Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Phones
  3. Mobile
  4. News

Asus’s next gaming phone has a very familiar look

Add as a preferred source on Google
The back of the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Asus’ ROG Phone 9 Pro is a powerful, sleek handset that’s optimized for gaming, and now we’ve learned the company plans to release the ROG Phone 9 FE — not from an official source, but from a huge leak that revealed the specs and several images of what the new model will look like.

Here’s what we know so far. The ROG Phone 9 FE is expected to release before the end of 2025, although a more specific launch window isn’t available. The phone is slated to arrive with a 6.78-inch FHD+ display and a maximum brightness of 2,500 nits. That’s more than enough to browse the web or play your favorite mobile game in direct sunlight.

Recommended Videos

The phone is also expected to sport a 165Hz refresh rate (up to 185Hz in Game Genie mode) and Gorilla Glass Victus 2; in other words, the same display as the ROG Phone 9 and 9 Pro. You should expect a slightly downgraded battery of 5,500mAh versus the 5,900mAh in the Phone 9 and 9 Pro, according to 91mobiles.

ROG Phone 9 FE render
91mobiles

The ROG Phone 9 FE isn’t messing around in terms of specs, either. It will run on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, boast 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It will also have a 50MP main camera, a 13MP ultrawide camera, and a 5MP macro camera. The front camera is a whopping 32MP for snagging the perfect selfie. The main spec downgrade is the lack of a telephoto camera lens on the FE.

What kind of gaming phone would it be if it didn’t come with a headphone port? The handset is equipped with a 3.5mm jack, dual-stereo speakers, and is compatible with Wi-Fi 7. You’ll be able to game competitively with this phone with ease, especially if you pair it with a mobile controller. Even if you don’t, its AirTrigger controls (programmable touchpads) make it easy to play with just your phone, no accessory required.

The phone weighs in at 225g and is 163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9mm, and we only know of the Phantom Black color so far. The design remains largely the same as previous iterations, with only a few subtle differences, such as the addition of an “09” script down the side. It appears a version of Asus’s popular ROG Vision rear display will be part of the phone too. Gaming phones have grown in popularity over the last few years, and now you can find plenty of options so that you don’t have to pause Stardew Valley before leaving the house — just take it with you.

Patrick Hearn
Former Technology Writer
Patrick has written about tech for more than 15 years and isn't slowing down anytime soon. With previous clients ranging from…
Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: Everything we know
Though it will feature improvements across the board, the memory crisis might not spare Samsung’s Fold 8 Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is not the phone that reimagines what a foldable looks like. That job belongs to its sibling, the wider-screen Galaxy Z Fold 8; the Ultra is the direct successor to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 instead. It carries forward the same tall, narrow design and the same book-style proportions, for the same audience.

If you've used a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold in the past and think that the shape is perfect for you, the Fold 8 Ultra is exactly the right phone for you. It has a sharper inner display, a substantially larger battery, faster charging, and Samsung's new Flex Titanium display structure, which is designed to minimize the crease that has troubled Samsung's foldables for years.

Read more
Google’s priciest Pixel 11 may bring a smaller battery and a bigger bill
Google’s next Pro Pixels may turn “less for more” into a flagship feature
Rear shell of Google Pixel 10 Pro.

Google’s next flagship phones may ask buyers to accept two changes that rarely sit well together: smaller batteries and higher starting prices. Reliable leaker Roland Quandt claims the Pixel 11 Pro will carry a 4,850mAh battery, while the larger Pixel 11 Pro XL will offer 5,115mAh. The same leak puts their UK prices at £1,079 and £1,279, respectively, for models with 256GB of storage. Google has yet to confirm any of these figures, with the Pixel 11 launch scheduled for August 12.

The Pixel 11 Pro XL gets the roughest deal

Read more
Apple’s new Upgrade plan won’t punish missed payments with restrictions, but three strikes could end your lease
Restricted Mode remains in iOS 27 beta, but Apple says it won’t be used for Upgrade payment defaults
Computer, Electronics, Laptop

Apple recently announced its new Apple Upgrade leasing plan, which lets customers pay monthly for an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch through Klarna. The program replaces the long-running iPhone Upgrade Program and expands the option beyond phones for the first time.

However, code discovered by 9to5Mac in an iOS 27 beta raised concerns about what could happen if someone fell behind on payments. The new App Managed Features system appeared capable of checking a customer’s payment status and placing a financed device into Restricted Mode.

Read more