ROG Phone 9 Series
ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) recently announced the ROG Phone 9 Series. The new series isn’t just an incremental upgrade; it’s a leap forward in mobile gaming technology. With AI at its core, these devices are designed to transform the gaming experience, making every session smoother, more immersive, and ultimately more enjoyable.
A Statement Piece for Gamers
The ROG Phone 9 Series continues the brand’s tradition of creating devices that are as much a statement piece as they are powerful gaming machines. The back cover features an innovative crystallized nano-texture that resists fingerprints, complemented by stylish glossy accents and a sleek matte finish.
One of the standout design features is the upgraded AniMe Vision display. The ROG Phone 9 Pro nearly doubles the mini LED count from its predecessor, offering even more flexibility for custom animations. A new strip of red LEDs has been added, allowing for greater customization options. Users can display custom text, color names, or even use it as a countdown timer for photos.
Related: ROG Phone 8 Pro Review
The standard ROG Phone 9 also includes AniMe Vision, bringing this eye-catching feature to the entire series. Both models allow users to showcase a variety of dynamic styles, ensuring that these devices will turn heads wherever they go.
For those who love retro gaming, the ROG Phone 9 Pro introduces the AniMe Play feature. This tribute to classic pixel games lets users dive into a world of mini-games with a simple touch, complete with tactile feedback from the ROG Air Triggers for an authentic retro gaming feel.
Durability hasn’t been overlooked, with both models boasting IP68 water and dust resistance, allowing gamers to focus on their gameplay without worrying about environmental factors.
Powerhouse Performance
Under the hood, the ROG Phone 9 Series is powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile platform. This 3nm chipset delivers a significant boost in CPU power, but the real game-changer is the MPU, which offers a substantial increase in total TOPS (Trillion Operations Per Second).
To complement this powerful processor, ASUS has packed the devices with up to 24GB of RAM and a massive 1TB of storage, ensuring these phones are more than ready for AI-intensive tasks and large game installations.
Keeping all this power cool is the GameCool 9, ASUS’s most advanced thermal system yet. It features a 5-section structure that positions the SoC in the center, keeping heat away from users’ hands during intense gaming sessions. For quick gaming breaks, the Rapid Cooling Conductor and thermal compound efficiently dissipate heat to maintain peak performance.
For extended gaming sessions, the devices employ a vapor chamber and a 50% larger graphite sheet to manage heat buildup effectively. Hardcore gamers can also opt for the AeroActive Cooler X Pro, an attachable cooling solution that provides an instant cooling breeze and features AI thermoelectric cooling for uninterrupted high-level gaming.
Your Personal Gaming Assistant
The ROG Phone 9 Series introduces X Sense 3.0 , an AI-powered feature designed to enhance the gaming experience. Using image recognition, X Sense 3.0 can help with various in-game actions. For Genshin Impact players, it offers auto-pickup for collectibles, auto-run, speed-up conversations, and quick escapes.
X Sense 3.0 also includes X Capture, which automatically records pivotal in-game events. It can capture gacha moments in Genshin Impact or celebrate achievements like pentakills with custom animations on the AniMe Vision display.
The AI Grabber feature uses text recognition to help players search for tips without leaving the game, and it can even translate text for games in different languages. For multiplayer gaming, the new AI noise cancellation ensures crystal-clear communication by filtering out unwanted background noise.
Capturing Life’s Moments with Improved Cameras
The ROG Phone 9 Series doesn’t just excel at gaming; it’s also a powerhouse for photography. The main camera system features a 50MP sensor with a new 6-axis hybrid gimbal stabilizer 4.0, offering both movement compensation and a 66% improvement in stabilization compared to the previous generation.
The camera setup is rounded out with a 13MP ultra-wide lens and either a 32MP telephoto lens or a 5MP macro lens, depending on the model. For selfies, there’s a 32MP front-facing camera with a wide field of view.
ASUS has also introduced several AI-powered photography features. Photo Vibe uses AI to infuse each picture with the right ambiance, while AI Panning allows for dynamic action shots with pinpoint accuracy. For low-light conditions, the new AI Night Vision enhances brightness and reduces noise in videos.
Immersive Sound Experience
Audio hasn’t been overlooked in the ROG Phone 9 Series. The devices support Qualcomm aptX Adaptive and lossless audio for high-fidelity Bluetooth sound with minimal latency. ASUS has even added a subwoofer to the AeroActive Cooler X Pro, creating a 2.1 channel sound system for a richer, more immersive audio experience.
All official cases for the ROG Phone 9 Series feature audio redirection, channeling sound from the bottom speaker to the front using a built-in chamber. A dedicated audio redirection sound mode has been optimized for these cases, ensuring a natural and immersive sound experience.
Long-lasting Power
To keep up with the demands of mobile gaming, ASUS has implemented new battery technology in the ROG Phone 9 Series. The devices feature increased energy density, pushing the battery capacity to an impressive 5,800mAh. Additionally, ASUS has implemented state-of-the-art software solutions to maintain battery health even after a thousand charge cycles.
Stay Connected Your Way
While specific connectivity details weren’t provided in the transcript, it’s safe to assume that the ROG Phone 9 Series will support the latest wireless standards, including 5G, Wi-Fi 6E or potentially Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.3 or newer.
As we approach CES 2025, more details about the ROG Phone 9 Series are expected to emerge, including pricing and global availability. While there’s no word yet on its release in the Philippines, the impressive features and innovations packed into these devices are sure to excite mobile gaming enthusiasts worldwide.
Here’s a table summarizing the key specs of the ROG Phone 9 Series:
| Feature | ROG Phone 9 | ROG Phone 9 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.78″ FHD+ LTPO AMOLED, 2400 x 1080 pixels, 1-120Hz (up to 185Hz in Game Genie) | 6.78″ FHD+ LTPO AMOLED, 2400 x 1080 pixels, 1-120Hz (up to 185Hz in Game Genie) |
| Brightness | 2,500 nits peak, 1,600 nits HBM | 2,500 nits peak, 1,600 nits HBM |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| GPU | Adreno 830 | Adreno 830 |
| RAM | 12GB or 16GB LPDDR5X | 16GB or 24GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 512GB UFS 4.0 | 512GB or 1TB UFS 4.0 |
| Main Camera | 50MP f/1.9 (Sony LYTIA 700), OIS | 50MP f/1.9 (Sony LYTIA 700), OIS |
| Ultra-wide Camera | 13MP | 13MP |
| Third Camera | 5MP macro | 32MP telephoto, OIS, 3x optical zoom |
| Front Camera | 32MP | 32MP |
| Battery | 5,800 mAh | 5,800 mAh |
| Charging | 65W wired, 15W wireless | 65W wired, 15W wireless |
| Operating System | Android 15 with ROG UI | Android 15 with ROG UI |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC | 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC |
| Audio | Dual speakers, 3.5mm headphone jack | Dual speakers, 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Special Features | AirTriggers, AniMe Vision display | AirTriggers, AniMe Vision display (enhanced) |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm | 163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm |
| Weight | 227g | 227g |
| Colors | Phantom Black, Storm White | Phantom Black |
The ROG Phone 9 Series represents a significant step forward in mobile gaming technology, blending powerful hardware with innovative AI features to create a truly next-generation gaming experience. As more information becomes available, it’s clear that these devices will set a new standard for what a gaming smartphone can be.
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
