Asus is set to disrupt the gaming phone market with the ROG Phone 9 FE, an affordable alternative to its flagship ROG Phone 9 series.
This move might be aimed at challenging Nubia’s Redagic, which has been offering high-performance gaming phones at competitive prices for some time now.
While Asus has yet to officially announce anything, leaks have revealed its expected design and key specs, ahead of an expected launch at some point in 2025.
The ROG Phone 9 FE seems to not skimp on features, despite its expected lower price. According to 91mobiles, it will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, alongside 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage, making it a powerful option for mobile gamers on a budget.
It’s also rumoured to feature a 6.78-inch Full HD+ LTPO AMOLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate (boosting to 185Hz in Game Genie mode) and a peak brightness of 2,500 nits. The addition of AirTrigger controls could further enhance the gaming experience.
The camera setup reportedly includes a 50Mp Sony IMX890 primary sensor with OIS, a 13Mp ultrawide lens, a 5Mp macro camera, and a 32Mp selfie shooter. Elsewhere, the phone will supposedly feature a 5,500mAh battery with 65W fast charging and wireless charging support.
Looking at the renders, the design remains similar to the flagship ROG Phone 9 Pro and standard ROG Phone 9, featuring a Phantom Black variant and an IP68 rating for durability. Elsewhere, the phone is said to feature dual stereo speakers, Hi-Res Audio, a 3.5mm headphone jack, Wi-Fi 7, and an in-display fingerprint sensor.
Asus’ decision to launch a more budget-friendly gaming phone is a welcome move, especially for gamers who want top-tier performance without breaking the bank.
While we don’t know how much it might cost at this point, looking at the £579/$649 starting price of the Redmagic 10 Pro, we can expect similar or even lower pricing.
However, whether it can truly compete with Redmagic’s established dominance in the affordable gaming phone segment remains to be seen.
If Asus prices it aggressively, the ROG Phone 9 FE could be a game-changer for mobile gamers worldwide. Tho