The recently launched ASUS ROG Phone 2 will be made available in China first, then internationally in the first week of September. But how much will it cost?

(October 12: Here’s the latest update: 12GB/1TB ASUS ROG Phone 2 launched in PH, too.)

(Update, September 13: This gaming phone could be launching in the Philippines! See ROG Phone 2 PH launch imminent as ASUS starts teasing phone.)

Well, thankfully, pricing for ASUS’ second-gen gaming phone isn’t going to be as steep as we thought, at least for the Chinese market. It’s surprisingly affordable, considering the original ROG Phone cost P49,995 (around $977 converted) in the Philippines when it was initially sold.

SEE ALSO: ASUS ROG Phone hands-on review: King of mobile gaming and New Nintendo Switch: Same price, longer battery life

The ROG Phone 2 has several different models in China. The base unit coupled with 8GB RAM, 128GB of internal storage, and Tencent ads and software customizations is priced at ¥3,499 (P26,040 or $509). The Tencent-subsidized version carrying 12GB RAM and 512GB storage costs ¥5,999 (P44,644 or $873). Preorders are already live at JD, with shipping scheduled to start July 31.

ASUS will also release market-exclusive variants for both configurations. They have the same specs, but retail for ¥200 (P1,488 or $29) more. 

The vanilla ASUS ROG Phone 2 with 12GB RAM and 128GB is ¥5,999 (P44,644 or $873). Lastly, the Zhizun version of the ROG Phone 2 can be purchased at ¥7,999 (P59,525 or $1,163), while the Esports Armour version will set you back ¥12,999 (P96,733 or $1,891).

READ ALSO: Phones with new Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus chip could be from these brands and Black Shark 2 Pro gaming phone launching July 30

In terms of specs, you’re looking at the first smartphone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus under the hood. It also comes with a 48-megapixel sensor accompanied by a 13-megapixel ultra-wide camera. Selfies are taken care of by a 24-megapixel front camera.

The OLED screen measures 6.59 inches, has an integrated fingerprint scanner, and runs at 120Hz, meaning it’s twice as fast as the typical smartphone display at 60Hz. Another major selling point is the 6,000mAh battery, which should give you at least two days of usage on a single charge. It comes with 30-watt fast charging over USB-C.

ASUS ROG Phone 2 specs

• 6.59-inch AMOLED display, 2,340 x 1,080 resolution (19:9), 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass 6
• Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus processor
• 8GB/12GB RAM
• 128GB/512GB storage
• Dual 48MP, f/1.8 main, 13MP, f/2.4 ultra-wide rear cameras with LED flash
• 24MP, f/2.2 front camera
• Fingerprint sensor (under-display)
• 6,000mAh battery with 30-watt USB-C fast charging
• Android 9.0 Pie

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