Asus ROG Phone 3 Strix vs. OnePlus 9 Pro: A Deep Dive into Gaming and All-Round Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers, the Asus ROG Phone 3 Strix remains the superior choice due to its focused design and sustained performance. However, the OnePlus 9 Pro offers a more refined and versatile experience for users who value camera quality, fast charging, and a premium all-around package.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Asus ROG Phone 3 Strix | OnePlus 9 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU |
| 5G bands | 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G 4.0 Gbps DL | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA | 1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, July 22. Released 2020, July 23 | 2021, March 23 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, March 30 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 171 x 78 x 9.9 mm (6.73 x 3.07 x 0.39 in) | 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 240 g (8.47 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| RGB light panel (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~391 ppi density) | 1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.59 inches, 106.6 cm2 (~79.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 650 nits (typ) | LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 10, ROG UI | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, OxygenOS 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Hasselblad Color Calibration, dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 77mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm (ultrawide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, AF 2 MP, f/2.4, (monochrome) |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm, 125˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Panorama, HDR | HDR |
| Single | 24 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with DTS:X stereo speakers (2 dedicated amplifiers) | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, PD3.0, QC4 10W reverse wired | 65W wired, PD, 100% in 29 min 50W wireless, 100% in 43 min 5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 6000 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black Glare | Morning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black |
| Models | ASUS_I003DD | LE2121, LE2125, LE2123, LE2120, LE2127 |
| Price | About 1400 EUR | € 246.17 / $ 264.95 / £ 287.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 86h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | - | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) |
Asus ROG Phone 3 Strix
- Superior sustained gaming performance due to advanced cooling.
- Gaming-centric features and accessories.
- Potentially lower price point (depending on current deals).
- Less refined camera system.
- Slower charging speeds.
- Bulkier design focused on cooling.
OnePlus 9 Pro
- Exceptional camera quality with Hasselblad partnership.
- Incredibly fast wired and wireless charging.
- Premium build quality and design.
- May experience more thermal throttling under sustained load.
- Higher price point.
- Less focused on dedicated gaming features.
Display Comparison
The OnePlus 9 Pro boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 859 nits, compared to the ROG Phone 3 Strix (brightness data unavailable). While the ROG Phone 3 Strix likely has a high refresh rate, the OnePlus 9 Pro’s display technology is more versatile for everyday use. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s display is likely to offer better color accuracy and viewing angles, making it superior for media consumption. The ROG Phone 3 Strix’s display is optimized for gaming, but the OnePlus 9 Pro’s overall display quality is more balanced.
Camera Comparison
The OnePlus 9 Pro’s camera system, while details are limited to 'Photo/Video', is expected to be a significant strength, leveraging Hasselblad’s color science. The ROG Phone 3 Strix’s camera is likely a secondary consideration, focusing more on functional image capture. The OnePlus 9 Pro likely features larger sensors and more advanced image processing algorithms, resulting in superior low-light performance and dynamic range. The ROG Phone 3 Strix’s camera is adequate for casual use, but the OnePlus 9 Pro is the clear winner for photography enthusiasts.
Performance
The OnePlus 9 Pro’s Snapdragon 888 (5nm) represents a significant architectural leap over the ROG Phone 3 Strix’s Snapdragon 865 (7nm+). The 888’s Cortex-X1 prime core delivers faster single-core performance, while its improved Adreno 660 GPU offers a substantial graphics boost. However, the ROG Phone 3 Strix benefits from a more aggressive cooling system, potentially allowing it to sustain peak performance for longer periods during extended gaming sessions. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s 5nm process should also contribute to better thermal efficiency, but the ROG Phone 3 Strix’s dedicated cooling is a key differentiator. Both phones utilize LPDDR5 RAM, but the ROG Phone 3 Strix’s thermal management is crucial for maximizing the Snapdragon 865’s potential.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 86h, suggesting comparable overall battery life despite differing capacities (data unavailable for ROG Phone 3 Strix). However, the OnePlus 9 Pro’s charging capabilities are dramatically faster, offering 65W wired charging (0-100% in 29 minutes) and 50W wireless charging (0-100% in 43 minutes) compared to the ROG Phone 3 Strix’s 30W wired charging. This means the OnePlus 9 Pro can be topped up much more quickly, minimizing downtime. The ROG Phone 3 Strix offers 10W reverse wired charging, while the OnePlus 9 Pro provides 5W reverse wireless charging – a minor difference.
Buying Guide
Buy the Asus ROG Phone 3 Strix if you prioritize sustained gaming performance, need a phone with robust cooling, and appreciate gaming-centric features like high refresh rate displays and dedicated gaming accessories. Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro if you value a top-tier camera system, incredibly fast charging (both wired and wireless), a vibrant display, and a more polished, everyday user experience.