Asus ROG Phone 8 5G Premium Edition Dual SIM TD-LTE US 256GB AI2401 (Asus I2401) to ASUS ROG Phone 9: Is It Worth Upgrading?
A plain-English look at what actually changes.
Yes — the ASUS ROG Phone 9 is a worthwhile upgrade
The ASUS ROG Phone 9 is newer than the Asus ROG Phone 8 5G Premium Edition Dual SIM TD-LTE US 256GB AI2401 (Asus I2401), and the BeastScore rises from 76.4 to 89.5. The biggest improvements: camera rated 31 points higher, display rated 38 points higher, newer snapdragon 8 elite chipset (replaces 0). Trade-offs to know: performance rated 5 points lower, 4 gb less ram.
What you gain with the ASUS ROG Phone 9
- Camera rated 31 points higher
- Display rated 38 points higher
- Newer Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset (replaces 0)
- 300 mAh bigger battery
- Smoother display (+20Hz refresh rate)
What you give up
- Performance rated 5 points lower
- 4 GB less RAM
Head-to-head
| Spec | Asus ROG Phone 8 5G Premium Edition Dual SIM TD-LTE US 256GB AI2401 (Asus I2401) | ASUS ROG Phone 9 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BeastScore (overall) | 76.4 | 89.5 | +13.1 (17%) |
| Performance score | 95 | 90 | −5 (5%) |
| Camera score | 60 | 91 | +31 (52%) |
| Battery score | 92 | 94 | No real change |
| Display score | 62 | 100 | +38 (61%) |
| Chipset | 0 | Snapdragon 8 Elite | New generation chip |
| Battery capacity | 5,500 mAh | 5,800 mAh | +300 mAh (5%) |
| Wired charging | 65W | 65W | No real change |
| Screen size | 6.8" | 6.8" | No real change |
| Refresh rate | 165Hz | 185Hz | +20Hz (12%) |
| RAM | 16 GB | 12 GB | −4 GB (25%) |
| Weight | 225 g | 227 g | No real change |
Upgrade if…
- You regularly run out of battery before the end of the day
- Photo quality is a priority for you
- You play demanding games or want the newest on-device AI features
- You use your phone outdoors a lot and want a brighter, smoother screen
Asus ROG Phone 8 5G Premium Edition Dual SIM TD-LTE US 256GB AI2401 (Asus I2401) to ASUS ROG Phone 9: Common Questions
Is it worth upgrading from the Asus ROG Phone 8 5G Premium Edition Dual SIM TD-LTE US 256GB AI2401 (Asus I2401) to the ASUS ROG Phone 9?
Yes — the ASUS ROG Phone 9 is a worthwhile upgrade. The ASUS ROG Phone 9 is newer than the Asus ROG Phone 8 5G Premium Edition Dual SIM TD-LTE US 256GB AI2401 (Asus I2401), and the BeastScore rises from 76.4 to 89.5. The biggest improvements: camera rated 31 points higher, display rated 38 points higher, newer snapdragon 8 elite chipset (replaces 0). Trade-offs to know: performance rated 5 points lower, 4 gb less ram.
What is the biggest difference between the Asus ROG Phone 8 5G Premium Edition Dual SIM TD-LTE US 256GB AI2401 (Asus I2401) and ASUS ROG Phone 9?
Camera rated 31 points higher: 60 on the Asus ROG Phone 8 5G Premium Edition Dual SIM TD-LTE US 256GB AI2401 (Asus I2401) vs 91 on the ASUS ROG Phone 9.
Does the ASUS ROG Phone 9 have a bigger battery than the Asus ROG Phone 8 5G Premium Edition Dual SIM TD-LTE US 256GB AI2401 (Asus I2401)?
The ASUS ROG Phone 9 has a 5,800 mAh battery versus 5,500 mAh on the Asus ROG Phone 8 5G Premium Edition Dual SIM TD-LTE US 256GB AI2401 (Asus I2401) (+300 mAh (5%)).
Who should upgrade to the ASUS ROG Phone 9?
Upgrade if: You regularly run out of battery before the end of the day; Photo quality is a priority for you; You play demanding games or want the newest on-device AI features; You use your phone outdoors a lot and want a brighter, smoother screen.