The ASUS ROG Phone 9 FE is pitched as a no-compromise gaming phone that also doubles as a high-end daily driver. It blends cutting-edge performance with gaming-focused features, AI integrations, and thoughtful cooling enhancements. But does it hold up under pressure, especially when expectations are set high? Can a phone built for play become your go-to daily driver? Let’s break it down in this review.
ROG Phone 9 FE Specifications
- Display: 6.78-inch FHD+ Samsung E6 AMOLED, 185Hz refresh rate, 720Hz touch sampling rate, Delta-E < 1, peak brightness 2500 nits, HDR10+ support
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm)
- RAM: 12GB LPDDR5X
- Storage: 256GB UFS 4.0
- Rear Cameras: 50MP Sony IMX890 main, 13MP ultrawide, 5MP macro
- Selfie Camera: 32MP RGBW with 90° FoV
- Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C (side + bottom), NFC
- Other Features: IP68 rating, AirTriggers, AeroActive Cooler X Pro support, 6-axis gimbal stabilization, dual front-facing speakers
- OS: Android 14 with ROG UI
- Battery and Fast Charge Tech: 5500mAh, 65W wired fast charging, 15W wireless charging
- Colors: Phantom Black, Storm White
Design and Construction
Gone are the flashy LED lights and heavy gamer aesthetics. The ROG Phone 9 FE still hints at its gaming roots with a bold rear design and subtle geometric elements, but it now looks much more refined. It’s slimmer and lighter than past models, and more comfortable to use one-handed despite the large screen.
Let’s look at the sides. The bottom has the USB-C port in the corner, the microphone, the SIM tray, the bottom-firing speaker, and a 3.5mm audio jack. ASUS remains as one of the very few mobile brands in the world to put this feature on higher-end phones.
Antenna bands are all over the phone, and the top part has a small hole for an active noise-cancelling microphone.
The side-mounted USB-C port remains—a practical inclusion for charging while gaming.
The right side has the lock/power and volume keys, as well as mappable airtriggers on the corners.
It’s also the first Fan Edition model with an IP68 rating. That means it can withstand dust, splashes, and quick dunks in water, offering added peace of mind.
The build quality is excellent. The frame feels sturdy, and the matte finish on the back resists fingerprints well. The camera bump is understated and symmetrical. Overall, it doesn’t just look like a gaming phone anymore—it looks like a flagship.
Display and Audio
ASUS continues to push screen tech on the ROG series, and the ROG Phone 9 FE gets one of its best yet. The 6.78-inch AMOLED panel supports a 165Hz refresh rate by default, but this can be overclocked to 185Hz in Game Genie. That’s a level of responsiveness few phones can match, useful in high-paced games and touch-intensive apps.
More than speed, it’s the quality of the panel that stands out. It’s bright enough for outdoor use, color-accurate with Delta-E < 1, and supports HDR10+ for rich contrast. Whether watching Netflix titles or editing photos and videos on your phone, it holds up really well.
The audio experience has also leveled up. Dual speakers tuned by Dirac deliver strong stereo output. Plug in the AeroActive Cooler X Pro and you get a dedicated subwoofer that adds noticeable depth. It’s surprisingly loud and full-bodied for a phone. The default hard TPU case included in the standard box aids in helping make the bottom-firing speaker sound go to the front instead for a more spatial experience.
There’s also support for aptX Lossless and Dirac Virtuo for spatial audio when using headphones. Even Bluetooth headsets benefit from ASUS’ tuning. Audiophiles are lucky to still have a 3.5mm audio jack on this phone, which means they can
Camera
Gaming phones rarely shine in camera performance, but the ROG Phone 9 FE offers a solid triple camera setup. The 50MP Sony IMX890 main sensor takes sharp, very detailed shots with good color accuracy. ASUS’ image processing is cleaner this year—photos feel more natural with better contrast.
The 13MP ultrawide lens performs well in daylight and has reduced distortion thanks to a freeform lens design. It’s less useful at night, but still a welcome inclusion. The 5MP macro is there for close-ups but won’t replace your main lens. When capturing using the rear cameras, I appreciated that the phone alerts me when my shots seem to be blurry. In fact, this happens a lot so I guess the phone became a bit sensitive and it’s not meant for fast-paced action shots.
