ASUS announces its ROG Phone 9 handheld gaming smartphone in Australia

Last year's ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition was a remarkably impressive mobile device. Sure, it was another slab of glass running Android, but ASUS did enough through its secondary display and customisable controls to make it stand apart from the standard mobile crowd.

The new ROG Phone 9, which ASUS has just announced is available for pre-order in Australia, looks to build on this legacy. Because it's 2025, that means there's a big focus on AI.

Unlike the horrors of AI image generation, ASUS has opted for AI gaming features. Depending on the types of games you play and enjoy, these could end up being useful for you:

• X Sense 3.0 leverages AI image recognition to streamline gaming tasks, such as detecting key events and auto-collecting items. The latest 3.0 version auto-upgrades character skills, enabling gamers to unleash their ultimate abilities with ease.
• X Capture 2.0 employs AI image recognition to detect key events and automatically record moments of victory, team fights, and when the user draws character cards in the game.
• AI Grabber 2.0 uses AI for text recognition, making it incredibly easy to search for tips, and now it even supports a translation feature, ensuring smoother communication.
• AI Noise Cancellation uses machine learning to identify different noise frequencies, making it easy for gamers to eliminate unwanted sounds for clear communication during gameplay.

If you don't spend a lot of time gaming on your smartphone, it's unlikely any of those features are going to impress.

But the phone itself still looks solid from a specs perspective. All three models are powered by the 3-nanometer Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile platform, with ASUS designing a unique thermal system to help dissipate heat intelligently.

There is also a new version of the AeroActive Cooler X Pro clip-on fan, that helps really keep heat under control. This year's version also includes a subwoofer for improved sound.

The phone offers a 6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED 185 Hz display, with adaptive refresh rates to save power. Peak brightness scales up to 2500 nits.

The cameras do vary a bit between models. Both have a main 50 MP lens with 6-axis stabilisation and a wide 13MP lens. But the ROG Phone 9 has a 5MP Macro lens, while the Pro and Pro Edition versions offer a 32MP 3x optical zoom lens.

The other area the ROG Phone 9 stands apart is in its combination of the AniMe Vision rear display and the gaming-focused AirTriggers.

The AniMe Vision is a combination of 648 programmable mini-LEDs, allowing users to create custom animations and interactions on their phones. This year, ASUS has added red mini-LEDs, allowing an even deeper level of customisation.

AirTriggers, meanwhile are virtual shoulder buttons designed to let you use your phone more like a game controller. You're still going to be better off using a mobile gaming controller (like the ASUS ROG Tessen, even!) if you're serious about games, but it's still a nice inclusion.

Pricing and availability

The ASUS ROG Phone 9 series is available to pre-order now through JB Hi-Fi and PB Tech. Actual units should hit shelves on 4 March 2025.

Pricing starts at $1,799 for the ROG Phone 9, then jumps to $1,999 for the ROG Phone 9 Pro (512GB) and $2,499 for the ROG Phone Pro Edition (1TB).

Specs: