The best Android gaming phone money can buy
The $1,499.99 Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro Edition is purpose-built for gaming, with powerful hardware that includes an ultra-fast processor and an enormous amount of memory. The phone packs air triggers and custom software for games, and the Pro Edition comes with a clip-on fan to help with heat management and a 65W charger that refuels the battery in under an hour. Beyond gaming, the ROG Phone 9 excels as a general-purpose Android phone, with solid cameras, excellent battery life, and a toughened build. The only things holding it back are a lack of millimeter-wave 5G support in the US, a limited software support window, and a sky-high price tag. Even so, this is the best Android gaming phone we’ve tested, earning it our Editors’ Choice award.Design: Sleek Yet Tough
There are three devices in the Asus ROG Phone 9 series, and they share many features. The basic design and hardware are mostly the same; it’s the memory and storage options that differ the most. The ROG Phone 9 has 12GB of RAM with 256GB of storage and costs $999.99; the ROG 9 Pro has 16GB of RAM with 512GB of storage and costs $1,199.99; and the ROG 9 Pro Edition has 24GB of RAM with 1TB of storage and costs $1,499.99. All three are powered by the brand-new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor.
In addition to the most memory and storage, the Pro Edition also ships with the Asus AeroActive Cooler X Pro cooling accessory and two thin cases. The first case has a large cutout in the center to allow the phone’s rear panel to come into physical contact with the cooler accessory. The second is the ROG Chill Case, which has a vapor chamber on the rear to help cool the phone.
The ROG Phone 9 Pro Edition measures 6.45 by 3.02 by 0.35 inches (HWD) and weighs 8.01 ounces. It’s the same size as its predecessor, the ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition, but last year’s phone is slightly lighter at 7.94 ounces. For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra measures 6.40 by 3.11 by 0.34 inches and weighs 8.22 ounces.
The volume rocker and power buttons are on the right edge and are satisfyingly clicky. These two buttons are flanked by a pair of capacitive air triggers for gaming. These have ROG branding etched into them, making them easy to find by touch. A USB-C 3.2 port sits on the left edge. It supports DisplayPort/HDMI and also works for charging and powering the external AeroActive Cooler X Pro. A second USB-C port rests on the bottom edge, but it is limited to USB 2.0 and is for data transfer and power only. A SIM card tray, speaker grille, and 3.5mm headphone jack are also tucked into the bottom edge.
The front is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, while the back panel uses Gorilla Glass 3. Asus says the phone’s matte frame is made of recycled aluminum. Overall, it feels sleek, sturdy, comfortable, and high-end. It has an IP68 rating, so it can withstand dust and water immersion. The Galaxy S24 Ultra has the same protection from dust and water.
For biometrics, the ROG Phone 9 features an under-display fingerprint sensor, which works reliably and quickly. Face Unlock is also an option, though it is less secure. The base ROG Phone 9 is available in Phantom Black or Storm White, while the pricier 9 Pro and 9 Pro Edition are only available in Phantom Black.Displays: Two for the Price of One
All three versions of the Asus ROG Phone 9 carry over the display from the ROG Phone 8 with just one small change. It’s a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 2,400 by 1,080 pixels and a refresh rate that varies from 1Hz to 165Hz. This year, the screen can refresh just a little faster at a maximum of 185Hz when using Asus’ Game Genie software. The panel reaches 1,600 nits in high-brightness mode and peaks at 2,500 nits.
Generally, content looks gorgeous on the ROG Phone 9’s screen, and animations are silky smooth. Its brightness makes it easy to see indoors and outdoors, even under harsh sunlight.
For comparison, the Galaxy S24 Ultra features a slightly bigger 6.8-inch display with a resolution of 3,120 by 1,440 pixels, a variable 120Hz refresh rate, and a 2,600-nit peak brightness.
The ROG Phone 9 Pro Edition features a secondary display on the rear made up of 648 mini-LEDs called Anime Vision. When the LEDs are off, they’re invisible. The Anime Vision display has over 20 preset animations, and it can show the time, battery level, and the Asus ROG eye logo. Asus has added red LEDs to the mini-display this year—last year’s were all white.
You can even play simple, low-res games on the Anime Display using the air triggers as controls. The games play well and are a fun use of these LEDs beyond just notifications. The Anime Display of the base ROG Phone 9 is limited to just 85 dots and cannot play games. Performance: Sensational Speed
As mentioned, the phone is powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite. The Pro Edition I tested has 24GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage. The phone features an improved cooling system compared with the previous model, which lowers the temperature by as much as 12% during gaming. The external AeroActive Cooler X Pro can keep the back of the ROG Phone 9 comfortable while maintaining a high frame rate for games.
On Geekbench 6, a suite of tests that quantifies raw computing power, the ROG Phone 9 Pro Edition scored 3,155 on the single-core test and 9,909 on the multi-core test.
