Asus ROG Telephone 9 Professional evaluation: Gaming professional and battery life legend
2025’s come early because the Asus ROG Telephone 9 Professional arrives on the scene with subsequent yr’s tech locked and loaded. And the present greatest Android telephones do not stand an opportunity.
The ROG Telephone line is designed to be top-of-the-line gaming telephones round, and I can verify that the ROG Telephone 9 Professional actually passes that take a look at. However with its amazingly highly effective new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and the longest-lasting battery we have ever examined, you do not should be a daily gamer to understand the potential of this cellphone in opposition to extra typical flagship telephones just like the Galaxy S24 Extremely (or rumored upcoming Galaxy S25 Extremely), and even the iPhone 16 Professional Max.
However for as a lot as I’ve loved testing this cellphone’s energy, there are some sensible limitations, together with with the ROG Telephone 9 Professional’s images and software program, that hold this cellphone as a extra specialised decide. The longer wait to purchase this cellphone within the U.S. would not assist both.
I can let you know rather more in regards to the ups and downs of the Asus ROG Telephone 9 Professional expertise. You simply should learn on.
Asus ROG Telephone 9 Professional: Specs
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Asus ROG Telephone 9 Professional |
| Show | 6.78-inch FHD AMOLED (2400 x 1080) |
| Refresh fee | 1 – 120Hz, 165Hz, 185Hz |
| Rear cameras | 50MP predominant, 13MP ultrawide, 32MP 3x telephoto |
| Entrance digicam | 32MP selfie |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| RAM | 16GB, 24GB |
| Storage | 512GB, 1TB |
| OS | Android 15 |
| Battery | 5,800 mAh |
| Charging | 65W wired, 15W wi-fi |
| Mud/water resistance | IP68 |
| Measurement | 6.45 x 3.02 x 0.35 inches (163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9mm) |
| Weight | 8.0 ounces (227g) |
| Colours | Phantom Black |
Asus ROG Telephone 9 Professional: Worth and availability
We have but to get official launch dates for the ROG Telephone 9 sequence all over the world, with the present phrase solely being that the cellphone will begin delivery in “mid-December.” Pre-orders can be found from November nineteenth for anybody already offered on the cellphone within the U.Okay., however the U.S. should wait till January 2025 to put an order.
We’re completely happy that Asus’ costs have not modified because the ROG Telephone 8 sequence. The conventional ROG Telephone 9 Professional prices $1,199/£1,099, coming with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. The ROG Telephone 9 Professional Version that we examined ups that to 24GB RAM/1TB storage, and bundles in an AeroActive Cooler X Professional for $1,499/£1,299.
Whereas this evaluation is targeted on the ROG Telephone 9 Professional, it is price mentioning that there is a customary ROG Telephone 9 too. This begins at $999/£949, and is sort of equivalent to the Professional besides it provides a barely totally different design, a macro digicam as a substitute of a telephoto digicam, and decrease capability RAM and storage.
Asus ROG Telephone 9 Professional: Design
Just like the ROG Telephone 8 earlier than it, the ROG Telephone 9 Professional tries to cover its gaming nature from sight, utilizing a matte end on the glass again and aluminum sides to not draw consideration to itself. There are nonetheless shiny ROG logos on the again, plus extra on the aspect the place the capacitive triggers stay, and in addition lights constructed into the middle of the again panel. However you will not see these except you are up shut or the lights are energetic.
Clearer indicators that that is an uncommon cellphone are its off-center major USB-C port on the underside edge, a second USB-C port on the lengthy aspect for simpler charging whereas holding the cellphone horizontally, and a headphone jack, not typically seen on telephones lately. Odd, however actually helpful whenever you’re utilizing this cellphone for its meant objective.
The again panel lights, or AniMe Imaginative and prescient in Asus’ personal phrases, has nearly doubled the variety of mini-LEDs in comparison with the final model, and has added a purple part for extra distinction. It makes the lights much more useful as a notification window, in addition to a simpler means of displaying off whenever you open up a recreation.
