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The Asus ROG Phone 9 is a powerhouse in the mobile gaming industry, offering cutting-edge features that cater to gamers who demand the best. From its ultra-fast performance to its stunning display, this phone delivers on many fronts, making it an exciting option for gaming enthusiasts. However, while the Asus ROG Phone 9 brings plenty of excessiveness, it falls short in one crucial area: sound quality. In this Asus ROG Phone 9 review, we’ll explore both the remarkable features and the shortcomings of this device to give you a balanced perspective.
A Design That Screams Gaming
The Asus ROG Phone 9 is unapologetically bold in its design. It embraces the gaming aesthetic with a combination of sharp angles, vibrant colors, and an LED light array on the back that can be customized to reflect your style. The build quality is premium, with a sturdy glass back and aluminum frame that adds to the phone’s durability.
At 6.78 inches, the display is large and offers an immersive experience, perfect for gaming sessions and media consumption. The design is slightly bulky, as you’d expect from a gaming phone, but the added size is necessary to house the large battery and cooling components that support extended gaming sessions.
Performance That Is Nothing Short of Exceptional
One of the standout features of the Asus ROG Phone 9 is its performance. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, it is equipped with the most powerful chipset available, ensuring that every game you play runs smoothly at high frame rates. Whether you’re playing resource-heavy games like PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact, or Call of Duty Mobile, this phone can handle it all without breaking a sweat.
The Asus ROG Phone 9 is also paired with up to 16GB of RAM, which means multitasking between apps or gaming while streaming isn’t an issue. The high refresh rate display (up to 165Hz) complements the smooth gameplay experience, providing ultra-fluid visuals that make every action feel immediate and responsive.
In addition, the phone comes with enhanced cooling features, including an active cooling system that prevents the phone from overheating during long gaming sessions. This thermal management ensures that you get consistent performance even when playing graphics-intensive games for hours.
Display That Will Impress Gamers
The display on the Asus ROG Phone 9 is another area where this device shines. With a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen boasting a resolution of 2448 x 1080 pixels, the visuals are crisp and vibrant. The 165Hz refresh rate ensures ultra-smooth gameplay, especially when paired with the fast response times that gamers crave.
Colors pop off the screen, and the black levels are deep, which makes for an immersive gaming experience whether you’re playing in bright or dim lighting. Whether you’re watching movies, playing games, or browsing the web, the display excels in providing rich visuals that enhance every activity.
Impressive Battery Life for Extended Play
For gamers who need a device that can keep up with their extended sessions, the Asus ROG Phone 9 delivers impressive battery life. Equipped with a massive 6,000mAh battery, this phone provides more than enough juice to last through long gaming sessions, ensuring that you’re not constantly looking for a charger.
When you’re not gaming, the Asus ROG Phone 9 lasts a full day of regular use, including web browsing, social media, and media streaming. In addition, the phone supports fast charging, so you can quickly recharge and get back into the action. Thanks to its 65W HyperCharge feature, the device can go from 0 to 100% in less than 45 minutes, making it incredibly convenient for on-the-go gamers.
The Camera System: Capable, But Not a Highlight
While the Asus ROG Phone 9 isn’t primarily focused on photography, it does come with a capable camera system. It features a 50MP main sensor, a 13MP ultrawide camera, and a 5MP macro lens, which can capture decent photos in good lighting conditions. The camera software is robust, providing a variety of shooting modes, including a Pro mode for more advanced users.
However, the camera performance does fall short compared to other flagship smartphones in the market. Low-light performance, in particular, is not as impressive, and the lack of optical zoom limits the versatility of the camera. While it’s sufficient for casual photography, it won’t replace your primary camera for high-quality shots.
Sound Quality: The One Area That Needs Improvement
One of the biggest disappointments with the Asus ROG Phone 9 is its sound quality. While the phone is equipped with front-facing stereo speakers, which typically provide a better experience for gaming and media consumption, the sound quality isn’t up to par for a flagship device.
The speakers can get quite loud, but they lack depth and clarity, particularly in the midrange frequencies. The bass is weak, making the audio experience feel flat, especially when playing games with a dynamic soundscape or watching action-packed movies. This is a notable flaw, considering that sound plays a crucial role in immersive gaming.
To compensate for this, Asus does offer support for high-quality audio through the headphone jack, as well as Bluetooth audio options. If you’re serious about sound quality, investing in a good pair of headphones is recommended, but the built-in speakers leave much to be desired.
Software Experience: A Customized Gaming Hub
The Asus ROG Phone 9 runs on Android 13 with Asus’ ROG UI skin, which is designed with gamers in mind. The software provides various customization options, including the ability to adjust performance settings, monitor system health, and customize the RGB lighting effects on the back of the phone.
The ROG UI also features a gaming mode that blocks notifications and optimizes system performance for uninterrupted gaming. The interface is intuitive, and the added gaming-specific features help enhance the overall experience, making it feel like a phone truly built for gamers.
Price and Value: A Premium Gaming Experience
The Asus ROG Phone 9 is undoubtedly a premium device, and its price reflects that. It’s an expensive option, especially when compared to non-gaming smartphones, but the performance, display, and battery life justify the investment for serious gamers.
However, the subpar sound quality might be a dealbreaker for those who prioritize audio in their mobile gaming and media consumption. If sound quality isn’t a major concern for you, the Asus ROG Phone 9 offers one of the best gaming experiences available in a smartphone.
Final Thoughts: Is the Asus ROG Phone 9 Worth It?
The Asus ROG Phone 9 is undeniably an exceptional device in terms of performance, display, and battery life. It offers a powerful and immersive gaming experience that will satisfy most mobile gamers. However, the lack of quality sound from the front-facing stereo speakers is a significant flaw, especially for those who enjoy a rich, full audio experience during gameplay or media consumption.
If you’re a gamer who values raw performance and isn’t too concerned about sound quality, the Asus ROG Phone 9 will serve you well. But for those who seek a more balanced multimedia experience, it might be worth exploring other options or investing in external audio accessories.