Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro Review: Power, Performance and Precision
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro: A powerful gaming phone with top-tier performance, stunning display, and long battery life for serious gamers.
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro is a refined version of last year’s model, with key improvements like new Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, better RAM and improved cooling for smoother performance during long gaming sessions. While design is mostly same as ROG Phone 8 Pro, it continues to offer features like wireless charging and IP68 water resistance which are rare in gaming phones.
With its larger 5,800mAh battery, ROG Phone 9 Pro offers great battery life for on-the-go gaming. Additionally, it has secondary USB-C connector for convenient charging while gaming & enables fast charging. Although it’s not must-have feature, AniMe Vision on rear features more LEDs and allows you to play basic games.
Phone keeps same 6.78-inch AMOLED screen, with a new 185Hz refresh rate, though few games can make full use of it. Camera system has an upgraded gimbal stabilization for better shots, though it’s not top camera phone in its class.
Software offers a choice between a gaming interface or a more traditional Android look but phone will only get two major Android updates.
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro Specification
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Network Technology | 📱 GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | 📅 Announced: November 19, 2024, Released: November 20, 2024 |
| Body | 📏 Dimensions: 163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm, ⚖️ Weight: 227 g, 🏗️ Build: Glass front & back, aluminum frame |
| SIM | 💳 Nano-SIM, eSIM, Dual SIM, 💧 IP68 (dust/water resistant, up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display | 🖥️ Type: LTPO AMOLED, 📏 Size: 6.78 inches, 📐 Resolution: 1080 x 2400 pixels, 🛡️ Protection: Gorilla Glass |
| Platform | 🖥️ OS: Android 15, ⚙️ Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Elite, 💻 CPU: Octa-core, 🎮 GPU: Adreno 830 |
| Memory | 💾 512GB/1TB, 16GB/24GB RAM, 🚫 No card slot |
| Main Camera | 📸 50 MP (wide), 32 MP (telephoto, 3x zoom), 13 MP (ultrawide), 🎥 8K video, HDR, LED flash |
| Selfie Camera | 🤳 32 MP, 🎥 Video: 1080p at 30fps |
| Sound | 🔊 Stereo speakers, 🎧 3.5mm jack, 🎶 32-bit/384kHz Hi-Res audio |
| Comms | 🌐 Wi-Fi 802.11, 🔗 Bluetooth 5.4, 📍 NFC, GPS, 🔌 USB Type-C (DisplayPort) |
| Battery | 🔋 5800 mAh, ⚡ 65W wired charging (100% in 46 min), 🔋 15W wireless, 🔄 10W reverse charging |
| Miscellaneous | 🎨 Colors: Phantom Black, 💰 Price: ~1300 EUR |
| Performance Tests | 🏆 AnTuTu: 3042971, 📊 GeekBench: 10179, 🎮 3DMark: 6718 (Wild Life Extreme) |
| Display Brightness | 🌞 1958 nits max |
| Battery (Active Use) | ⏰ 16:41h |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro Price and Availability
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro starts at $1,199 / £1,099.99 / AU$1,999 and will ship in mid-to-late December. Pre-orders are available now but US customers will have to wait a bit longer to get it.
There are three versions: regular ROG Phone 9, ROG Phone 9 Pro and ROG Phone 9 Pro Edition (one tested here). Pro Edition has 24GB of RAM, 1TB of storage and includes an AeroActive Cooler X Pro fan. It’s priced at $1,499.99 / £1,299.99 / AU$2,499.
Regular ROG Phone 9 starts at $999.99 / £949.99 / AU$1,799 for 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. There’s also an option with 512GB storage but it’s only available in the UK and Europe.
Even though ROG Phone 9 is pricey, its features and style make it stand out especially when contrasted with other gaming phones like Nubia Red Magic 9S Pro which has comparable performance but costs less. For anyone seeking a gaming phone that they can use on a daily basis, ROG Phone 9 Pro is a good option.
