DxOMark | The Asus ROG Phone 2's cameras are a tad disappointing

The ROG Phone 2 is widely considered by most to be one of the most feature-packed smartphones released of recent, with a host of multimedia and performance-enhancing hardware features making the phone a compelling offering. Public opinion leans towards the phone's cameras failing to live up to its otherwise impeccable hardware, and a visit to DxOMark has resulted in damning evidence for that notion. 

The ROG Phone 2 earned a total score of 95. That's poor by 2019's standards, as most flagships released last year hit the 100 mark at least. Asus's other flagship phone, the Zenfone 6, recorded an overall score of 104, for example.

In fact, the ROG Phone 2 is closer to 2018's mid-range Zenfone 5 (96) than the Zenfone 6. And that's even more curious when one considers the fact that both phones use the same 48 MP IMX586 sensor, with similar lenses. The ultra-wide-angle shooter is also the same across both phones.

A closer look at the ROG Phone 2 and the Zenfone 6's reviews reveals that the latter is just about better in every single photo and video sub-category. The phone's scores put it in the same ballpark as devices like the iPhone 8 Plus, Google Pixel 2, and Huawei Mate 10 Pro, all of which were released in late 2017.

Of course, the ROG Phone 2 was never designed with photography in mind. It's a gaming phone, and delivers well on that end.