ASUS tries to tempt Aussie gamers with the ROG Phone 9

Asus’ latest gaming phone, the ROG Phone 9 is heading to Australian shores. Here’s the basic rundown and my early thoughts.

How much does the Asus ROG Phone 9 cost in Australia?

Technically it’s not just the one phone – it’s three models, starting with the Asus ROG Phone 9, then the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro and then the top tier Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro Edition.

Respectively, they’ll retail at $1799, $1999 and $2499, so sitting price-wise rather solidly in the premium space.

When can I buy the ASUS ROG Phone 9 (in its many editions) in Australia?

So, curiously, the release that Asus sent my way detailing it going on pre-order in Australia doesn’t itself list an actual on-sale date.

However, in Australia, it’ll apparently be exclusive to JB Hi-Fi, while in New Zealand it’ll sell through JB Hi-Fi and PB Tech, and JB Hi-Fi Australia states that it’ll be available from the 4th of March 2025.

A quick research stab does show importers already selling units as well, albeit at higher prices than the official RRP. As always, it pays to shop around.

What is the Asus ROG Phone 9?

It’s the successor to the ROG Phone 8 (obvious, no?) which I wrote about here as well as reviewing in full for Gizmodo Australia… which you can’t read any more because that whole archive got taken offline. Sigh.

Without wanting to tread on toes that no longer exist, I quite liked the ROG Phone 8 Pro for dropping some of the most ostentatious “gamer” phone elements of the brand, as well as for its battery life.

The ROG Phone 9 – in its three editions – is essentially more of the same; a very gamer-centric phone with a focus on rapid cooling (because heavy duty Android games can cook phones), high performance and inbuilt “air triggers” for easier gaming action without specifically needing a game controller to speak of.

It also offers an interesting mix of camera choices depending on the model chosen, at least according to the spec sheet that Asus Australia sent my way. If I’m reading that correctly, the regular ROG Phone 9 has dual wide/ultrawide plus macro lens at the back, while the ROG Phone 9 Pro and ROG Phone 9 Pro editions get telephoto lenses.

You also get Asus’ fun (or possibly pointless, it’s very much a feature that I’ve seen described both ways) AniMe Vision mini LED auxiliary display to show animations, details… or just be left off altogether, depending on your tastes.

Alex’s early thoughts

That review that’s no longer live of the prior ROG Phone 8 model concluded with the statement that gaming phones exist in their own niche, and you generally either need their features or you’re better off shopping elsewhere.

At an asking price starting at $1,799, Asus is certainly playing in the premium space, and they’ve bought the big guns to play with. I commented in my Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review only today that it wouldn’t be long before there were other phones rocking the Snapdragon 8 Elite, and unless another brand is particularly quick, Asus will claim that particular accolade.

Where that gets interesting is in precisely how well the ROG Phone’s integrated cooling (and potentially the add-on AeroActive Cooler, if you’re particularly keen) allows the Snapdragon 8 Elite to stretch out its performance wings and really fly.

I’m also cautiously optimistic about its cameras; to be honest Asus has yet to deliver me a truly “flagship” level camera experience in its gaming phones to date, but maybe this will be the one. Maybe.

I’ve asked Asus’ local representatives about the possibility of getting hold of a review unit… so watch this space.

Hit me with the specs

Your wish is my command.

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