We analyzed 289 verified reviews from actual users of the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro. Our method goes beyond simple star ratings to understand real-world experiences. We identify every time a user mentions a specific part of the phone, like its performance, screen, camera, battery, software, design, and overall value.
We then run a sentiment analysis on these comments, classifying each as positive, negative, or neutral. This process generates a precise satisfaction score for every aspect of the phone. The result is a clear, data-driven view of its biggest wins and most critical failures, according to the people who use it every day.
💰 Value for Money: Elite Power, Hidden Costs
For a specialized device like the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro, assessing its value for money is a complex equation of raw power versus practical cost.
While a majority of owners feel the high price is warranted, a deep dive into the user experience reveals a story of brilliant performance being undermined by frustrating omissions that create unexpected costs and hassles.
Performance and Satisfaction
The core of the positive sentiment stems from a powerful satisfaction with the phone’s capabilities relative to its price, a factor that scores an impressive 81% in our hidden data.
For these users, the phone isn’t just a communication device; it’s a top-tier gaming rig that justifies its cost by delivering an experience mainstream flagships can’t match. As one user who switched from a top competitor explained:
I bought it because my old phone, the S23 Ultra, couldn’t run demanding games for much more than 10 minutes before getting choppy. I’m trying out new games and it’s great, runs everything no problem.
This sentiment is echoed by another who simply states:
This is clearly an enthusiast phone for someone who doesn’t want a run-of-the-mill iPhone or Samsung.
For this crowd, paying a premium for the “best gaming phone ever” is a price they are happy to pay.
Unexpected Costs and Frustrations
However, this satisfaction is significantly tarnished by a major point of frustration: unexpected costs and missing items. This factor scores a dismal 16% positive sentiment, a full 5 points below the category average. This isn’t just a minor inconvenience; it’s a fundamental break in the premium experience.
Buyers feel let down when a high-priced device requires immediate additional spending on essentials. One user’s frustration is palpable:
Why can’t Asus Provide a Special Discount For Aerocooler For New Buyer, or Free Cooler For ROG 9PRO?
Others point out the practical difficulties that follow, noting that “all accessories also [are] hard to find.” This leaves buyers feeling short-changed, as one put it:
we have to look for (and pay) the competition for the necessary means to charge the battery.
Upgrade Justification
The value proposition becomes even more nuanced when looking at owners upgrading from a previous model. The factor of Upgrade Justification scores 59% positive sentiment, a significant 9-point leap over the 50% who felt the upgrade to its predecessor was worthwhile.
This indicates that the performance gains in the new model are tangible and meaningful enough to sway existing fans. For these users, the new features offer a clear advantage, with one owner calling it:
the biggest upgrade of my phone… Call Of Duty Mobile [is] very, very smooth.
This suggests that while new customers may be put off by the out-of-the-box costs, loyal users who understand the ecosystem are more convinced by the raw power increase.
Trade-Off: The Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro delivers an elite performance that enthusiasts feel justifies the high price, but this value is compromised by the frustrating and costly reality of missing essential accessories.
📸 Camera: Low Light, High Frustration
For the camera on the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro, user experience is a story of surprising strengths and profound disappointments. While a gaming phone isn’t expected to lead the pack in photography, a closer look at the data reveals a complex picture of progress in some areas and baffling regressions in others.
Low-Light and Stabilization Strengths
The most pleasant surprise for owners is the phone’s capability in the dark. With a low-light performance score of 64%, it actually edges out the category average of 61%. This dramatic improvement turns a former weakness into a genuine highlight, leading to moments of unexpected delight.
As one user put it, they were
pleasantly surprised by the night photos,
while another noted that it
handles low light frighteningly well.
This is powerfully complemented by what many describe as phenomenal video stabilization. The practical effect is transformative, with one parent marveling,
The mechanical image stabilization is amazing. I chased my daughter running and everyone I showed it to thought a drone recorded it.
For users capturing action, this feature alone is a huge win.
Core Image Quality Concerns
However, these standout features are propping up a foundation with significant cracks. The phone’s core image and video quality score of 58% lags a staggering 20 points behind the category average of 78%. This is the source of the deepest user frustration, a feeling that the camera simply doesn’t belong on a premium device.