Asus is simply promoting the Professional model of this cellphone in Phantom Black (the usual version cellphone provides a Storm White model too). It is a appropriate coloration for it however having no alternative in any respect appears odd to me.
In step with different top-priced telephones, the ROG Telephone 9 Professional has IP68 mud and water resistance, plus Gorilla Glass Victus 2 to guard the show. Some gaming telephones sacrifice sturdiness within the identify of cooling or pricing, however Asus is not compromising right here, which I actually admire when taking the cellphone out and about.
Asus ROG Telephone 9 Professional: Show
Asus is utilizing a 6.78-inch AMOLED display screen as soon as once more on the ROG Telephone 9 Professional, however with one main improve. The show is now able to a 185Hz peak refresh fee, with the identical 1 – 120Hz adaptive and 165Hz mode beneath that as seen on the ROG Telephone 8 Professional. I wasn’t capable of finding a recreation that ran at 185Hz, so hopefully sooner or later when such titles exist, the ROG Telephone 9 Professional might be prepared for them.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Asus ROG Telephone 9 Professional | Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely (Pure / Vivid mode) | Google Pixel 9 Professional XL (Adaptive / Pure mode) | iPhone 16 Professional Max |
| Peak brightness (nits) | 1676 | 1363 | 2353 | 1553 |
| DCI-P3 coloration gamut protection (%) | 117.8 | 84.9 / 98.5 | 82.8/74.4 | 80.9 |
| Delta-E coloration accuracy (decrease is healthier) | 0.33 | 0.23 / 0.25 | 0.24 / 0.28 | 0.26 |
What you may get pleasure from already is how brilliant this cellphone’s show is — shedding out solely to the Google Pixel 9 Professional XL’s intense Tremendous Actua-powered brightness — and the way colourful it’s, overlaying rather more of the colour gamut than some other comparable cellphone. If it may rein in its coloration accuracy a little bit extra, this is able to be a near-perfect display screen.
Asus ROG Telephone 9 Professional: Cameras
The ROG Telephone 9 Professional’s digicam loadout iterates solely barely on its predecessor. It contains a 50MP predominant digicam with a refreshed sensor and enhanced gimbal stabilization, however in any other case equivalent 13MP ultrawide, 32MP 3x zoom and 32MP entrance cameras.
Though not its major use, the capacitive AirTriggers on the sting of the ROG Telephone can be utilized as a shutter button. You may accuse Asus of copying Apple’s new Digicam Management for the iPhone 16 sequence, however Asus has had shoulder buttons for lots longer, even when they beforehand did not do that.
You possibly can’t fault the element that the ROG Telephone 9 Professional’s predominant digicam supplies, even up in opposition to the Galaxy S24 Extremely’s 200MP sensor, on this shot of a cappuccino. But it surely falls down onerous with its coloration, which is close to lifeless in comparison with the intense Samsung picture.
It is a comparable case with this ultrawide shot of a meals truck in Paddington Basin. Even the pale cream of the truck’s fenders seems far richer within the Galaxy’s picture.
Nonetheless, Samsung’s tendency to spice up colours type of backfires on this 3x zoom take a look at. This clock on the aspect of a constructing in Beckenham appears to be like very synthetic by means of the lens of the Galaxy S24 Extremely, and makes the numerals and textual content on the clock more durable to learn. The washed-out colours of the ROG Telephone assist restore the stability between coloration and element.
The final comparability we’ll present you is that this selfie portrait. Each telephones have executed an affordable job of reducing round my glasses to use the portrait impact, though the Samsung has created a extra apparent bokeh. And, as soon as once more, the Asus lacks within the coloration division.
