Asus Rog Phone 9 Pro review
The gaming phone market has evolved significantly since its inception. What was once a niche segment offering superior cooling systems, faster displays, and dedicated accessories is now facing stiff competition from high-end flagships. While gaming phones still have their unique selling points, the question remains: are they worth it? The Asus Rog Phone 9 Pro, one of the most popular gaming phones on the market, has raised this concern with its simplified design, impressive hardware specs, and substantial price tag.
Build Quality and Design
The Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro boasts an impressive build quality that's evident in its design. The phone's weight is still noticeable, but the materials used are top-notch, with the front panel being Gorilla Glass Victus 2, and the back panel featuring a textured Gorilla Glass matte finish. The aluminum frame adds to the overall premium feel of the device. One notable design choice is the reduced emphasis on gaming aesthetics. Gone are the crazy lines, active cooling systems, and unusual appearance that once defined ROG phones. Instead, the ROG Phone 9 Pro has a more understated design that's appealing to both gamers and non-gamers alike. The small RGB LEDs on the back panel are still present, but they're now completely customizable for any situation. The phone's clean appearance is maintained when the LEDs are turned off, making it a great option for users who value a sleek look. Despite being heavier than regular phones, the ROG Phone 9 Pro feels solid and well-built in the hand. In terms of design, the ROG Phone 9 Pro has made significant strides towards being more user-friendly. The addition of fun mini-games is a nice touch, but they do disappear when not in use, maintaining the phone's clean appearance. Overall, the build quality and design of the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro are top-notch, making it a great option for those who value a premium feel and understated aesthetic.
Battery Life
The battery life of the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro is one of its most impressive features. With a massive 5800mAh battery, it's no surprise that this phone can last for an extended period without needing to be charged. In my testing, I found that the phone easily lasted a full day with heavy use, including gaming sessions, social media scrolling, and streaming music. In fact, I was able to squeeze out almost 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, which is impressive considering the phone's powerful hardware. The charger included in the box is a fast 65W charger that can quickly top up the battery when needed. It took around 45 minutes to fully charge the phone from empty to full, which is a significant improvement over previous generations of ROG Phones. While the battery life is excellent, it's worth noting that the performance drop-off during heavy use is not as noticeable with the X Mode enabled in games. However, if you're looking for a phone that can last all day without needing to be charged, the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro delivers. Overall, the battery life of the ROG Phone 9 Pro is one of its strongest features, making it an excellent choice for anyone who wants a powerful phone with long-lasting battery life.
Display
The display on the Asus Rog Phone 9 Pro is a notable aspect of this gaming phone. It boasts a 1080p LTPO AMOLED screen with HDR10 support, capable of producing one billion colors. The display's dynamic range and color accuracy are good, although not quite up to par with flagship devices. One of the highlights of the Rog Phone 9 Pro's display is its brightness, which reaches an impressive 2500 nits in HDR content. This ensures that you won't experience any brightness issues in various lighting conditions. However, it's worth noting that the display's color accuracy and overall quality are surpassed by flagship devices. The refresh rate of the Rog Phone 9 Pro can reach up to 185 Hz, which is a significant improvement over previous gaming phones. However, there's an important caveat: when running at 165 or 185 Hz, the display doesn't dynamically reduce its refresh rate for optimal power consumption. This means that you may see increased battery drain and heat buildup during intense gaming sessions. While not the most impressive display in its class, the Rog Phone 9 Pro's screen still offers a solid gaming experience. However, for those who value exceptional display quality, there are better options available on flagship devices. Overall, the display is a good aspect of this gaming phone, but it falls short of being truly outstanding.
Camera
The camera system on the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro is a mixed bag. On the one hand, it's capable of producing some excellent photos and videos in certain situations. The main camera, which boasts a 50-megapixel sensor, can capture good detail and decent dynamic range in daylight shots. Portrait mode is also strong, with both the background and subject nicely separated. However, the camera system has its limitations. Noise and poor dynamic range are issues in high-contrast scenes, while the 50-megapixel photos often come out soft due to over-processing. Night mode is an improvement, but even then, the colors and exposure can be unnatural at times. The ultra-wide-angle camera, which has a 13-megapixel sensor, struggles with detail and dynamic range, resulting in soft and sometimes blurry photos. The telephoto camera also falls short, producing images that are soft and lacking in detail. Selfie mode is a different story altogether, as the ROG Phone 9 Pro's front camera produces excellent photos with good face processing and color accuracy. Dynamic range is also impressive here. In terms of video recording capabilities, the ROG Phone 9 Pro can shoot up to 4K at 120 FPS or 8K at 30 FPS. While this is impressive on paper, it's worth noting that the stabilization system is not as effective as those found in flagship smartphones. Overall, while the camera system on the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro has its moments, it feels like a step back from the excellent cameras found in recent flagship releases. With the competition offering better image quality and more advanced features, the ROG Phone 9 Pro's camera can't be considered one of its strengths. If you're looking for an exceptional camera experience, there are better options available in this price range. However, if you prioritize the special design, accessories, and battery life offered by the ROG Phone 9 Pro, it may still be worth considering – just don't expect industry-leading camera performance.
