The ASUS ROG Phone 9 is a gaming powerhouse launched alongside its sibling, the ROG Phone 9 Pro, succeeding the ROG Phone 8 from earlier last year. It features a stunning 6.78-inch E6 AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time offering vibrant visuals and ultra-smooth gameplay. The device also includes customizable cooling features, long-lasting battery life, and AirTriggers for enhanced control. It also comes with an amazingly powerful new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and a sleek, modern aesthetic.
Asus ROG Phone 9 Key Specs and Features
- 6.78 inches LTPO AMOLED Display, 1080 x 2400 pixels (~388 ppi density), 185 Hz Refresh Rate
- Always-on Display
- Android 15, up to 2 major Android upgrades
- Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) Octa Core Processor
- 12GB, 16GB RAM
- 50 MP (wide) + 13 MP (ultrawide) + 5 MP (macro) Triple Rear Camera
- 32 MP Front Camera
- Fingerprint Sensor (under display, optical)
- Rear-facing Mini-LED (85 dots) programmable matrix
- Dust and Water Resistance (IP68)
- 256GB, 512GB Built-in Storage
- 4G LTE Support
- 5G Support
- Wi-Fi 6e and Wi-Fi 7 Support
- 65W Fast Charging Capacity
- 15W Fast Wireless Charging Capacity
- 5800 mAh Battery
Design
The ASUS ROG Phone 9 continues the brand’s tradition of delivering visually striking designs tailored for gamers, and this model strikes a balance between bold gaming aesthetics and premium build quality.
The back of the ROG Phone 9 is where the design really stands out. The phone features a small yet captivating LED dot matrix display called “AniMe Vision.” Unlike the Pro model with its larger array of LEDs, the ROG Phone 9 opts for a more subtle 5×17 matrix of 85 mini LEDs.
This gives the Gaming phone a clean, minimalistic look when the LEDs are off, but it can light up in different colors to display notifications, phone status, or even custom animations. The inclusion of these LEDs adds a distinct, customizable touch, though it’s not quite as flashy as some competitors.
Along with the LEDs, you’ll find glossy ROG logos scattered around the back panel, along with the playful “dare to play” text etched along one side in glossy black lettering over a matte black surface. The design doesn’t go overboard with the gamer aesthetic, maintaining a modern and sleek look while hinting at its gaming origins.
The ROG Phone 9 has a solid and premium build. The rear is made from Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which ensures durability and scratch resistance. The glass itself has a matte finish, which is not only pleasing to the touch but also resistant to fingerprints — a big win for users who want a cleaner, more polished look without constant wiping.
The matte aluminum frame adds to the premium feel, and it’s overall very comfortable to hold, despite the phone’s 227g weight. It’s substantial but not overly heavy, offering a reassuring heft without feeling cumbersome.
The camera module on the ROG Phone 9 is positioned at the top left corner of the rear panel. It’s a minimalist arrangement, which allows the design to remain clean and uncluttered. A fun detail here is the inclusion of “GLHF” (Good Luck, Have Fun) written on the camera bump, which is a subtle nod to the gaming community that ASUS is targeting.
Meanwhile, the sides of the phone aren’t neglected either. The capacitive AirTriggers on the right side provide additional control options for gamers, enhancing the gaming experience by giving you shoulder buttons, similar to what you’d find on a handheld console. These buttons are integrated smoothly into the design, ensuring they don’t disrupt the clean lines of the phone but still offer that added functionality when needed.
Display
The ASUS ROG Phone 9 features an impressive 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display that offers a stunning visual experience. It is now capable of a 185Hz peak refresh rate, with the same 1 – 120Hz adaptive and 165Hz mode beneath that as seen on the ROG Phone 8 Pro, the screen ensures buttery-smooth scrolling and gameplay while also being energy-efficient. The addition of a 720Hz touch sampling rate means inputs are registered faster, making it especially responsive during intense gaming sessions.
The display shines in terms of color and contrast. It supports 1 billion colors, delivering vibrant, lifelike visuals, and HDR content looks exceptional, with bright highlights and deep shadows.
The peak brightness can reach 2500 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight, while HDR content stands out with up to 1600 nits of brightness. This makes the ROG Phone 9’s display perfect for anything from watching movies to playing graphics-intensive games.
The 1080 x 2400 pixel resolution, combined with a 388 ppi density, provides sharp and clear visuals, and the 88.2% screen-to-body ratio gives you a clean, modern look with minimal bezels. The Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection adds durability to the screen, ensuring it can withstand everyday wear and tear. The always-on display feature adds convenience by allowing you to check notifications and time without unlocking the phone.
