ROG Phone 7 to ASUS ROG Phone 9: Is It Worth Upgrading?
A plain-English look at what actually changes, 1 year apart.
Probably not — keep your ROG Phone 7
The ASUS ROG Phone 9 is 1 year newer than the ROG Phone 7, and the BeastScore drops from 90.3 to 89.5. The biggest improvements: camera rated 7 points higher, display rated 4 points higher, newer snapdragon 8 elite chipset (replaces snapdragon 8 gen 2). Trade-offs to know: performance rated 5 points lower, battery rated 4 points lower.
What you gain with the ASUS ROG Phone 9
- Camera rated 7 points higher
- Display rated 4 points higher
- Newer Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset (replaces Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
- Smoother display (+20Hz refresh rate)
- 12 g lighter
What you give up
- Performance rated 5 points lower
- Battery rated 4 points lower
- 200 mAh smaller battery
- 4 GB less RAM
- Launched $100 more expensive
Head-to-head
| Spec | ROG Phone 7 | ASUS ROG Phone 9 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BeastScore (overall) | 90.3 | 89.5 | No real change |
| Performance score | 95 | 90 | −5 (5%) |
| Camera score | 84 | 91 | +7 (8%) |
| Battery score | 98 | 94 | −4 (4%) |
| Display score | 96 | 100 | +4 (4%) |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Snapdragon 8 Elite | New generation chip |
| Battery capacity | 6,000 mAh | 5,800 mAh | −200 mAh (3%) |
| Wired charging | 65W | 65W | 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 |
| RAM | 16 GB | 12 GB | −4 GB (25%) |
| Weight | 239 g | 227 g | −12 g (5%) |
| Launch price | $999 | $1,099 | +$100 (10%) |
Upgrade if…
- 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
ROG Phone 7 to ASUS ROG Phone 9: Common Questions
Is it worth upgrading from the ROG Phone 7 to the ASUS ROG Phone 9?
Probably not — keep your ROG Phone 7. The ASUS ROG Phone 9 is 1 year newer than the ROG Phone 7, and the BeastScore drops from 90.3 to 89.5. The biggest improvements: camera rated 7 points higher, display rated 4 points higher, newer snapdragon 8 elite chipset (replaces snapdragon 8 gen 2). Trade-offs to know: performance rated 5 points lower, battery rated 4 points lower.
What is the biggest difference between the ROG Phone 7 and ASUS ROG Phone 9?
Camera rated 7 points higher: 84 on the ROG Phone 7 vs 91 on the ASUS ROG Phone 9.
Does the ASUS ROG Phone 9 have a bigger battery than the ROG Phone 7?
The ASUS ROG Phone 9 has a 5,800 mAh battery versus 6,000 mAh on the ROG Phone 7 (−200 mAh (3%)).
Who should upgrade to the ASUS ROG Phone 9?
Upgrade if: 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.