Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro Review

Review Summary

The Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro is a gaming powerhouse disguised as a flagship smartphone. This latest iteration of the ROG series refines its winning formula with cutting-edge hardware, thoughtful features, and subtle design improvements, making it equally appealing to avid gamers and general users. After weeks of rigorous testing, here’s how the ROG Phone 9 Pro fared in our review.

Design & Build Quality

Asus has mastered the balance between gaming aesthetics and mainstream appeal with the ROG Phone 9 Pro. Gone are the overly aggressive accents that defined earlier ROG phones, replaced with a more sophisticated, refined design. The 6.78-inch AMOLED display dominates the front, boasting a 185Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support, delivering buttery-smooth visuals and vibrant colors.

The rear of the phone features a subtle ROG logo with customizable RGB lighting, giving it a gamer edge without feeling excessive. At 239g, it’s heavier than most flagship phones, but this weight reflects its robust build. The inclusion of IP68 water and dust resistance is a first for the ROG series, adding peace of mind for users who need durability alongside gaming prowess.

Ergonomically, the phone feels substantial but comfortable, even during extended gaming sessions. The front-facing stereo speakers and 3.5mm headphone jack are welcome additions, emphasizing Asus's commitment to a high-quality gaming and multimedia experience.

Performance & Gaming

The ROG Phone 9 Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, paired with up to 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM. This combination delivers lightning-fast performance, effortlessly handling demanding games like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty Mobile at max settings. During our tests, we experienced no noticeable frame drops or overheating, even during extended play sessions.

The enhanced passive cooling system, combined with Asus's proprietary AeroActive Cooler 8, keeps the device remarkably cool under load. The cooler, which attaches seamlessly to the back of the phone, also adds customizable buttons, enhancing the gaming experience. The Armoury Crate app provides extensive control, allowing users to fine-tune performance modes, adjust RGB lighting, and monitor system stats.

Display & Audio

The 185Hz AMOLED display is the star of the show, offering unmatched responsiveness and clarity. Whether gaming or streaming 4K HDR content, the visuals are stunning, with deep blacks, vivid colors, and an impressive peak brightness of 1500 nits. The touch sampling rate of 720Hz ensures instantaneous responsiveness, giving gamers a competitive edge in fast-paced titles.

Audio quality is another highlight. The front-facing stereo speakers deliver loud, clear sound with minimal distortion, while the inclusion of Dirac-tuned audio software enhances the overall listening experience. For those who prefer headphones, the 3.5mm jack ensures compatibility with high-quality wired headsets.

Battery Life

Asus has equipped the ROG Phone 9 Pro with a massive 6,000mAh dual-cell battery, which easily lasted a full day of heavy gaming, streaming, and multitasking in our tests. The device supports 65W wired charging, capable of reaching 100% in just under 40 minutes, as well as 15W wireless charging. Unique to Asus is the bypass charging mode, which powers the device directly while gaming, preserving the battery’s longevity.

Camera Performance

While gaming phones rarely shine in the camera department, the ROG Phone 9 Pro offers a surprisingly competent setup. The 50MP main sensor, paired with a 13MP ultrawide lens and a 32MP telephoto, captured vibrant and detailed shots in good lighting. Low-light performance was decent but not exceptional, with some noise creeping into darker areas. The 32MP front-facing camera is perfect for streamers, offering sharp, high-quality video for live gameplay or video calls.

During our tests, the phone performed well in everyday photography scenarios, but it’s clear that gaming remains the primary focus here.

Software & Usability

The ROG Phone 9 Pro runs Android 14 with Asus's ROG UI skin, which balances customization with ease of use. The interface offers two modes: a gaming-focused layout with performance tools and a more traditional Android experience for casual use. Asus has committed to two major Android updates and four years of security patches, which is a decent level of support for a gaming-focused device.

One standout feature is the Game Genie overlay, which can be summoned during gameplay to optimize settings, block notifications, and track performance stats in real time.

What Could Be Improved?

• Size and weight: May feel cumbersome for users with smaller hands or those accustomed to lighter devices.
• Price point: Starting at £1,199, it’s firmly in the premium category, making it less accessible to casual users.
• Camera performance: While improved, it still lags behind flagship competitors like the Google Pixel 8 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Overall Score: 4/5

The Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro sets the standard for gaming smartphones, offering a seamless blend of cutting-edge hardware, exceptional performance, and thoughtful features. Its high-refresh-rate display, powerful internals, and excellent battery life make it the ultimate choice for gamers, while its refined design and solid camera performance broaden its appeal to general users.

At £1,199, it’s undoubtedly a premium device, but for those seeking the best gaming phone on the market, the ROG Phone 9 Pro is a worthwhile investment.