Skip to main content

Asus’s next gaming phone has a very familiar look

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
Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more. If it's a…
iPhone 17 final look leaks may be what we’re getting
Alleged Render of iPhone 17 Air.

The new iPhone 17 appears to be just ahead of final staging before going into mass production, adding weight to recent leaked images.

Yup, that should mean the image above, along with many leaks similar, are on track to be accurate.

Read more
I tested the Pixel 9a and iPhone 16e’s cameras, and the two almost tied
A person holding the Google Pixel 9a and Apple iPhone 16e.

The Google Pixel 9a’s arch rival, almost regardless of whether you are trying to decide which one to buy, is the Apple iPhone 16e. Just like dogs chase cats, a new Pixel phone will go up against an iPhone in a camera test at some point, and over the past week or so, we’ve worked to answer the question of which phone takes better photos, the Pixel 9a or the iPhone 16e.
The camera specs
Google Pixel 9a (left) and Apple iPhone 16e Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The two phones have very different camera systems. The Google Pixel 9a has a 48-megapixel main camera with an f/1.7 aperture and optical image stabilization (OIS), plus a 13MP wide-angle camera with an f/2.2 aperture and a 120-degree field of view. On the front is a 13MP selfie camera.

Read more
Even the iOS 19 leakers can’t agree on what the next iPhone update will look like
iOS 19 render from FPT YouTube chnanel.

Front Page Tech, the YouTube channel behind some of the most widely discussed iOS 19 leaks, has posted a new video showing off even more renders of the upcoming OS redesign.

The last renders they posted a couple of weeks ago prompted Bloomberg's Mark Gurman to take to X and cast doubt on their accuracy -- a post that he has now reposted in response to the newest video.

Read more