Price and Value
The Asus Rog Phone 9 Pro, a gaming powerhouse that's been touted as the ultimate device for gamers. However, with its hefty price tag of $1,300, it's natural to question whether it's worth the investment. In the past, gaming phones like the Rog Phone offered a great value proposition, boasting better cooling systems, faster displays, and more powerful speakers than regular flagships. They also came with dedicated accessories that enhanced the gaming experience. However, with time, flagships have caught up, offering similar performance and features at lower price points. Today, gaming phones like the Rog Phone 9 Pro are struggling to justify their existence, especially considering their high price tags. While it's true that they offer some unique design elements and accessories, these perks no longer provide a significant enough advantage to warrant the extra cost. In fact, with $1,300, you could buy a flagship phone from most major brands, complete with a powerful processor, ample storage, and impressive cameras. These devices are often just as capable of handling demanding tasks like gaming, and they usually come with more comprehensive software support. The Rog Phone 9 Pro's battery life is indeed longer than that of many flagships, but this alone doesn't make up for the price difference. The phone's camera system is good, but not exceptional, and its performance in video recording lags behind that of top-of-the-line flagships. Ultimately, unless you're a die-hard gamer who requires specific features like the Rog Phone 9 Pro offers, it's difficult to recommend this device at its current price point. For everyone else, there are more affordable options available that can meet your needs without breaking the bank.
Performance
The Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro promises an exceptional gaming experience, but does it live up to its claims? In this review, we'll delve into the phone's performance and see if it's worth the investment. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, which is considered one of the best mobile processors available today. However, our testing revealed that the heat generated by the chip can become an issue during prolonged gaming sessions. The cooling system, while improved compared to its predecessor, still falls short in dissipating the heat efficiently. In terms of performance, the ROG Phone 9 Pro delivers smooth and lag-free experiences in most games. The phone's refresh rate of up to 185 Hz is a highlight, offering an immersive gaming experience. However, not all games support this high refresh rate, which can be a letdown for some users. One notable aspect of the phone's performance is its ability to handle demanding games without significant drops in frame rates or performance. The inclusion of an X mode in the game settings helps optimize performance, but it may not make a significant difference for gamers who don't experience frequent heat throttling. The ROG Phone 9 Pro also boasts 16GB of RAM, which is more than sufficient for most users. However, we couldn't find any substantial differences between this configuration and the standard 12GB variant, at least in our testing. In conclusion, while the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro offers exceptional performance in gaming-intensive scenarios, its limitations in cooling efficiency and inconsistent game support may be a turn-off for some users. The phone's price point of $1,300 also raises questions about its value proposition compared to flagship devices with similar capabilities.
Pros
1. The phone has a great value with better cooling systems, faster displays, powerful speakers, dedicated accessories, and an overall better gaming experience than a regular flagship.
2. The Rone 9 Pro's design is sleek and clean, making it easy to use as a non-gaming phone, even for a 40-year-old man.
3. The small RGB LEDs on the back panel are customizable and add a touch of fun to the device.
4. The phone has an impressive display with HDR10 support, one billion colors, and a refresh rate that can reach up to 185Hz.
5. The ultrasonic triggers are still one of the best in terms of accuracy, customization, and pressure detection.
6. The Rone 9 Pro comes with Android 15 and has some cool gaming features like aiming and sound in Armory crate.
7. The battery is larger than other flagships, lasting around 5800 million per hours.
Cons
1. Gaming phones have tried to simplify themselves and attract regular users too, but the Rone 9 Pro's design is not as crazy or unique as previous Rog Phones.
2. The phone's cooling system is no longer passive, relying on a larger heat sink to dissipate heat, which may not be enough for heavy use.
3. The Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, while powerful, can become hot and lead to performance drops if not managed properly.
4. Enabling X mode in games may be necessary to maintain optimal performance, and the X Pro separate cooling fan is a worthwhile investment for gamers.
5. Flagships have similar hardware and now offer passive cooling that's large enough, making the Rone 9 Pro less appealing to gamers.
6. The software on the Rone 9 Pro is close to stuck Android with limited AI and customization capabilities compared to Pixel, Galaxy, or iPhone devices.
7. The battery life is great in normal use but may not be as impressive when using higher refresh rates.