Camera
The ASUS ROG Phone 9’s camera system brings some notable upgrades, especially in the main camera department. The primary sensor is now a 50MP Sony Lytia 700, which replaces the previous IMX890 from last year’s model.
This new sensor promises improved image quality, capturing sharp, detailed shots with vibrant colors. The camera is paired with a 6-axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer 4.0, which provides five degrees of vibration compensation. This means smoother videos and more stable shots, especially when you’re moving around or shooting in challenging conditions.
The ultrawide shooter remains largely unchanged from the previous generation, offering a solid 13MP resolution with a 120˚ field of view. While the lack of a dedicated telephoto lens might be a downside for some, the ROG Phone 9 still manages to capture detailed close-ups with its 5MP macro camera. It’s not as high-end as some other smartphones, but it adds some flexibility to your photography toolkit.
When it comes to video, the ROG Phone 9 is a beast. You can shoot in up to 8K at 30fps, and it supports various resolutions with multiple frame rate options, including 4K at 30/60/120fps and 1080p at up to 240fps.
This makes the ASUS phone incredibly versatile for video recording, whether you’re capturing fast action or more cinematic shots. Plus, the inclusion of gyro-EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) ensures smooth footage even in motion, and HDR10+ support makes your videos more vibrant and dynamic.
For selfies, the ROG Phone 9 packs a 32MP front-facing camera, which can capture sharp and clear images with great detail. It’s perfect for those who want to share high-quality selfies or use video calling apps. The selfie camera also supports panorama and HDR features, allowing you to get the best shot in any lighting situation.
Hardware and Software
The ASUS ROG Phone 9 is a powerhouse of performance, thanks to its integration of the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. This 3nm processor is the latest flagship offering from Qualcomm and is not only used in premium smartphones but also in high-end laptops, which speaks to its exceptional performance.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite features a highly efficient octa-core CPU configuration: two high-performance cores (Oryon V2 Phoenix L) clocked at 4.32 GHz, and six additional efficiency cores (Oryon V2 Phoenix M) clocked at 3.53 GHz.
This setup ensures that the phone can handle intensive tasks like gaming and multitasking with ease, while also optimizing power efficiency during less demanding activities.
The GPU, the Adreno 830, brings a significant leap in graphical performance, offering up to a 40% improvement over previous generations. This results in smoother gameplay, more detailed graphics, and better overall visual fidelity. The increase in GPU performance is especially noticeable in graphically intense mobile games, where frame rates stay high and stable, providing a more immersive and fluid gaming experience.
The ASUS ROG Phone 9 comes with two storage options: 256GB of internal storage with 12GB of RAM, or 512GB of internal storage with 16GB of RAM. The device uses UFS 4.0 storage technology, which significantly boosts data transfer speeds.
This means that apps open faster, files transfer more quickly, and the phone as a whole feels snappy and responsive. However, the lack of a microSD card slot means users are locked into the internal storage, so selecting the right configuration upfront is important for those who need large amounts of space for games, media, or files.
Running on Android 15, the ROG Phone 9 brings a refined software experience. Users can either use the ROG UI, which is designed with gamers in mind and includes extra features like Game Genie for optimizing performance or opt for a cleaner, pure Android experience.
Furthermore, ASUS provides two major Android updates for the Android phone, but it does promise five years of security updates. This ensures that while the phone may not see as many OS upgrades as some other devices, it will still receive critical patches and fixes long into the future. The addition of AI features, like live translation during phone calls, AI-powered wallpapers, and semantic image search in the gallery, adds new levels of functionality and customization.
One of the standout aspects of the ROG Phone 9 is its cooling system. The phone is equipped with a new “Rapid Cooling Conductor,” which efficiently pulls heat away from the processor and moves it to the rear panel. This is particularly important during gaming sessions when the device is under heavy load.
ASUS claims a 20% improvement in cooling efficiency compared to previous models, and users will notice that the back panel gets warm but not uncomfortably hot. This helps maintain stable internal temperatures and reduces thermal throttling, ensuring the phone continues to perform at its peak without overheating.
Additionally, the Snapdragon 8 Elite brings a 45% increase in CPU performance, which translates to faster processing times, quicker app launches, and improved multitasking capabilities. The 40% improvement in GPU and NPU (Neural Processing Unit) performance also elevates gaming and AI tasks. The enhanced cooling, combined with these performance gains, makes the ROG Phone 9 an ideal device for gamers and power users who demand top-tier performance from their smartphones.