The disappointment is palpable in reviews, with one owner bluntly stating,
The camera is a disaster – I had an S22U before and it took better pictures.
Others point to specific technical failings, noting,
The phone has a tendency to over-sharpen photos, which creates a lot of noise and loss of detail,
ultimately concluding that
the camera continues to be the weakest element.
A Puzzling Comparison to its Predecessor
The comparison to its predecessor, the ROG Phone 8 Pro, reveals a clear, if puzzling, strategic shift. Asus has made a monumental leap in low-light performance, which scored an abysmal 0% on the previous model.
The jump to 64% on the ROG Phone 9 Pro is a massive, tangible improvement that users notice and appreciate. Overall image quality also saw a modest 6-point bump from 52% to 58%, prompting one returning customer to declare the camera
sensational, much better than in the 8.
Yet, in a bizarre turn, satisfaction with camera features and modes has plummeted from 75% on the ROG Phone 8 Pro to just 57% on this new model. This has left users feeling a loss of control, with one complaining,
It’s annoying not to be able to select the desired megapixels.
Trade-Off: While the ROG Phone 9 Pro delivers game-changing video stabilization and a massive leap forward in low-light capability, these advancements come at the cost of essential camera features and a core image quality that leaves it far behind its flagship competitors.
📱 Screen: Smoothness Over Quality
When evaluating the screen of the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro, users tell a story of stark contrasts. The undeniable highlight is its exceptional smoothness, a feature that earns an 81% positive score and surpasses the category average of 75%.
For its core gaming audience, this is a powerful draw. The high refresh rate isn’t just a number on a spec sheet; it is a tangible benefit that makes the experience feel premium, with one owner reporting the phone is:
with 165Hz always buttery smooth in everyday use.
For some, this feature alone was the deciding factor, as a buyer explained, “the 185hz were what made me choose to buy it.”
Frustrating Usability Issues
However, this stellar fluidity is severely undermined by frustrating issues with the display’s fundamental usability. Touchscreen responsiveness is a significant source of user pain, scoring a low 40% positive sentiment, which is slightly below the already lackluster category average of 43%.
This isn’t a minor annoyance; it manifests as severe usability problems that make a premium device feel unreliable. One user described their frustration vividly:
it happened to me that the touch went crazy, clicking things randomly for a few minutes.
This unreliability extends to biometrics, with another user stating that the display has “serious difficulty recognizing the fingerprint,” a problem that occurs “even without, and worse, with a screen protector.”
A Major Downgrade in Visuals
This disappointment is amplified for users familiar with the series, as the ROG Phone 9 Pro represents a startling regression from its predecessor in core visual quality. The ROG Phone 8 Pro boasted an impressive 91% positive rating for display quality and vibrancy, a figure that has plummeted by a massive 28 points to just 63% on the new model.
This score is also a full 20 points below the category average of 83%. This downgrade is felt in practice, with users complaining that the upgrade feels like a compromise that sacrifices a previously celebrated feature.
screen is also not optimal, because it’s not yet 1B or 68B color
Trade-Off: Users gain a class-leading refresh rate for unparalleled gaming fluidity but must accept significant compromises in touch reliability and a noticeable step down in overall display quality compared to its own predecessor.
🎨 Design: Looks Versus Utility
The design of the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro tells a story of conflicting priorities. While users are captivated by its visual flair, their satisfaction is significantly pulled down by frustrating functional omissions.
The phone’s aesthetic appeal is its strongest design element, earning an 81% positive sentiment, which is well above the category average of 69%. Users feel it stands out from the crowd. One praised the phone’s unique look:
lighting and customization effect that is really top-notch.
Another noted how its distinct style sets it apart from more conventional phones:
colors and style (major Zune energy).
This unique identity is a clear win for those tired of mainstream looks.
Practical Design Flaws
This visual praise is sharply contrasted by deep user frustration with the phone’s features and practical design choices. This area scored a dismal 31% positive rating, a full 9 points below the category average of 40%.
The repeated removal of expected hardware is a major source of this discontent. As one user lamented about the lack of expandable storage:
Unfortunately, there is also no MicroSD slot.
Another stated bluntly:
It just lacks a microSD card slot.
