The Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro has just arrived, and it’s already pushing the boundaries of what we expected for 2025. At the heart of this beast is Qualcomm’s all-new Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. Paired with up to 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage, this smartphone doesn’t do things by halves.
But make no mistake: while geared towards gaming, the ROG Phone 9 Pro is now targeting a broader audience than its predecessors. Asus is continuing the transformation that began with the ROG Phone 8 Pro, opting for a more understated design that no longer screams “gaming smartphone” at every glance. The device retains its unique strengths, and brings several welcome improvements to the series. So is this smartphone worth checking out, gamer or not? Here is our opinion on the matter after a good week of testing.
Price and release date of the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro
The ROG Phone 9 Pro comes in several versions, but in only one color: Phantom Black. The base version of the ROG Phone 9 Pro, equipped with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage, is offered at €1,299.99. For the most demanding users, the “Pro Edition” version pushes the counters to 24 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage, accompanied by the AeroActive Cooler X Pro external fan included in the box, for €1,499.99. It is this last version, the most powerful, that we are testing here.
The entry price is therefore 100 euros higher than the previous ROG Phone 8 Pro, and clearly places the ROG Phone 9 Pro in the premium segment of the market. It's certainly a significant investment, especially when competitors like the Nubia Red Magic 9S Pro offer similar performance for several hundred euros less. However, Asus justifies this positioning by a more versatile approach, intended for everyday use beyond gaming.
Pre-orders began on November 19 in France, and the first copies were delivered in mid-December. You will then have to wait until January to get your hands on the classic version, at €1,099.99 with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage.
Design: an increasingly sober gaming smartphone
The ROG Phone 9 Pro continues the stylistic evolution initiated by its predecessor, definitively abandoning the flashy gaming aesthetic for a more refined approach. With its dimensions of 163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm and its weight of 227g, it remains imposing without standing out in the world of gaming smartphones.
The back, covered with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 treated with a matte finish, offers a pleasant grip thanks to its curved edges. The phone sports a sober color that resists fingerprints remarkably well. The few ROG decorative elements remain, but Asus has fortunately skipped the “Dare to Win” slogan this year.
The AniMe Vision screen, invisible when turned off, is entitled to one of the major developments with its 648 LEDs (compared to 341 previously). This device lights up to display animations when receiving calls, notifications or while listening to music.
On the practical side, the ROG Phone 9 Pro retains its IP68 certification, a notable advantage over competitors. Gamers will appreciate the additional USB-C port on the left edge for comfortable charging in a horizontal position, as well as the presence of a 3.5mm jack for latency-free audio.
The sleeker design does, however, involve some compromises. The reduction of the black borders around the screen has forced Asus to abandon the two front speakers: while the earpiece remains on the front, the second speaker is on the lower edge. To compensate for this less than optimal configuration, the official cases redirect the sound towards the front. An effective solution, but which requires the use of protection.
Regarding the cooling system, rather than an integrated fan, Asus relies on the ChillCase and the optional AeroActive Cooler X Pro. The latter, more powerful than its predecessor with a 12.5% larger fan, attaches to the phone to dissipate heat while adding physical triggers and an integrated support. Powered via the secondary USB-C port, it even integrates a customizable ROG lighting system via the Armoury Crate application.
In short, the ROG Phone 9 Pro succeeds in its transformation towards a more mature and versatile design, without denying its gaming roots. While a few compromises such as the placement of the speakers can frustrate purists, the balance found between elegance and gaming features is generally convincing.
Screen: fluidity in the spotlight
The ROG Phone 9 Pro retains the 6.78-inch E6 AMOLED screen of its predecessor, with a Full HD+ definition of 1080 x 2400 pixels. While this may seem modest for a high-end smartphone, it remains largely sufficient to offer excellent image sharpness.
The main new feature is the refresh rate. Thanks to LTPO technology, the screen can now oscillate between 1 and 185 Hz depending on usage, compared to 165 Hz on the previous model. This maximum frequency, accessible only in Auto mode and during gaming sessions, remains largely theoretical, however, few games will really be able to reach it.
The screen is quite generous with a maximum manual brightness of 1832 cd/m². These values, coupled with the anti-reflective treatment, ensure excellent readability outdoors despite some persistent reflections. The minimum brightness of 5.89 cd/m² may, however, seem a little high in the dark.
The colors are naturally vibrant, even in "Natural" mode. We measured an average Delta E of 3.78, which is slightly too high. Fortunately, the settings allow you to finely adjust the temperature and saturation according to your preferences. The “Standard” mode, which is limited to the sRGB color space, offers a more neutral rendering (Delta E of 2.16). The viewing angle stability is very good, with little loss of brightness and a slight greenish tint only noticeable at the most extreme angles.
