Asus has revealed its latest high-end gaming smartphone: the ROG Phone 9. Similar to last year, it has a 'Pro' version that doesn't feature any specification enhancements. Instead, the ROG Phone 9 Pro comes with customizable LEDs on the back, 16 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of storage. The top-tier ROG Phone 9 Pro model boasts up to 1 TB of storage and 24 GB of RAM, as earlier leaks suggested. Plus, purchasers will receive a complimentary AeroActive X cooler.
Powerful Performance
Inside, the Asus ROG Phone 9 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC. The base model includes 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, which maxes out at 512 GB, but without an increase in RAM. It’s equipped with Asus' proprietary ROG GameCool 9 cooling system, adaptive triggers, and compatibility with a variety of gaming accessories from Asus.
Color Options and AI Features
The ROG Phone 9 is available in two colors: Phantom Black and Storm White. However, only the Pro version comes in Storm White. It features a matte finish with a 'crystallized nano structure' designed to resist fingerprints. Additionally, it includes AI-driven functionalities like X Sense 3, which "utilizes AI image recognition to streamline gaming activities such as identifying key events and automatically gathering items." It can even enhance skills on your behalf, though this will likely depend on developer support and may only work with select games.
Advanced Recording and Display
There's also X Capture 2.0, which leverages AI to detect significant events and automatically record highlights, team fights, and similar moments. Furthermore, the ROG Phone 9 includes AI-enabled text recognition and noise cancellation features. Asus has significantly raised the bar with the ROG Phone 9, which features a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display boasting a refresh rate of 185 Hz and a peak brightness of 2,500 nits. However, the dynamic refresh rate operates only between 1 and 120 Hz. In reality, most games likely won’t achieve 185 Hz on a mobile processor, but a few might manage it through AI-enhanced upscaling and frame generation technology.
Battery and Camera Specs
The Asus ROG Phone 9 is equipped with a 5,800 mAh battery that supports 65 W fast charging via cable and 15 W wirelessly. On the rear, you’ll find a 50 MP wide-angle camera with OIS, a 13 MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 32 MP telephoto lens (OIS, 3x optical zoom), along with a 32 MP front-facing camera. Additional specifications include two USB-C ports, Wi-Fi 7, 5G, Bluetooth 5.4, an under-display fingerprint scanner, and a 3.5 mm audio jack.
Availability and Pricing
You can now pre-order the Asus ROG Phone 9 through major online retailers, but it won’t be available until January 2. However, orders made on Asus' official site will arrive before Christmas. The pricing starts at $1,099 for the ROG Phone 9, $1,299 for the ROG Phone 9 Pro, and $1,499 for the Pro variant with 24 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage.