This frustration extends to included accessories, with users complaining that the design forces a trade-off with the included cooler:
having the cooler & wanting to be able to use it occasionally means having to use the included case and losing customization options.
A Step Backward From Its Predecessor
This annoyance with design changes becomes even clearer when compared to its predecessor, the ROG Phone 8 Pro. While the new model’s handling and size saw a slight improvement with a 4-point increase in positive sentiment (69% vs 65%), the crucial score for design features actually decreased from 35% to 31%.
This indicates that Asus has taken a step backward in an area where users were already feeling the pinch, sacrificing functional staples that buyers in this category expect for a form factor that, while more comfortable, feels incomplete.
Trade-Off: Users get a visually unique and stylish phone but must accept significant compromises in practical features like expandable storage and accessory compatibility.
🔥 Performance: Power, Heat, Regression
When it comes to the performance of the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro, users describe an experience of two extremes. The phone is lauded for its raw speed, yet this power comes with a significant and frustrating caveat. The core story is one of world-class processing capabilities being actively undermined by a critical thermal flaw.
Exceptional Processing Power
The foundation of the ROG Phone 9 Pro’s praise is its exceptional processing power and speed, which achieved a 93% positive sentiment score—a full 10 points above the category average. This isn’t just benchmark-beating power; it’s a tangible, real-world advantage that users feel every day.
Owners describe a device where “the performance is never the bottleneck,” making everything from intense multitasking to daily social media browsing feel effortless. For many, this translates into a feeling of having a desktop-class machine in their pocket, as one user noted:
It does the work of a computer at your fingertips, an unparalleled experience and comfort.
This immense capability allows the phone to “run everything no problem,” fulfilling its promise as a top-tier powerhouse.
Serious Thermal Flaws
However, this raw power generates a significant amount of heat, and the phone’s ability to manage it is its biggest weakness. Thermal management scored a dismal 35% in positive sentiment, meaning nearly two-thirds of user mentions were negative.
This isn’t just an issue during marathon gaming sessions; users are frustrated by overheating during mundane activities. One owner reported:
A 700 euro phone can’t get very hot after just half an hour of use with YouTube or a fifteen-minute phone call.
The problem is frequently made worse by the very accessories meant to protect the device, as another user explained:
The phone overheats… which, mixed with a case, which I think everyone uses, amplifies the problem.
A Step Backward From The Predecessor
This thermal issue becomes even more pronounced when looking at the phone’s predecessor. While the new model excels in gaming performance, scoring 91%, its predecessor, the ROG Phone 8 Pro, was surprisingly much better at handling heat, with a 52% positive score for thermal management.
The new 9 Pro’s score of 35% represents a startling 17-point drop-off, a major regression that dedicated fans of the brand are sure to notice.
For users upgrading, the expectation is for across-the-board improvements, but on this critical factor, the new model is a clear step backward, trading effective cooling for its raw power.
Trade-Off: The ROG Phone 9 Pro offers a blistering, top-tier processing experience, but buyers must accept a significant thermal management regression that makes the device uncomfortably hot even during casual use.
🤖 Software & OS: AI Brilliance, Stability Blight
The Software and Operating System on the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro tells a story of conflicting priorities, where exciting, forward-looking features are built upon a shaky and unreliable foundation.
While users are genuinely delighted by new AI capabilities, their enthusiasm is consistently dampened by deep-seated issues with stability and a questionable long-term update policy.
Innovative AI Features
The brightest spot in the software experience is undoubtedly the phone’s suite of AI features, which scores a 73% positive sentiment, surpassing the category average of 69%.
This isn’t just a gimmick; users feel it provides tangible value in their daily lives. Owners praise features like the phone’s ability to:
“unleash its full potential, like the ability to instantly translate a page by simply pressing your finger.”
Others appreciate:
“the possibility of modifying photos very easily thanks to the integrated AI in the gallery.”
These features demonstrate a clear step forward, giving users powerful tools that feel both modern and useful.
Unacceptable Instability
However, this innovation is severely crippled by the phone’s alarming lack of stability. With a positive score of just 19% for software stability and issues—a full 8 points below the already-poor category average of 27%—users are experiencing significant and frustrating problems.
