In May of last year, ASUS and Republic of Gamers provided me with an education on mobile gaming. I knew that mobile gaming was a thing, but as far as I was concerned, it couldn’t compare to a handheld, a console, or a PC. I was wrong, and just over twelve months later, I once again had my hands on a shiny new phone to try out.

After playing with the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition last year, I was eager to get my hands on this year’s model, the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro Edition. I couldn’t wait to see what fancy upgrades they had decided to include, and I was certainly in for a surprise.

If I were to lay the two products side by side, it would almost be impossible to determine which one was which. Glossing over the website’s tech specs while setting it up, I started to wonder if I could simply copy and paste my review from last year. Maybe this was a literal interpretation of the old saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” but taking a closer look, I started to spot the subtle differences.

One of the more obvious physical differences is that the rear AniMe Vision auxiliary display on the ROG Phone 9 Pro Edition houses a total of 648 mini-LEDs, almost double the 341 on last year’s model, and some of these are red.

We all know that I’m a sucker for anything shiny, but these are capable of more than adding some extra flair to the back of your phone. With AniMe Play, you can now utilise the auxiliary display and AirTrigger buttons to play simple games reminiscent of Space Invaders and Snake. 

Focusing on gaming, the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro Edition comes with 24GB LPDDR5X memory and 1TB storage space, alongside the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform Octa-core Processor running at 4.3GHz, and the Qualcomm Adreno 830 GPU, driving the 6.78” FHD+ E6 AMOLED Display. Capable of achieving a refresh rate of up to 185Hz through the Game Genie, the 2400×1080 display looks incredibly sharp while gaming, maintaining smooth animations with bright and vibrant colours.

Using the supplied 65W charger, the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro Edition’s 5800mAh battery can achieve a full charge in as little as 46 minutes, providing up to 4.5 hours of heavy gaming or up to 22 hours while streaming video, although these times will be slightly reduced if you use the AeroActive Cooler X Pro.

Available separately or included with the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro Edition, the AeroActive Cooler X Pro serves several purposes, with the most obvious being to enhance the already impressive GameCool 9 thermal system.

It also includes a 13x26mm subwoofer to provide 2.1 channel sound and amplify the bass by nearly 124%, making it ideal for watching movies. The fold-out stand will keep the screen at the perfect viewing angle. Then, there’s the added gaming functionality. Each side features a shoulder button, harmonising with the AirTrigger buttons on the phone to provide a controller-like experience, and a 3.5mm headset socket, allowing you to take your Discord party with you.

Alongside Armoury Crate, which is used to monitor and boost the performance of the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro Edition, you’ll find a host of other software designed to enhance your experience. Game Genie, for example, can be used to disable calls and notifications while you’re gaming, apply overlays such as crosshairs, or activate AI-driven tools, such as AI grabber, X Sense, and X Capture, helping you to collect important information and objects, and automatically recording epic gaming moments.

The support continues with normal phone functions as well, using AI to translate phone calls, transcribe and summarise voice recordings, and assist with Google searches. Even the cameras benefit from AI, which is capable of producing incredible panning shots, algorithms that enhance low-light shots, and scene recognition to ensure stunning results.

Housing a total of four cameras, the main Sony Lytia 50MP camera is probably my favourite. Mounted on the back, it benefits from an F1.8 aperture and a 6-axis hybrid gimbal, capturing the sharpest details and the smoothest video. It records up to 8K30 and HDR10+, with 4K, FHD, and HD, all supporting 30/60 FPS. The 120-degree Ultrawide-angle 13MP camera is great for capturing landscape shots, and the 32MP telephoto camera benefits from 3x Optical zoom as well as Optical Image Stabilisation.

I’m not one for taking selfies, and to be honest, I despise being on camera, but as far as photos go, I can’t complain about the selfie camera on the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro Edition. At 32MP, it’s great, but I’ve also taken up videography, and I prefer filming in FHD at 60FPS for a nice balance between quality and smooth motion. I had wanted to use it to record vlog-like footage at an event I’m attending on behalf of MKAU Gaming, but when I realised that the selfie camera could only record 30FPS while recording in FHD, my heart sank a little.

Primarily advertised as a gaming phone, the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro Edition comes packed with premium components. Creators will adore the exceptional cameras, which capture gorgeously detailed content, and gamers will celebrate the performance while the competition struggles to keep up. However, everyone will appreciate the beautiful AMOLED display, meticulously replicating vibrant colours and delivering silky smooth motion.

Written by: Mathew Lindner