Up front, the 32MP RGBW selfie camera improves low-light shots and supports a 90° field of view for wide group selfies. You can switch between standard and ultrawide views depending on your setup.
Where the phone surprises is in stabilization. The 6-axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer 3.0 offers up to ±3 degrees of movement correction, helping to keep both video and stills stable. Combine that with EIS and you get very usable handheld footage, even when walking. It’s also one of the only phones available locally to record 8K footage right from the get-go, but the stabilization works well more when you lower your resolution.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 inside the ROG Phone 9 FE is no slouch—it’s one of the fastest chips on Android, and here it’s paired with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage. Apps launch quickly, multitasking is smooth, and the phone rarely breaks a sweat.
Gaming is where it shines. Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, Call of Duty Mobile, and Diablo Immortal all run at near max settings. However, not all games unlock the full 120–165fps potential, as some titles like PUBG Mobile are still capped at 60fps due to developer-side restrictions.
Thermals are well managed thanks to the GameCool 360° cooling system and optional AeroActive Cooler X Pro. The latter now includes larger fan blades and improved contact with the vapor chamber. It also adds two physical buttons for extra control.
The phone ships with Android 14 and the usual ROG UI, which includes Game Genie, Armoury Crate, and a set of customizable themes. You can switch to Zen UI for a more stock experience if preferred.
It also comes with a range of AI-driven features designed to assist in gaming, communication, and productivity. While some of these are genuinely useful, others may feel situational depending on the user.
- X Sense 3.0: This uses image recognition to detect important in-game events and can trigger automated responses, like collecting loot or activating a skill. It works well in supported games like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and gives a competitive edge in complex scenarios. However, its utility is limited by the number of titles it supports.
- X Capture 2.0: Automatically captures key gameplay moments such as team fights or wins. It’s useful for streamers and those who like to share clips, but the feature can be inconsistent, occasionally missing crucial highlights.
- AI Grabber 2.0: Extracts text from games for quick lookups or translation. It performs reliably in games with stable text rendering, though its usefulness depends on whether you often need in-game data outside the HUD.
- AI Call Translator: Offers real-time translation during voice calls. It’s a unique feature that works well in clear, one-on-one conversations, but accuracy drops in noisy environments or with multiple speakers.
- AI Transcript: Converts spoken content into written text and generates summaries. In our testing, it handled meeting notes accurately, although long sessions sometimes produced redundant lines in the summary.
- Semantic Search: Allows natural language search queries across settings and local content. It’s fast and helpful for finding toggles or specific photos, but phrasing your query right is important—it struggles with vague or complex prompts.
- AI Wallpaper: Dynamically generates personalized wallpapers, including options like the ROG Fearless Eyes. This is more of a cosmetic perk than a productivity tool, though it adds a touch of customization for fans of the ROG aesthetic.
Overall, ASUS has expanded its AI suite to cover gaming, system navigation, and content generation. Most of the features work as advertised, but their actual value depends on your habits. Gamers and power users may find X Sense and AI Grabber particularly helpful, while average users may lean more on Semantic Search and AI Transcript.
Future-proofing with connectivity is strong with 5G, Wi-Fi 7, and dual USB-C ports (bottom and side). NFC, VoLTE, and dual SIM support are also onboard.
Battery and Charging
The ROG Phone 9 FE is equipped with a 5500mAh battery—enough for full-day usage even with gaming mixed in. In moderate use, we got 7–8 hours of screen time, with around 3 hours of heavy gaming possible before needing a recharge.
Charging is fast with the included 65W HyperCharge adapter, going from 0 to 100% in around 43 minutes. There’s also 15W wireless charging, a first for the Fan Edition. Battery care features like scheduled charging and bypass charging when gaming for longer periods of time are also present.
The Rundown
The ROG Phone 9 FE is for power users who want more than just a gaming phone. It’s for those who need top-tier performance for games but also care about battery life, camera quality, and day-to-day practicality.
If you’re someone who spends hours on mobile games but also relies on your phone for meetings, multitasking, content creation, and media consumption, this device strikes the balance. It’s also ideal for Android enthusiasts who appreciate hardware extras like air triggers, extensive cooling support, and AI-assisted tools that go beyond gaming. Gamers will still get what they came for, but so will everyone else.
The ASUS ROG Phone 9 FE is available at ASUS and ROG concept stores, authorized dealers, and online stores for PHP 39,995.
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