The optical fingerprint reader integrated under the screen works correctly, but lags slightly behind the ultrasonic sensors equipped by some competitors. A detail that does not detract from the overall qualities of this screen, perfectly calibrated for gaming while remaining versatile for everyday use.
In short, if the ROG Phone 9 Pro screen does not radically innovate, it offers a first-rate visual experience that perfectly meets the requirements of the most demanding mobile gamers.
Performance: simply the top of the range
The ROG Phone 9 Pro is one of the first Android smartphones in Europe to use the new Snapdragon 8 Elite. This is Qualcomm’s first high-end processor engraved in 3nm. With this new more powerful and energy-efficient chip, combined with Asus’ expertise in optimization, we expected unsurprisingly high-flying performance.
The numbers speak for themselves: on Geekbench 6, the ROG Phone 9 Pro achieves a score of 10117 in multi-core, an increase of 40% compared to its predecessor. The Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro even does 15% more than the A18 Pro of the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Graphics performance also improves, with an average improvement of more than 20% on GFXBench tests thanks to the new Adreno 830 GPU.
The SoC is now positioned in the center of the phone, framed by two batteries, while a 57% larger graphite sheet ensures heat dissipation. Despite this, in the 3DMark Wild Life benchmark, the smartphone only achieves a stability score of 76.9%. The smartphone also gets very hot, we measured a peak at no less than 48.1 degrees. That's a lot.
Nevertheless, in real conditions, the smartphone behaves much better. In games, the device is surprisingly lukewarm, even on very demanding titles. Enough to extend your gaming sessions until the end of the night without risking burning your hands.
In terms of memory, we have 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512 GB of storage in the standard version, increased to 24 GB and 1 TB respectively on the Pro edition. This generous configuration allows the smartphone to be fluid in all circumstances, while the most demanding games run smoothly with the settings at maximum. Only Call of Duty: Warzone still seems to be too demanding with “Max” graphics, the game sometimes struggling to maintain a stable frame rate.
The system offers three performance profiles: X Mode for maximum performance, Ultra Durable for autonomy, and Dynamic Mode for optimal balance. X mode is automatically activated when launching demanding applications and games, and can be pushed even further with X Plus mode when the AeroActive Cooler X Pro is connected.
In daily use, the responsiveness of the ROG Phone 9 Pro is impressive. The interface responds to the finger and eye, applications launch instantly, and navigation is disconcertingly fluid. A premium experience that fully justifies the device's high-end positioning.
Battery life and charging: a very durable smartphone
Battery life has always been a strong point of the ROG Phone series, and the ROG Phone 9 Pro is no exception. With a capacity increased to 5800 mAh, or 300 mAh more than its predecessor, an increase in battery life was to be expected, and this is what we found in our tests.
01Lab found that the ROG Phone 9 Pro was generally more autonomous than the average smartphone we tested. In our standardized test, the ROG Phone 9 Pro lasted 24 hours and 18 minutes before turning off. To put this figure into perspective, the ROG Phone 8 Pro, its predecessor, died in 19 hours and 58 minutes. The gap widens further against traditional flagships: the ROG Phone 9 Pro outperforms the iPhone 16 Pro by more than two hours and the Galaxy S24 Ultra by around an hour and a half.
In moderate daily use, the ROG Phone 9 Pro does very well, you clearly won't be afraid to end the day on the last few percent of battery.
On the charging side, Asus sticks with its tried and tested 65W solution. The supplied charger can fully charge the smartphone in 56 minutes, and it reaches 29% in 10 minutes. That's good, but many smartphones do better today. The ROG Phone 9 Pro also stands out with the presence of 15W wireless charging, a rare feature on gaming smartphones.
For intensive gaming sessions, the bypass charging mode allows you to power the device directly without using the battery, thus limiting heating. A good point. Note also the presence of two charging ports. One at the bottom, off-center, and another on the left edge of the smartphone. Practical when playing a game in landscape mode.
Even if it does not have the battery with the largest capacity on the market, the ROG Phone 9 Pro remains a benchmark in terms of autonomy. It combines excellent endurance and versatile charging options.
Interface and software: Asus knows how to do it
The ROG Phone 9 Pro arrives with Android 15 and immediately offers a refreshing choice: opt for a personalized ROG gaming interface or a more classic Android experience. This flexibility, rarely offered by manufacturers, allows the device to adapt to the preferences of each user.