Asus ROG Telephone 9 Professional: Efficiency
Asus is without doubt one of the fortunate first cellphone makers to make use of the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, probably the perfect chip that any Android cellphone will get in 2025. We have seen reference gadgets do effectively on assessments with the 8 Elite chip, however now it is time to see the way it performs in a manufacturing mannequin.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Asus ROG Telephone 9 Professional | Asus ROG Telephone 9 Professional (X Mode) | Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely | iPhone 16 Professional Max |
| Geekbench 6 rating (single-core / multi-core) | 2,012 / 8,076 | 3,207 / 10,227 | 2,300 / 7,249 | 3386 / 8306 |
| Wild Life Excessive Limitless end result (rating / fps) | 4,406 / 26.3 | 5906 / 35.3 | 5,007 / 29.9 | 3,822 / 22.9 |
| Adobe Premiere Rush time to transcode (minutes:secs) | 0:54 | Not examined | 0:42 | 0:21 |
You will see that our take a look at outcomes have two units of figures for the ROG Telephone 9 Professional. The usual numbers, and people measured with the X Mode efficiency profile that kicks in when opening sure video games and performance-heavy apps, both robotically or as you specify within the Armory Crate app.
In common mode, the ROG Telephone 9 turns in CPU outcomes near these of the iPhone 16 Professional Max, however beats it on graphics efficiency. With X Mode on, the complete energy of the Snapdragon 8 Elite is unleashed, permitting the ROG Telephone to beat Apple and Samsung’s most interesting with ease. That excludes the Adobe Premiere Rush take a look at, the place the competitors is ready to meet up with their extra highly effective media engines.
The conventional ROG Telephone 9 Professional will get 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. That is fairly a little bit of capability contemplating rival telephones have a tendency to make use of 12GB RAM and 256GB storage as defaults. For those who’re keen to pay for the Professional Version mannequin, you then get a mighty 24GB RAM and 1TB of storage.
Asus has executed some under-the-hood repositioning of the ROG Telephone 9 Professional’s key parts within the identify of cooling. The chipset is now positioned within the heart of the cellphone, splitting the battery into two and putting them across the chip. A 57% bigger graphite sheet joins the get together to make sure the cellphone retains cool as you play.
For those who want heavy-duty cooling, then you may look to the brand new AeroActive Cooler X Professional, which comes with the Professional Version however in any other case prices $119/£89 to purchase by itself. It provides bigger fan blades in comparison with the Cooler X from final yr, however nonetheless performs the essential operate of including one other two bodily shoulder buttons, a subwoofer, an additional headphone jack and a kickstand, plus the all-important RGB lighting. It is also the one technique to allow the last word efficiency degree — X Mode Plus — successfully an overclock that ought to get you even higher outcomes than the already spectacular X Mode.
Asus ROG Telephone 9 Professional: Battery and charging
With a 5,800 mAh capability throughout its two cells, the ROG Telephone 9 Professional has a 300mAh enhance over the ROG Telephone 8 Professional from final yr. The ROG Telephone 8 Professional has been our greatest cellphone battery life champion because it launched, and we’re completely happy to report the newer mannequin has taken up that mantle.
Within the TG customized battery take a look at, the place we set the telephones to robotically browse the online from 100% battery to 0%, the ROG Telephone 9 Professional lasted an astonishing 20 hours and 34 minutes. The subsequent closest cellphone on the time of writing is the OnePlus 12R, which lasts 18 hours and eight minutes on the identical take a look at. Between the bigger battery and the improved chipset, the ROG Telephone 9 Professional beats the iPhone 16 Professional Max by over three hours, and the Galaxy S24 Extremely by nearly 4.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Asus ROG Telephone 9 Professional | iPhone 16 Professional Max | Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely |
| TG battery life take a look at time (hours:minutes) | 20:34 | 17:17 | 16:45 |
Like its predecessor, the ROG Telephone 9 Professional has 65W charging help, plus the choice for bypass charging to cease the battery from charging (and producing warmth) whenever you’re taking part in video games. There’s additionally 15W wi-fi charging as an possibility if you wish to go with out cables.
