Asus has unveiled its latest gaming flagships, the ROG Phone 9 and ROG Phone 9 Pro. ROG Phone 9 and ROG Phone 9 Pro have a similar design with Gaming DNA but improved hardware. These phones set new benchmarks in performance and innovation with enhanced hardware, better cooling, and unique features tailored for gamers.
The ROG Phone 9 series retains its 6.78-inch AMOLED FHD+ display but now supports an impressive 185Hz refresh rate for select games, up from 165Hz last year. The display also has 1,600 nits brightness and 107% DCI-P3 coverage.
The models feature an AniMe Vision mini-LED display on the back. However, the standard model has 85 LEDs and the Pro model gets a grid of 648 LEDs. This display is capable of rendering animations, text in Chinese and Japanese, and even retro games like Snake and Invaders using the AirTriggers for controls.
At the heart of the ROG Phone 9 series is the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. The Snapdragon 8 Elite chip has two prime cores running at 4.3GHz cores and six “efficiency-cores” clocking in at a mere 2.8GHz. It offers 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB UFS 4.0 storage on the standard model and 24GB RAM and 1TB storage on the Pro model. Asus also claims a 45% CPU boost, 40% faster GPU, and 40% faster NPU compared to their predecessors.
Asus has also included a redesigned cooling system featuring a 57% larger graphite sheet. It also has an improved AeroActive Cooler X Pro that not only enhances cooling but also integrates a subwoofer for 2.1 sound. The phone also features shoulder buttons and a more efficient fan design. Asus claims a 29% better cooling to ensure sustained performance during extended gaming sessions.
The camera system includes a 50MP Sony Lytia 700 sensor with improved gimbal stabilization (up to +/-5°), a 13MP ultra-wide lens, and a 32MP selfie camera. The Pro model retains its 3x 32MP telephoto lens, while the standard model opts for a 5MP macro camera. The phone supports up to 8K UHD video recording along with HDR10+ video recording at 4K.
The phones feature a 3.5mm headphone jack, tuned by Dirac for Hi-Res Audio and Dirac Virtuo technology. It also supports aptX Lossless to deliver premium sound quality for gaming and media.
Connectivity options are 5G SA&NSA, WiFi 802.11 be/ax/ac/a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.4, GPS(L1/L5), Glonass(L1), Galileo(E1/E5a), BeiDou(B1i/B1c/B2a), QZSS(L1/L5), NavIC, and Type-C. These phones also have In-display fingerprint sensor along with several other sensors such as Accelerometer, E-compass, Gyroscope, Proximity sensor, and Ambient-light sensor.
The phones pack 5,800mAh batteries that promise 4.5 hours of heavy gaming. Charging speeds remain the same at 65W wired and 15W wireless. Asus claims that the full charge can be achieved in 46 minutes. Asus also promises 80% battery health after 1,000 charge cycles.
These phones are also IP68 dust and water resistant.
Asus continues its tradition of first-party accessories with the AeroCase and Chill Case. The Chill Case also includes a vapor chamber for passive cooling and promises to reduce device temperatures by up to 17%. The latest iteration of AeroActive Cooler is called AeroActive Cooler X Pro. It attaches to the back of the phone.
The Asus ROG Phone 9 and 9 Pro are now available for pre-order. Shipping begins tomorrow in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and mainland China. The phone will be launched in Europe, including the UK, in December. The US launch is slated for January 2025.
ROG Phone 9 comes in Storm White and Phantom Black colors. The 12GB + 256GB model is priced at 1,099 EUR and the 12GB + 512 GB model costs 1,149 Euros. ROG Phone 9 Pro comes only in Phantom Black color. It costs 1,300 EUR for 16GB + 512GB model. ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro Edition has 24GB RAM and 1TB storage. It comes with bundled AeroActive Cooler X Pro and costs 1,500 EUR. AeroActive Cooler X Pro is priced at USD 1499.99.