The Armoury Crate app remains the nerve center of the gaming experience. This platform not only centralizes the launch of games, but also manages the customization of AirTriggers keys, the control of the AniMe Vision lighting on the back of the device and the settings of the AeroActive Cooler fan.
Artificial intelligence plays a major role in this new version. Asus has integrated several innovative features, all executed locally on the device. Real-time call translation, previously exclusive to Galaxy AI, is making its appearance. AI also makes it easier to search in settings thanks to semantic search, while the photo gallery automatically recognizes objects and locations for a more intuitive search.
On the gaming side, two major innovations: X Sense AI automates repetitive in-game tasks, such as configuring skill upgrades in League of Legends: Wild Rift or speeding up cinematics in other titles like Genshin Impact. X Capture, meanwhile, detects highlights and automatically records them.
Asus has also expanded the entertainment options with AniMe Play, allowing you to use AirTriggers and AniMe Vision lighting for retro mini-games, including Snake or Space Invader, directly on the back of the device. It’s fun for a few minutes, but you certainly won’t spend hours on it.
However, Asus’ update policy is a bit of a mouthful. With only two years of Android updates and four years of security patches, the manufacturer pales in comparison to the seven years promised by Samsung and Google. For a premium device that easily exceeds €1,000, this limitation could put off some potential buyers. Sure, security updates until 2029 guarantee a certain longevity, but new features will stop as early as 2026.
Despite this downside, the ROG Phone 9 Pro’s interface remains one of the most accomplished in the gaming segment. It successfully balances advanced features and ease of use, while intelligently integrating the latest innovations in AI. The extensive customization and attention to user experience make it a mature interface that stands out from the competition, especially from Red Magic smartphones.
Audio: the Cooler adds a new dimension to sound reproduction
On the audio side, it is a mixed evolution compared to its predecessors. The abandonment of the stereo front speakers in favor of a woofer on the lower front panel and a more powerful earpiece impacts the overall sound quality.
Nevertheless, some improvements are worth noting. The speakers offer a more balanced rendering than those of the ROG Phone 8, with less prominent high mids, even if the low mids remain a little muffled. The arrival of the new AeroActive Cooler X Pro with its integrated subwoofer allows you to find deep and convincing bass, transforming the device into a real portable speaker.
The retention of the 3.5mm jack will delight purists, while the wireless part is not left out with support for many codecs, including aptX Lossless. The haptic feedback, crucial for a gaming smartphone, is precise and well calibrated. It offers an excellent feeling during tactile interactions and the use of the triggers.
Photo and video: a mixed opinion
The ROG Phone 9 Pro continues Asus' efforts to improve the photo part, traditionally the weak point of gaming smartphones. It is equipped with a triple photo module with a wide angle (50 Mpx), an ultra wide angle (13 Mpx) and a telephoto lens (32 Mpx). The most notable improvement concerns the stabilization system, now capable of compensating for movements on 5 axes, compared to 3 on the previous model.
Wide-angle
The main module, equipped with the Sony Lytia 700 sensor (a rebadged IMX 890), delivers very correct shots, but there are still some downsides.
However, the photos sometimes suffer from excessive sharpness, which is particularly visible on foliage and bricks in urban landscapes. The limited dynamic range and slightly washed-out colours also betray a lack of punch compared to market leaders such as the Galaxy S24 Ultra or the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Ultra wide-angle
The ultra wide-angle sensor delivers decent results. Distortion is fairly minimal, but we would have liked a slightly wider field of vision, which is limited to 0.7x here.
Telephoto and digital zoom
The 3x telephoto lens is convincing, producing detailed images up to 10x zoom, despite the gradual appearance of noise. The digital zoom can extend up to 30x, but the result often turns into a mush of pixels.
Portrait and selfies
Portrait mode applies a very light bokeh effect to the background, and was quite convincing overall. However, the shots occasionally turned blue.
The 32MP selfie sensor offers fairly low-detail self-portraits, but with natural colors, despite some difficulties in backlighting. Night shots remain usable, but often require a small adjustment of saturation in post-processing. A lot of noise is present in the images.
Fashion night
Low light performance improves slightly over the previous generation. Colors gain saturation and life, although over-sharpening becomes more noticeable and highlights can easily be blown out. It should also be noted that the reproduction of red tones seems to cause difficulties for the device at night, as they sometimes tend to turn pink.
Video
On the video side, the device can film in 8K at 30 FPS, but it is in 4K that the hybrid stabilization system demonstrates its full effectiveness. A welcome new feature: the ability to use the AirTrigger triggers as a photo shutter, reminiscent of the action button on the iPhone 16, but in a capacitive version.
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