In testing, I charged the ROG Telephone 9 Professional as much as 37% in quarter-hour and to 74% in half an hour with its included charger. The Galaxy S24 Extremely is not too far behind, reaching 71% after half-hour plugged right into a Samsung 45W brick. The iPhone 16 Professional Max in the meantime solely will get to 55% with a half-an-hour cost, utilizing a 20W charger from Apple.
Asus ROG Telephone 9 Professional: Software program and particular options
Though the ROG Telephone 9 Professional has a really unique-looking interface, it is operating Android 15 like different latest Android telephones, simply with an Asus Optimized pores and skin that alters the structure of the menus barely, and plenty of customized icons and animations to promote its gamer credentials.
Asus has added a number of options to default Android, however earlier than we take a look at these, I’ve to level out the promised updates. The ROG Telephone 9 Professional will solely get two years of full Android updates, and 5 years of safety updates. It is a huge weak spot, as telephones of an equal worth just like the Galaxy S24 Extremely get seven years of full updates. The fairly lengthy window for safety updates means you will not be in danger in case you persist with the ROG Telephone 9 Professional till 2029, however you’ll cease getting enhancements and new options by the top of 2026 if Asus retains to its acknowledged objective. Not what you need whenever you’ve spent over a grand on a brand new cellphone.
Outdoors of video games, the ROG Telephone 9 Professional makes use of the AI talents first launched on the Asus Zenfone 11 Extremely. This consists of staples like AI name translation, voice observe transcription, wallpaper technology, and semantic seek for photographs, though all of those run securely on-device. You additionally get Circle to Search, beforehand an unique to Samsung and Google telephones, however now a regular characteristic for brand new Android flagships.
On the gaming aspect, there are two huge new AI upgrades. X Sense AI is a flexible software to assist automate frequent in-game duties, comparable to establishing auto talent upgrades for League of Legends: Wild Rift, cutscene fast-forwarding and operating lock in Genshin Impression. In the meantime X Seize detects huge moments and robotically display screen information for video games like whenever you open Needs in Genshin Impression, or huge fights in Wild Rift. AI Grabber additionally returns from the ROG Telephone 8 sequence, recognizing on-screen textual content which you could then search through an in-app browser to get hints and suggestions as you play.
Like earlier ROG Telephones, you handle your video games and gaming-specific settings within the Armory Crate app. It is right here which you could arrange the AirTriggers for every recreation, and handle an AeroActive Cooler when you have one.
Asus has additionally given customers the choice to make use of the AirTriggers and AniMe Imaginative and prescient lights to play easy video games on the again of the cellphone through the AniMe Play app. So in case you ever get tired of taking part in AAA-standard video games, you may as a substitute play retro-style equivalents of Blockbuster, Snake, a basic shmup or an dino-themed countless runner recreation like you could have seen on a sure browser.
Asus ROG Telephone 9 Professional evaluation: Verdict
Asus has produced one other wonderful gaming cellphone that also manages to cowl all of the fundamentals of a flagship cellphone too. However for all of the ROG Telephone 9 Professional’s strengths, it nonetheless has the identical weaknesses as earlier than — lifeless images, quick software program help, and a excessive worth.
Fortuitously for Asus, the ROG Telephone 9 Professional’s superior efficiency, sharp appears to be like and battery life make it straightforward to advocate for anybody wanting a top-flight Android cellphone, whether or not or not they seem to be a eager cellular gamer. Nonetheless, issues will probably change as we go into 2025, and telephones just like the Galaxy S25 sequence and OnePlus 13 begin to arrive with the identical chipset, and hopefully the identical energy and effectivity, however with better-rounded images and software program options.
Indubitably Asus has obtained the brand new greatest gaming cellphone on its palms with the ROG Telephone 9 Professional. As for its standing as an excellent all-round cellphone, it is undoubtedly forward there in some areas. However as extra competitors emerges, the ROG Telephone might retreat from the focus within the smartphone world again to the RGB-lit battle station the place it feels most at dwelling.
