ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro vs REDMAGIC 9 Pro: Spec Comparison
Two of arguably the most reputable gaming powerhouses in the mobile gaming industry has unleashed their contenders for 2024. The ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro and REDMAGIC 9 Pro will give even high-level gamers a headache deciding which to invest in, seeing that both promises unparalleled gaming experience.
When deciding between two titans of the industry, a small feature, or a feature done slightly better, can set the difference.
If you’re in the hot seat and still can’t make up your mind, here’s how the ROG Phone 8 Pro and REDMAGIC 9 Pro stacks up against each other.
| ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro | REDMAGIC 9 Pro | |
| Price | RM4,799 – 16GB+512GB | RM3,699 – 12GB+256GB (Sleet) RM4,499 – 16GB+512GB (Cyclone, Snowfall) |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| Display | 6,78″ LTPO AMOLED, FHD+ (2400x1080p), 165Hz refresh rate, 720Hz touch sampling rate, 2,500nits, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | 6.8″ AMOLED, FHD+ (2480x1116p), 120Hz refresh rate, 960Hz touch sampling rate, 1,600nits, Gorilla Glass 5, Fully flat display |
| Battery & Charging | 5,500mAh; 65W wired, 15W wireless | 6,500mAh; 80W wired |
| Shoulder Triggers | Yes; AirTrigger | Yes; 520Hz touch sampling rate |
| Cooling System | GameCool 8; AeroActive Cooler (external) | ICE 13.0 vapour chamber; High-speed Turbofan (22,000rpm) |
| Speakers | Stereo Speakers | Stereo Speakers; DTS: X ULTRA |
| 3.5mm Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi & Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Protection Rating | IP68 | N/A |
| Fingerprint Sensor | In-display | In-display |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Rear Camera | 50MP IMX890 main w/ Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer + 32MP telephoto w/ 3x optical zoom and OIS + 13MP ultrawide | 50MP wide w/ OIS + 50MP ultrawide + 2MP macro |
| Front Camera | 32MP, punch-hole | 16MP, under-display |
Design
REDMAGIC 9 Pro: When it comes to aesthetics, the REDMAGIC 9 Pro is unabashedly a gaming phone. It comes in three designs: Sleet (black) that’s available only for the 12GB+256GB variant; as well as Cyclone (black with gold accents) and Snowfall (white), both exclusive to the 16GB+512GB variant. All three variants sport customizable RGB lighting on its back panels.
ROG Phone 8 Pro: The ROG Phone 8 Pro, on the other hand, has what ASUS calls AniMe Vision, which are programmable mini-LED lights that aside from customizable animations, can display battery percentage, time, and notifications. ASUS disguises its AniMe LEDs quite well though, so if that’s shut off, the ROG Phone 8 Pro will look like any other device with a plain black panel.
Processor and RAM
Despite the differences in appearance, they both rely on the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 flagship chipset for performance.
The ideal scenario will always be the option with the bigger RAM. Considering that, the 16GB+512GB memory variant of the REDMAGIC 9 Pro is slightly cheaper compared to that of the ROG Phone 8 Pro. Nevertheless, if you feel the 16GB RAM is unnecessary, you can always opt for the significantly cheaper 12GB+256GB REDMAGIC 9 Pro for RM3,699, or the base ASUS ROG Phone 8 (12GB+256GB) that retails at RM3,999.
Display
REDMAGIC 9 Pro: The REDMAGIC 9 Pro has a 6.8″ AMOLED fully flat display with Full HD+ (2480x1116p) resolution and 1,600nits peak brightness. It has 120Hz refresh rates, with a 960Hz touch sampling rate to go with. Since it lacks an LTPO panel, the REDMAGIC does not have adaptive refresh rates.
ROG Phone 8 Pro: On the other hand, the ROG Phone 8 Pro has a 6.78″ LTPO AMOLED 1080p display with a slight curve around the sides. It has adaptive refresh rates that maxes at 165Hz, with 720Hz touch sampling rate. Peak brightness is excellent, reaching up to 2,500nits.
Battery & Charging
REDMAGIC 9 Pro: The REDMAGIC 9 Pro has the far larger battery, packing a whopping 6,500mAh battery that will run for eons. Not just that, the 80W wireless charging is also impressive, and you won’t have to pause your game for long before you get right back into action.
ROG Phone 8 Pro: The ROG Phone 8 Pro has a smaller 5,500mAh battery, which is still larger than the average flagships that come only with about 5,000mAh. This comes with 65W wired charging, which isn’t as speedy as the REDMAGIC, but makes up for it with 15W wireless charging capabilities that the REDMAGIC lacks.
Rear and Front Cameras
REDMAGIC 9 Pro: There’s a solid array of cameras on the REDMAGIC, with a triple camera setup consisting of a 50MP wide camera with OIS, a 50MP ultrawide lens, and 2MP macro lens. What’s special on the REDMAGIC though is its front camera, not because its 16MP, but because it’s an under-display type that’s not visible at all. This means less obstruction, more content, and better gaming feel overall.
Image Credit: REDMAGIC Facebook
ROG Phone 8 Pro: Gaming phones traditionally don’t boast the strongest cameras, but it looks like ASUS is flipping the narrative with the latest ROG phones. The ROG Phone 8 Pro carries a 50MP main camera backed by a Sony IMX890 sensor and 3-axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer. This is flanked by a 32MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom and OIS, as well as a 13MP ultrawide. Its front cameras are 32MP, but visible via a punch-hole cutout.
Other features
REDMAGIC 9 Pro: Aside from the ones mentioned, there are other features you should take notice of before you make your decision. The REDMAGIC 9 Pro, for instance, has a built-in fan that reaches 22,000rpm as part of its cooling system. The device comes with 520Hz shoulder triggers for added control, plus stereo speakers supporting DTS:X Ultra. Furthermore, access to Game Space is convenient thanks to the Game Space switch along the side panels.
ROG Phone 8 Pro: The ROG option, you’ll have the option to attach the AeroActive Cooler X, which is an external cooling device you can clip on to the rear ROG’s rear panel. It serves more than just a cooler though, as it comes with dual buttons for console-like gaming. However, the AeroActive Cooler X doesn’t come in the box, so you’ll have to buy it separately for RM349.
On the ROG Phone are AirTriggers, which function the same way as shoulder triggers. Additionally, the device itself is IP68-rated for dust and water resistance.
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