The Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro: A Gamer’s Dream That Might Just Be Overkill for Everyone Else
Let me start by saying this: the ROG Phone 9 Pro isn’t a phone – it’s a portable gaming console that happens to make calls. And after two months with it, I’ve got some strong opinions.
That Screen: Butter Meets Fireworks
That 165Hz AMOLED display isn’t just numbers on a page. Scrolling through TikTok feels like flipping through silk sheets, and playing Genshin Impact at max settings is like watching a Michael Bay movie in your palm. But here’s the kicker – it’s too much for normal use. Your eyes adjust to that buttery smoothness, and suddenly even 120Hz phones feel choppy. It’s like upgrading from economy to first class – there’s no going back.
Peak brightness hits 2,500 nits? In real life, that means you can actually see your screen at noon in direct sunlight without doing the “phone cupping shuffle.” But that Samsung E6 panel has a dark side – literally. Blacks are so deep in night mode, I swear I lost my cursor twice.
Performance: Overkill or Future-Proof?
The Snapdragon 8 Elite chip with 24GB RAM isn’t just fast – it’s obnoxiously fast. I ran PUBG Mobile, Netflix, and 35 Chrome tabs simultaneously… and the phone yawned. But here’s the truth: unless you’re live-streaming your gameplay while rendering 8K video in the background, you’ll never touch its limits. That active cooling system? It works (no more sweaty palms during marathon sessions), but the fan whine sounds like a mosquito convention when it kicks in.
Battery Life: The Jekyll and Hyde
With normal use – texts, emails, the occasional YouTube video – the 5,800mAh battery lasts two full days. But crank up the 165Hz display for gaming? You’re charging by dinner. The 65W charging helps (0-80% in 30 mins), but where’s the wireless charging? For a phone this premium, that omission stings like forgetting your controller’s charged.
Camera: Good Enough, But…
That 50MP Sony sensor takes decent shots – landscapes pop, food photos look edible, and the 3x optical zoom is surprisingly usable. But compared to a Pixel or iPhone? Low-light shots get grainy faster than a ’90s sitcom rerun. The 32MP selfie cam is solid for Twitch streaming, though – just don’t expect TikTok magic.
The Elephant in the Room: Design
At 227g, this thing feels like a gaming device. The air triggers are genius (think console-style shoulder buttons), but the angular design digs into your palm during long sessions. And that RGB logo on the back? It’s like wearing gaming headphones to a job interview – cool if you’re 16, awkward if you’re 35.
Who Should Buy This?
- Mobile gamers who want desktop-level performance
- Power users who need a device that laughs at multitasking
- Tech enthusiasts who want to future-proof for 3+ years
Who Should Skip It?
- Casual users – this is like buying a Ferrari for grocery runs
- Photography nerds – the cameras are good, not great
- Minimalists – the gamer aesthetic screams “look at me!”
The Jeffrey Verdict
Here’s the raw truth: I love this phone, but I wouldn’t buy it. The performance thrills me like finding an extra chicken nugget in your box, but the bulk and gaming-focused design make it a specialist tool, not a daily driver. If you’re the type who carries a separate Switch for commutes? This is your holy grail. For everyone else? There are better all-rounders. But man, that screen…
