ROG has officially announced the latest ROG Phone 9 series of smartphones so if you would like one of the best and longest-running gaming smartphone lineup in the market for let’s say, Christmas, then perhaps this MIGHT be the “excuse” to pull the trigger when it arrives in Malaysia.
So to start, there are 3 options to choose from as the title mentioned – the base version ROG Phone 9, the ROG Phone 9 Pro continuing the legacy of packing loads of LEDs which is 648pcs for the AniMe Vision (Not Matrix, but Vision eh) this time around, and the ROG Phone 9 Pro Edition which includes the former + the new AeroActive Cooler X Pro as a bundle. Yes, the naming for the latter two is a bit confusing.
The immediate visual feedback of futuristic design combined with practical functionality is quite strong, especially with the Pro model’s customizable AniMe Vision display – those 648 programmable mini-LEDs create some stunning animations and let me personalize my visual effects. The matte finish feels premium in my hands and seems built to last, which is exactly what I want as a gamer.
Speaking of gaming, let’s talk performance. I’m excited to see that every model in the series comes with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. To keep things running cool, they’ve equipped these phones with the ROG GameCool 9 cooling system.
The AI features have really enhanced my gaming experience
- X Sense 3.0 helps me spot crucial gaming moments
- X Capture 2.0 automatically records my key gameplay moments
- AI Grabber 2.0 makes communication smoother with text recognition and translation
- The AI Noise Cancellation keeps my voice crystal clear during gaming sessions
I’m particularly fond of the AirTrigger system, which has been a staple since the first ROG Phone. These touch panels on the top corners feel just like shoulder buttons on my gaming controller. For extra control, I can add the AeroActive Cooler X Pro (sold separately) for active cooling and two more buttons, or even install the ROG Tessen.
The specs are impressive – I’m looking at an E6 AMOLED screen with up to 185Hz refresh rate, triple cameras with a 6-axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer 3.0, and OZO Audio Technology with wind noise reduction. The battery’s been upgraded to an equivalent of 5,800mAh, and I can get up to 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.
As for availability and price, it is still TBA for Malaysia so gotta wait out for a couple of weeks. In the meantime, if you would like some live shots of the ROG Phone 9 Pro Edition, then check out this video.
