The ASUS ROG Phone 2 has finally been officially launched in Malaysia and we found out that the base model with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is priced at RM3,499. That’s definitely up there with most flagships being released by other mainstream Android brands like Samsung and Google.

What sets the ROG Phone 2 apart is that it’s primarily designed for mobile gamers. That huge 6,000mAh battery, super-smooth 120Hz screen, and the built-in air triggers are just some of the obvious features that show how gamer-centric the phone is.

As someone who plays games on my phone, PC, and PS4, it got me thinking: What else can I get for RM3,499?

Don’t get me wrong. I think the ROG Phone 2 is an overall decent smartphone and it does really well as a gaming phone. However, spending almost RM4,000 ringgit just to play games like PUBG Mobile or Mobile Legends or any other mobile games, frankly speaking, sounds ridiculous.

So let’s see what other gaming products we can get for that price.

Two PS4 Pro God of War / The Last of Us Remastered Bundle – RM3,598

If we’re talking about console gaming, then the PS4 is the right choice. It’s got a lineup of amazing exclusives and the above PS4 Pro bundle already gives you two of them.

To make it even better, you’ll even be able to afford another set that you can give to a friend or set up two consoles at home; one in the living room for everyone and another one in your room for some private enjoyment.

An ASUS TUF Gaming FX505D-TBQ057T Laptop – RM3,499

I could have compared the ROG Phone 2 to a bunch of other gaming laptops. But I thought it’d be funnier to point out that ASUS themselves is selling a gaming laptop for the exact same price as the ROG Phone 2.

This model of the TUF Gaming laptop doesn’t exactly have top-notch specs. It only has 4GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, an Nvidia GTX1650, and a Ryzen 7-3750H. However, there are two extra RAM slots in case you want to upgrade (protip: you should).

Still, it’s decent enough that it will run most modern games at 1080p 30fps on high settings. If you’re fine with playing on medium settings, you’ll probably hit 60fps.

Getting a laptop also means you get all the benefits of having a computer. You can use it on the daily for work and study because typing on a laptop is always infinitely better than on a phone especially thanks to the fact that it has a bigger screen for you to look at. That 15.6″ full HD IPS panel will also do a decent job of letting you watch HD movies and TV shows on Netflix.

Three Nintendo Switches – RM3,500+

This generation we’ve been graced by quite possibly one of the handheld and home console combo ever made: The Nintendo Switch. It’s got an amazing lineup of games which are great for both solo and multiplayer enjoyment.

The new version comes with upgraded battery life but if you’re not keen on docking it at home, you can even go for the cheaper Switch Lite which costs about RM900 each.

That means you can get four Switch Lites at the same price, enough for you and three other friends to beat each other up in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

A Four-Day Solo Trip To Japan – RM3,400+

If you’re a big JRPG or anime nerd, then you probably consider going to Akihabara as one of your lifelong dreams. It turns out that you can go to Tokyo and stay there for an entire week with the amount of money used to buy an ROG Phone 2, assuming you’re fine with flying economy for about 7 or 8 hours.

The flight tickets will probably cost you around RM2,000. For accommodations, you can just check in to a backpacker hostel or a student room through Airbnb. Some of them are as cheap as RM95 per night. After that’s settled, you’ll still have RM1,100 to spend in Japan. I’d say that’s enough for meals and a few souvenirs.

Sure, you might not get the best Tokyo experience but if you’ve never even been to Japan and you want to get a glimpse of what life is like over there while also indulging your anime and gaming hobbies, I’d say it’s still a damn good deal.

Alright, that’s the end of my list of alternatives to the ROG Phone 2. Again, I’d like to clarify that I think the ROG Phone 2 is a decent piece of hardware and that it will definitely be the phone that some hardcore users are looking for. If you don’t belong in that group, my above recommendations are probably better ideas.