How much RAM does a smartphone really need? If you are an Asian phone brand that manufactures gaming phones, the answer is “as technically and humanly as possible”. This is the approach that ASUS is taking with the ROG Phone 5, which will have up to 18 GB of RAM.
The 18 GB LPDDR5 mobile DRAM module comes from SK Hynix, a semiconductor based in Seoul, South Korea. In a statement released today, SK Hynix said the new chip runs at a maximum of 6,400 Mbps, which is about 20% faster than previous LPDDR5 DRAMs on the market. The statement also says that SK Hynix has officially started mass production of the chips, and the first batch is going to the ASUS ROG Phone 5.
The ROG Phone 5, which is scheduled to be released on March 10, must be equipped with the latest, cutting-edge specifications, including a Snapdragon 888, high-update OLED display and, of course, 18 GB of RAM in the cutting-edge variants . It is likely that the device also has a rear design with integrated matrix technology. The beloved shoulder trigger buttons are expected to return as well.
We here at XDA love the ROG Phone 3, so this straight sequence (the brand skipped number 4 due to Chinese superstitions) has a lot to live for. We know that memory will not be lacking, that’s for sure. SK Hynix’s statement also added that the chip is designed for “premium smartphones to support an ideal environment for games with high resolution images and also high quality videos”, and the ROG Phone 5 will definitely make use of it.
Recent leaks also suggest that ASUS will bring back the 3.5mm headphone jack with the ROG Phone 5 and it can have a quick charge with 65W wire. The device will likely run an almost standard version of Android 11 out of the box, with some additions related to ASUS games. We’ll let you know as soon as we know more about the ROG Phone 5.