chrome 108) | |
| Average MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ () | |
| Average of class Smartphone (39 - 304, n=122, last 2 years) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro (Chrome 103) | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate (Chrome 108) | |
| Average MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ () | |
| Average of class Smartphone (4633 - 89112, n=213, last 2 years) | |
| Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro (Chrome 104) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Average of class Smartphone (388 - 9999, n=173, last 2 years) | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro (Chrome 103) | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate (Chrome 108) | |
| Average MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ () | |
* ... smaller is better
The UFS 3.1 storage device in the ROG Phone does a good job and achieves good transfer rates in all scenarios. This shortens load times and speeds up data transfers.
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | Asus ROG Phone 6D | Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro | Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro | Average 512 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | 0% | -10% | -21% | -8% | -23% | -34% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 1921.3 | 1921.3 0% | 1949.16 1% | 1822.05 -5% | 1945.4 1% | 1877 ? -2% | 1508 ? -22% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 1832.6 | 1832.6 0% | 1454.5 -21% | 1258.69 -31% | 1485.2 -19% | 1156 ? -37% | 1118 ? -39% |
| Random Read 4KB | 356 | 356 0% | 297.48 -16% | 327.23 -8% | 344.9 -3% | 281 ? -21% | 247 ? -31% |
| Random Write 4KB | 482.7 | 482.7 0% | 459.66 -5% | 287.63 -40% | 424.8 -12% | 333 ? -31% | 272 ? -44% |
Games – 165 fps remain the stuff of dreams
Of course, a gaming smartphone must be subjected to our gaming test. Unfortunately, the ROG Phone 6D cannot access the full 165 fps that the screen would be capable of in any of the games we tested. We measured a maximum of 90 fps when playing PUBG Mobile at very low settings. In Ultra HD mode, the phone only managed 40 fps.
Diablo Immortal is displayed at 60 fps in all settings, although we did experience one big drop to 36 fps and several smaller drops to around 50 fps. We measure frame rates using our partner's software GameBench.
Of course the frame rates also depend on the game that you're playing, and most smartphone manufacturers try to protect the battery and thus only rarely allow very high refresh rates.
But frame rates are not the only aspect of gaming, and the ROG Phone 6D does well in other areas: It has a wide range of accessories and features ultrasound triggers on the right side of the chassis, which can be assigned with gaming commands.
The app Armoury Crate can be used to manage games and adjust the setting of the cooler. The UI also features its own gaming overlay that allows you to make quick changes to settings when gaming.
Emissions – A useful cooler
Temperature
The Asus ROG Phone 6D can heat up considerably when running without the additional cooling system: We measured up to 48.9 °C in the center of the device, where the SoC is placed. This also means that the SoC has to throttle its performance to 2/3 in our continuous load benchmark.
We ran the test again with the cooler and the results were a lot more stable. Instead, users will have to accept the cooler's moderate noise of around 35 dB(A) as well as the increased battery drain.
The 6D Ultimate's ventilation hatch only contributes very little to temperature management and performance stability compared to the normal ROG Phone 6D without the hatch.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 48.9 °C / 120 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 44.3 °C / 112 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24 °C / 75 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
3DMark Wild Life stress test
| 3DMark | |
| Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
| Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | |
| Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | |
| Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro | |
Speakers
The speakers that are directed towards the user can become quite loud. They deliver a very good sound; even lower frequencies are present and classical music is reproduced in some detail so that individual instruments can be distinguished. Pop songs offer clear vocals and do not distort.
Fans of wired headphones will be pleased to hear that the device has a 3.5-mm audio jack that supports up to 192 kHz and 24-bit for Hi-Res audio. Bluetooth 5.3 is available for users who prefer using wireless headphones, but unfortunately the ROG Phone 6D does not support aptX codecs, which means that you will have to make do with SBC, AAC and LDAC.
Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (85 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 19.9% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.4% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (5.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.8% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (16.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 91% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 24% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 71% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (86.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 20% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (8.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.6% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (4.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.1% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (2.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (16.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 4% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 92% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 22% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 73% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Battery life – Hours of gaming on the ROG Phone 6D
Power consumption
The Asus ROG Phone 6D and its MediaTek SoC requires somewhat more power than the ROG Phone 6 with a Snapdragon SoC. The 6D had higher consumption rates in almost all scenarios.
The gaming phone can be recharged with a maximum of 65 watts. It easily recharges within one hour at this rate. Unfortunately, the phone does not support wireless charging.
| Off / Standby |   0.1 / 0.2 Watt |
| Idle |  0.8 / 1.5 / 2.1 Watt |
| Load |
7.2 / 11.9 Watt |
    
| |
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate 6000 mAh | Asus ROG Phone 6D 6000 mAh | Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro 6000 mAh | Average MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | 0% | 27% | 0% | 13% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 0.8 | 0.8 -0% | 0.8 -0% | 0.8 ? -0% | 0.897 ? -12% |
| Idle Average * | 1.5 | 1.5 -0% | 1.31 13% | 1.5 ? -0% | 1.452 ? 3% |
| Idle Maximum * | 2.1 | 2.1 -0% | 1.36 35% | 2.1 ? -0% | 1.629 ? 22% |
| Load Average * | 7.2 | 7.2 -0% | 3.77 48% | 7.2 ? -0% | 5.55 ? 23% |
| Load Maximum * | 11.9 | 11.9 -0% | 7.04 41% | 11.9 ? -0% | 8.31 ? 30% |
* ... smaller is better
Power consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)
Power consumption: GFXBench (150 cd/m²)
Battery life
The ROG Phone 6D reveals good stamina in our battery tests. This is not surprising considering its enormous 6000-mAh battery, although we did notice that the ROG Phone 6 with its Snapdragon SoC was even more efficient. Nonetheless, 16h26 in our Wi-Fi test should keep users going for a good two days without having to recharge - provided gaming is kept to a minimum.
Under heavy load, the gaming phone keeps going for 4h24, which means that you can easily while away a train ride or two by gaming. However, please consider that the active cooler sucks a fair amount of energy out of your phone's battery. Gaming with the fan will drain 20% of the battery within half an hour.
| Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate 6000 mAh | Asus ROG Phone 6D 6000 mAh | Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro 6000 mAh | Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro 5000 mAh | Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro 4650 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | 0% | 11% | -24% | -24% | |
| Reader / Idle | 2003 | ||||
| H.264 | 1136 | ||||
| WiFi v1.3 | 986 | 986 0% | 1097 11% | 748 -24% | 752 -24% |
| Load | 268 |
Pros
Cons
Verdict – MediaTek SoC looking good
The Asus ROG Phone 6D and 6D Ultimate are an interesting addition to the manufacturer's gaming phone portfolio. The ROG Phone 6D is a slightly more affordable entry-level device that comes without the second display on the back and has less working memory. The 6D Ultimate on the other hand features a ventilation hatch that slightly improves cooling and includes a separate cooling system for maximum performance. It is also the most expensive model in the entire series.
Both devices have a high-quality chassis, fast internet connection, fairly precise localization capabilities, a bright display, a lot of accessories, and great speakers. The strong battery enables a good battery life and the fast 165-Hz screen is a real feast for the eyes.
Without the optional cooling system, however, the case heats up noticeably and keeps the SoC from achieving its full potential. The short update period is disappointing, as is the fact that a high-quality phone such as this doesn't include wireless charging or full waterproofing.
The Asus ROG Phone 6D is affordable; the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate is made for performance. Both feature an impressively fast SoC and great gaming capabilities.
If you cannot come to terms with MediaTek, you may want to take a peek at the ROG Phone 6 and 6 Pro, two virtually equal Snapdragon alternatives. Xiaomi's Black Shark 5 Pro is an even more affordable option which, however, has more frame rate constraints while gaming.
Price and availability
The Asus ROG Phone 6D is currently available for $985, the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate costs $1248. Both are available online, for example from newegg.
Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate
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12/19/2022 v7
Florian Schmitt
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