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro Design
ROG Phone 9 Pro has a similar design to ROG Phone 8 Pro, with a refined, less flashy look. It comes in sleek Phantom Black finish, which resists fingerprints and glimmers slightly in light. Phone is large but not unusually heavy for a gaming phone, weighing 227g.
Back features a soft-touch glass that feels smooth and phone has a small, non-reflective design with a few subtle gamer decals. AniMe Vision display which debuted on ROG Phone 8 Pro, has been upgraded with more LEDs and can show animations or play simple games.
It also has IP68 water and dust resistance, which is a great feature for outdoor use. For gaming, there’s a secondary USB-C port on left side for charging while playing and a 3.5mm headphone jack for better audio.
Bezels around screen are slim, but this means phone lacks dual front-facing speakers which affects sound quality. Bottom speaker works, but it’s not as good as true front-firing ones. Asus includes a case that helps redirect sound forward.
Phone also comes with AeroActive Cooler X Pro fan which helps keep phone cool while gaming by attaching to extra USB-C port. It’s larger and more efficient than previous model offering 29% better cooling.
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro Display
ROG Phone 9 Pro has a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2400). While not sharpest, it ensures excellent clarity and boosts performance.
With a peak brightness of 2,500 nits for HDR and 1,600 nits in high-brightness mode, it works well even in sunlight. Colors are vibrant by default, but you can adjust them for a more balanced look.
Display supports a refresh rate of up to 185Hz, higher than ROG Phone 8 Pro’s 165Hz. This high rate is only used in specific games, though most won’t exceed 120Hz. Even smooth games like Dead Cells cap at 167fps.
It’s a vibrant and responsive display, ideal for gaming.
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro Performance
ROG Phone 9 Pro is all about top-notch performance. Powered by new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip with Oryon CPU architecture, it delivers exceptional speed & efficiency.
It comes with either 18GB or 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage offering ample power and space for demanding tasks. Benchmark tests highlight its power with 40% CPU performance boost over its predecessor & 15% lead over iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Adreno 830 GPU provides a remarkable 24% jump in graphics performance ensuring seamless gaming even with most demanding games such as Genshin Impact.
Long gaming sessions are made possible by ROG Phone 9 Pro’s exceptional sustained performance, which maintains 99.6% consistency over prolonged high-intensity tasks. Its sophisticated cooling system which includes the option to install AeroActive Cooler X Pro, prevents phone from overheating when used for extended periods of time.
This phone is designed to handle anything you throw at it especially gaming, with no compromises.
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro Software
ROG Phone 9 Pro runs Android 15 with ROG UI and gives you a choice: stick with Asus’ custom look or switch to a clean, stock Android-like experience. This makes it great for both Pixel fans and those who enjoy customization.
It includes helpful apps like Gallery, Clock and File Manager. For gaming, Armoury Crate app lets you adjust performance, map buttons for games like Genshin Impact and tweak display settings.
AI features make things easier too. You get AI wallpapers, smarter search in Gallery, AI call translations and tools to skip cutscenes or auto-activate in-game actions.
Biggest downside? Asus only promises two major Android updates, though you’ll get five years of security patches. Still, Android 15 is included right out of box.
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro Battery
Phone has a 5,800mAh battery which lasts a long time. After a full day of moderate use including 4.5 hours of screen time, it still had 60% charge left. This beats previous ROG Phone 8 Pro and keeps up with competitors.
Charging is quick with 65W charger, taking just over 45 minutes to go from 0% to 100%. It also supports 15W wireless charging, making it more convenient than most gaming phones.
Pros and Cons of Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Top-notch performance | ❌ High price |
| ✅ Long battery life | ❌ Only 2 years of updates |
| ✅ Easy daily use | ❌ Not ideal for gaming |
Conclusion
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro is most powerful phone available right now. It’s easy to use with a sleek design, long battery life, a decent camera and useful features. While it’s not perfect for gaming or everyday use, it does a great job at balancing both.
