Quick answer:No, the Asus ROG Phone 8 and 8 Pro don’t support UWB communication.
The Asus ROG Phone 8 — and its LED-laden8 Prosibling — packs impressive hardware, eye-catching design, excellent software, and numerous gaming-focused features. It has the processing power, tools, and advanced protocols we’d expect from such agreat gaming phone, including tons of RAM, a competent interface, and gesture-supporting AirTriggers that act like console shoulder buttons.
Though it’s great for having fun and makes for an excellent flagship phone overall, it doesn’t offer every single feature under the sun.
Does the Asus ROG Phone 8 have UWB?
No, neither ROG Phone 8 supports theultra-wideband connectivitythat an increasing number of peripherals and other electronics are starting to implement. In fact, the only US phones capable of UWB communication are high-end models from Apple, Google, and Samsung.
These manufacturers started including the up-and-coming standard as early as 2019, but other companies have decided not to jump into the fray just yet, including Asus.
What is UWB?
Not to be confused with Verizon’s identically named 5G technology, UWB — like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and NFC — enables local wireless transmission using a specific frequency set. Its range and peak transfer bandwidth beat Bluetooth, blow NFC out of the water, and lose handily to Wi-Fi. More notably, it allows for precise wireless location tracking, which affords it many helpful use cases.
How your car uses Bluetooth, UWB, NFC, and similar wireless technologies
New cars are basically big computers on wheels, complete with tons of wireless radios
UWB’s location tracking can help you find wireless trackers buried underneath a pile of trash, allow smart home devices to tell when you’re entering or leaving a room, and even act as your car’s digital key fob. It can also significantly enhance the speed ofAndroid’s Nearby Sharefeature. At the moment, though, if you don’t have a recent iPhone, Pixel Pro or Fold, Galaxy S series Plus or Ultra, or Galaxy Z Fold, you’re out of luck.
Will UWB become more common on smartphones?
Almost certainly. While it’s currently limited to a short range of flagship-class phones from the last few years, its precision, bandwidth, and resistance to interference make it a unique means of portable, local wireless connectivity.
One reason behind its slow adoption could be the relative lack of other devices that use it, but in an increasingly digital world, you may expect an uptick in UWB-enabled electronics in years to come. As that happens, more flagship phones will include it, and it will likely end up on even midrange phones before too long.
Asus ROG Phone 8
Asus’s latest gaming phone doesn’t disappoint, with blazing speed, a sleek interface, and various features that gamers will love. While expensive, it’s one of the best Android phones out there, even if it doesn’t have UWB.
Samsung Galaxy S24+
If you absolutely must have UWB connectivity but still want the horsepower to play demanding games, the Galaxy S24+ is the closest approximation in the same price range. It’s not as closely tailored to gamers but boasts plenty of processing power, a fantastic display, and the great software Samsung is known for.
