The new Asus ROG Phone 9 series brings more processing power, better cooling, faster display, and a bigger battery. This makes them the best gaming phones, right? Maybe, but they are not without their flaws
asus rog phone 9 pro
The Asus ROG Phone 9 and 9 Pro will receive only 2 OS updates (they start with Android 15) and will continue to receive security patches for 5 years. The latter number is nice – these days our phones provide access to our personal data, bank accounts, and more – but no new features after Android 17 on a $1,000+ phone is not a good thing.
asus rog phone 9
Check out our review of the ROG Phone 9 series for an in-depth look. As we noted in the review, Asus has nailed down the “gamer look” and that makes the ROG a phone suitable for almost everyone. Granted, the AniMe Vision LED matrix on the back is a bit gimmicky, but if you turn it off, it’s as if it’s not even there.
Asus ROG Phone 9 with SD 8 Elite, 5,800mAh battery and 50+32+13MP camera
Battery life is great, partly thanks to the 300mAh extra capacity in the 5,800mAh battery and partly because the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset is quite efficient when not running at full tilt. The fast charging with battery passthrough option is also great – Asus offers plenty of software and hardware optimization features.
Talking about the new Aeroactive Cooler This is especially important because the 8 Elite succumbs under sustained load. This accessory is so good that it’s almost essential for gaming, but it costs extra (unless you get it with the expensive Edition version). Here are the prices:
| Sample | storage | Price (USD) | Price(EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| asus rog phone 9 | 12GB/256GB | $1,000 | €1,100 |
| 12GB/512GB | , | €1,150 | |
| asus rog phone 9 pro | 16/512GB | $1,200 | €1,300 |
| asus rog phone 9 pro edition | 24GB/1TB | $1,500 | €1,500 |
A quick word on what differentiates the Asus ROG Phone 9 from the ROG Phone 9 Pro. First and foremost, the Pro has a 32MP 3x telephoto camera, while the vanilla model replaces it with a macro cam. Additionally, the Pro has 648 LEDs on the back, while the vanilla model has just 85 LEDs. And it also has more RAM and storage.
The ROGs aren’t the only Snapdragon 8 Elite phones. For example, the Red Magic 10 Pro will launch globally in about a week’s time. Here, the chipset has a built-in cooling fan and doesn’t need to rely on external accessories (at the cost of lacking dust and water resistance). It uses the same chip. Its 6.85” display has a higher pixel density but a lower peak refresh rate – 144Hz vs. 185Hz (though getting over 60Hz requires special support for each game).
The under display camera keeps the screen spotless and there’s a massive 6,500mAh battery inside. The camera setup features a high-resolution 50MP ultra-wide camera, but no telephoto lens. There’s no word on global pricing yet, with the 10 Pro priced at CNY 5,300 (~€690) in China for the 12/256GB phone. For comparison, the base ROG Phone 9 (12/256GB) is priced at CNY 5,000 in China, while the 9 Pro (12/512GB) is priced at CNY 5,500.
ZTE Nubia Red Magic 10 Pro
The Realme GT 7 Pro is not a gaming phone, but it can easily become one with its SD 8 Elite chipset and 6.78” 120Hz LTPO display. It has a 50MP 3x periscope, so it can compete with the ROG Phone 9 Pro. The global launch of the GT7 Pro is scheduled for Tuesday. In China, the price of the 12/256GB unit of the phone starts at CNY 3,600 (€465).
The OnePlus 13 hasn’t made the leap to global sales yet, but the 12/256GB unit is priced at CNY 4,500 (€590) in China. It also has a 50MP periscope and a 6,000mAh battery (the Realme’s battery is even bigger at 6,500mAh).
Realme GT 7 Pro • OnePlus 13 • Vivo iQOO 13
iQOO 13 will be launched in India on December 3. In China, its price starts at CNY 4,000 (€525) for a 12/256GB unit. It has a sharp 6.82” 144Hz LTPO display with 1,440 x 3,160px resolution (same as OnePlus, higher than others) and a 6,000mAh battery. Note that international versions of these phones may have smaller capacities.
What do you think about the Asus ROG Phone 9? The vanilla phone is a bit cheaper than the Pro and you won’t miss the extra LED on the back – but will you miss the telephoto camera?
What about the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro? It costs a little more, but if you’re already spending $1,000, you might as well spend a little more and get the best. That is, if you think the ROG Phone 9 Pro is the best – do you think so?
