ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro to ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro: Is It Worth Upgrading?
A plain-English look at what actually changes.
Maybe — worth it only if the new features matter to you
The ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro is newer than the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro, and both phones land on almost the same BeastScore (90.8 vs 90.8). The biggest improvements: newer snapdragon 8 elite chipset (replaces snapdragon 8 gen 3), 300 mah bigger battery, smoother display (+20hz refresh rate). Trade-offs to know: 8 gb less ram, launched $100 more expensive.
What you gain with the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro
- Newer Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset (replaces Snapdragon 8 Gen 3)
- 300 mAh bigger battery
- Smoother display (+20Hz refresh rate)
What you give up
- 8 GB less RAM
- Launched $100 more expensive
Head-to-head
| Spec | ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro | ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BeastScore (overall) | 90.8 | 90.8 | No real change |
| Performance score | 95 | 95 | No real change |
| Camera score | 91 | 91 | No real change |
| Battery score | 94 | 94 | No real change |
| Display score | 100 | 100 | No real change |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8 Elite | New generation chip |
| Battery capacity | 5,500 mAh | 5,800 mAh | +300 mAh (5%) |
| Wired charging | 65W | 65W | No real change |
| Wireless charging | 15W | 15W | No real change |
| Screen size | 6.8" | 6.8" | No real change |
| Refresh rate | 165Hz | 185Hz | +20Hz (12%) |
| Peak brightness | 2,500 nits | 2,500 nits | No real change |
| Main camera | 50 MP | 50 MP | No real change |
| Optical zoom | 3x | 3x | No real change |
| RAM | 24 GB | 16 GB | −8 GB (33%) |
| Weight | 225 g | 227 g | No real change |
| Launch price | $1,199 | $1,299 | +$100 (8%) |
Upgrade if…
- You regularly run out of battery before the end of the day
- 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 Pro to ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro: Common Questions
Is it worth upgrading from the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro to the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro?
Maybe — worth it only if the new features matter to you. The ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro is newer than the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro, and both phones land on almost the same BeastScore (90.8 vs 90.8). The biggest improvements: newer snapdragon 8 elite chipset (replaces snapdragon 8 gen 3), 300 mah bigger battery, smoother display (+20hz refresh rate). Trade-offs to know: 8 gb less ram, launched $100 more expensive.
What is the biggest difference between the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro and ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro?
Newer Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset (replaces Snapdragon 8 Gen 3): Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 on the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro vs Snapdragon 8 Elite on the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro.
Does the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro have a bigger battery than the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro?
The ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro has a 5,800 mAh battery versus 5,500 mAh on the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro (+300 mAh (5%)).
Who should upgrade to the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro?
Upgrade if: You regularly run out of battery before the end of the day; 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.