The issues range from annoying bugs to catastrophic failures. For instance, one user reported that…
“in this latest update, WhatsApp voice messages sound distorted.”
Another experienced a complete system failure where…
“an Android update crashes the phone.”
The most damning aspect for a premium device is the company’s update policy, which one user described as…
“the short update supply of only two full OS-upgrades… [which] is really not justifiable for the price.”
This policy creates a sense of built-in obsolescence that undermines user trust and the device’s long-term value.
Predecessor Comparison
This creates a frustrating comparison with its predecessor, the ROG Phone 8 Pro. While the new model’s AI features represent a massive 23-point improvement over the previous generation, the core experience has stagnated or even regressed.
The critical factor of software stability has only crept up by 5 points from the predecessor’s abysmal 14%, showing a persistent failure to address fundamental flaws. More concerningly, the day-to-day user experience and UI smoothness has actually dropped, with the ROG Phone 9 Pro scoring 66% compared to the 8 Pro’s 71%.
This means that despite the new AI bells and whistles, users may find the basic interface less polished than the phone it replaces.
Trade-Off: Users must decide if the genuinely impressive AI features are worth the significant gamble on a buggy system with a short and uncompetitive update lifespan.
🔋 Battery: Peak Performance, Fleeting Life
The battery performance of the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro tells a tale of two extremes: exceptional daily power that delights users, shadowed by significant concerns about its long-term health. The core of user satisfaction is driven by its outstanding day-to-day battery life, which earns an 87% positive sentiment score—a full 13 points above the category average.
This isn’t just a number; it represents a tangible freedom from a power outlet. Users describe it as being “perfect for long gaming sessions” and are consistently impressed by its endurance under heavy use.
The battery has received 5 stars with honors from me because after 8 hours of intense use (YouTube, streaming radio, social media, etc.) it lost only about 30%.
For many, this translates to true multi-day use, with one person stating the battery “easily lasts for two days.”
Long-Term Health Concerns
However, this impressive daily performance masks a significant weakness: the battery’s long-term health and durability. With a positive sentiment score of just 27%, this factor falls a staggering 17 points below the category average of 44%. This score reflects a deep-seated fear that the phone’s impressive initial stamina is a temporary illusion.
This anxiety is fueled by reports of premature failure, with one user lamenting, “It hasn’t even been 2 years of use but the battery is already damaged.” Another user reinforced this fear, stating, “most problems come after more than one year of use, namely a swollen battery.”
The frustration is compounded by the practical difficulty and cost of fixing the issue, as a reviewer noted that “the battery is hard to find and replacement costs a considerable amount.”
Predecessor Comparison
This dilemma is thrown into even sharper relief when compared to its predecessor, the ROG Phone 8 Pro. Asus has clearly focused on improving daily use, boosting satisfaction with battery life by 7 points and dramatically improving sentiment around charging methods by 23 points (from 33% to 56%), thanks to the addition of new features.
Very happy to see wireless charging was added.
Yet, this progress has come at a severe cost. Satisfaction with the battery’s long-term health has plummeted by 23 points compared to the previous model, dropping from a respectable 50% for the ROG Phone 8 Pro to the current low of 27%.
This stark regression suggests to users that short-term performance has been prioritized over the long-term reliability they had come to expect.
Trade-Off: Users gain class-leading daily endurance and modern charging conveniences at the deeply concerning cost of long-term battery health and reliability.
Bottom Line
- ✅ Raw gaming performance is exceptional, scoring 93% positive sentiment in processing power.
- ⚠️ Crippling usability flaws undermine its power, with software stability scoring just 19% positive and severe thermal issues (35% positive) making the phone uncomfortably hot.
- 🔻 It feels like a downgrade in key areas, with display quality satisfaction plummeting 28 points from its predecessor.
- 📉 It’s a step back in reliability; long-term battery health satisfaction dropped by 23 points and thermal management fell by 17 points compared to the ROG 8 Pro.
- 🏁 Lags far behind rivals in key areas, with core camera quality scoring a poor 58%—a full 20 points below the flagship category average.
- 💡 For hardcore gaming enthusiasts only, who are willing to trade everyday reliability, camera quality, and long-term health for best-in-class raw performance.