For battery, the ASUS ROG Phone 9 comes with a large 5800mAh battery, which is standard for a device of this caliber. What’s impressive is the phone’s charging capabilities: it supports 65W wired charging, meaning you can charge from 0% to 100% in just 46 minutes.
Additionally, the phone offers 15W wireless charging and 10W reverse wired charging, making it versatile for different charging scenarios. Whether you’re charging the phone quickly or using it to charge other devices, the ROG Phone 9 has you covered.
Where to Buy ASUS ROG Phone 9
Amazon US – See Offers | Amazon UK – See Offers | AliExpress – See Offers
ASUS ROG Phone 9 Price and Availability
ASUS ROG Phone 9 price starts at around $669 at leading retailers. The model offering 12GB RAM and 256GB ROM retails for $999.99, 1,099.00 EUR, and 1,009.51 GBP on Amazon stores in the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom respectively.
ASUS ROG Phone 9 Specs
Here are a few specs of the Asus ROG Phone 9:
General Features
- Platform: Android 15, up to 2 major Android upgrades
- Processor: Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) Octa Core Processor (4.32 GHz dual-core Oryon V2 Phoenix L and 3.53 GHz Hexa-core Oryon V2 Phoenix M)
- GPU: Adreno 830
- Memory: 12GB, 16GB RAM
- Colors: Phantom Black, Storm White
- Dimension: 163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm
- Weight: 227 g
- SIM Type: Nano SIM, eSIM
- SIM Count: Dual-SIM
Display
- Display: 6.78 inches LTPO AMOLED Display, 1080 x 2400 pixels (~388 ppi density), ~88.2% screen-to-body ratio, 185Hz Refresh Rate, HDR10, 1600 nits (HBM), 2500 nits (peak) Brightness, Always-On Display
- Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
- Foldable Display: No
Camera
- Rear Camera: 50 MP (wide), f/1.9, PDAF, gimbal OIS + 32 MP (telephoto), f/2.4, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom + 13 MP (ultrawide), f/2.2, 120˚ FoV Triple Camera
- Rear Camera Features: LED Flash, HDR, Panorama, 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+
- Front Camera: 32 MP (wide) f/2.5 Camera, Panorama, HDR, 1080p@30fps
Storage
- Built-in Storage: 256GB, 512GB
- Memory Card Support: –
- Bundled Cloud Storage: –
Network Support
- 2G GSM: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
- 2G CDMA 1X: –
- 3G WCDMA: HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 – Global
- 3G CDMA EVDO: –
- 4G LTE: Yes, LTE Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66 – International
- 5G: Yes, 5G Bands 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 – International
Internet and Connectivity
- GPRS: Yes
- EDGE: Yes
- 3G/WCDMA/HSPA: Yes
- HSPA+: Yes
- CDMA EVDO: –
- 4G LTE: Yes
- 5G: Yes
- WLAN: Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, Wi-Fi 6e, Wi-Fi 7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
- Wi-Fi Hotspot: Yes
- Bluetooth: Yes, Bluetooth 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
- NFC: Yes
- Infrared Blaster: –
- USB Port: Yes, USB Type-C (side), DisplayPort 1.4; USB Type-C (bottom), OTG
Messaging
- SMS/MMS: Yes
- Instant Messaging: Yes
- Push Emails: Yes
- Email Protocol: –
Entertainment
- Music Player: Yes
- Video Player: Yes
- FM Radio: –
- Loudspeaker: Yes, with stereo speakers
- 3.5mm Jack: Yes
Navigation
- Navigation: GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASS
- Maps: Yes
Sensors and Control
- Digital Compass: Yes
- Accelerometer: Yes
- Proximity Sensor: Yes
- Light Sensor: Yes
- Barometer: –
- SpO2: –
- Pedometer: –
- Heart Rate Monitor: –
- Gyroscope: Yes
- Fingerprint Scanner: Yes, (under display, optical)
- Iris Scanner: –
- Face Unlock: –
- Stylus Pen: –
- Intelligent Digital Assistant: Yes
- Motion Sensing / Gesture Control: –
- Voice Control: Yes
Other Features
- Video Streaming: Yes
- Active Noise Cancellation: Yes
- Wireless Charging: Yes, 15W Wireless Charging
- Built-in Mobile Payment: –
- Water Resistant: Yes, IP68 (survives for up to 30 minutes in up to 1.5 meters)
- Dust Resistant: Yes, IP68
- Image Editor: Yes
- Video Editor: Yes
- Document Viewer: –
- Document Editor: –
Battery
- Battery: 5800 mAh Battery
- Talktime: –
- Standby Time: –
- Fast Charging: 65W Fast Charging Capacity, 15W Fast Wireless Charging Capacity