Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro vs. OnePlus 12R: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Battery Life

The Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro and OnePlus 12R represent distinct approaches to the high-performance Android smartphone market. The ROG Phone 9 Pro is a dedicated gaming device, packing the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and a suite of gaming-centric features. Conversely, the OnePlus 12R aims for a more balanced experience, offering flagship-level performance with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 alongside a focus on all-day battery life and incredibly fast charging.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For dedicated mobile gamers prioritizing peak performance, the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and superior display brightness deliver an unmatched experience. However, the OnePlus 12R provides excellent value and a more practical daily driver experience with its longer battery life and faster charging.

PHONES
Phone Names Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro OnePlus 12R
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - GlobalHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE (Up to 7CA), 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, November 192024, January 23
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, November 20Available. Released 2024, February 06
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame, glass back
Dimensions163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 3.02 x 0.35 in)163.3 x 75.3 x 8.8 mm (6.43 x 2.96 x 0.35 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight227 g (8.01 oz)207 g (7.30 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~388 ppi density)1264 x 2780 pixels (~450 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~88.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 185Hz, 670Hz PWM, HDR10, 1600 nits (HBM), 2500 nits (peak)LTPO4 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1600 nits (HBM), 4500 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 830Adreno 740
OSAndroid 15, up to 2 major Android upgradesAndroid 14, up to 3 major Android upgrades, OxygenOS 15
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 24GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, gimbal OIS 32 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/3.2", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide)50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesPanorama, HDRHDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 22mm (wide), 1/3.2", 0.7µm16 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASSGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C (side), DisplayPort 1.4; USB Type-C (bottom), OTGUSB Type-C 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging65W wired, PD3.0, PPS, QC5, 100% in 46 min 15W wireless (Qi) 10W reverse wired100W wired, 100% in 26 min
Type5800 mAhLi-Ion 5500 mAh
Misc
ColorsPhantom BlackIron Gray, Cool Blue, Electric Violet, Sunset Dune
ModelsAI2501-16G512G-BK, AI2501-24G1T-BKCPH2609, CPH2585, CPH2611
Price€ 1,139.00 / $ 1,290.00 / £ 1,224.17€ 410.84 / $ 399.95 / £ 649.00
SAR-1.19 W/kg (head)     0.82 W/kg (body)

Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro

  • Unmatched gaming performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite
  • Significantly brighter display for outdoor visibility
  • Wireless and reverse wired charging capabilities

  • Shorter battery life in active use
  • Slower wired charging compared to OnePlus 12R

OnePlus 12R

  • Excellent battery life for all-day use
  • Incredibly fast 100W wired charging
  • Balanced performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2

  • Less bright display compared to ROG Phone 9 Pro
  • Lacks wireless charging

Display Comparison

The Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1958 nits, compared to the OnePlus 12R’s 1181 nits. This difference is crucial for outdoor use, where the ROG Phone’s screen remains easily visible under direct sunlight. While both likely utilize AMOLED panels, the ROG Phone’s higher peak brightness and potentially superior color calibration (though not specified) cater to a more immersive visual experience, particularly for gaming. The OnePlus 12R, while still bright, will require users to seek shade for optimal viewing in bright conditions.

Camera Comparison

The provided data doesn’t offer sufficient detail for a comprehensive camera comparison. However, given the ROG Phone’s gaming focus, its camera system is likely optimized for general use rather than competing with dedicated camera phones. The OnePlus 12R, positioned as a more all-around flagship, likely features a more sophisticated camera setup, potentially with larger sensors and more advanced image processing algorithms. Without sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to draw definitive conclusions, but the OnePlus 12R is likely to offer a more versatile and capable camera experience.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the ROG Phone 9 Pro features the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm), while the OnePlus 12R uses the SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm). The Snapdragon 8 Elite’s newer architecture and 3nm process node promise greater efficiency and performance. The ROG Phone’s CPU configuration – 2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M – suggests a focus on sustained peak performance, while the OnePlus 12R’s 1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510 configuration is optimized for a balance of power and efficiency. The 4nm process of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the OnePlus 12R will likely result in better thermal management under sustained loads compared to older generation chips, but the ROG Phone’s advanced cooling solutions (not detailed in the provided data) are likely to further mitigate throttling.

Battery Life

The ROG Phone 9 Pro achieves 16:41h of active use, while the OnePlus 12R manages 14:32h. This suggests the ROG Phone’s power-hungry chipset and brighter display take a toll on battery life. However, the OnePlus 12R compensates with significantly faster charging: 100W wired, achieving a full charge in just 26 minutes, compared to the ROG Phone’s 65W wired charging (46 minutes). The ROG Phone does offer 15W wireless charging and 10W reverse wired charging, features absent in the OnePlus 12R, providing added convenience. The OnePlus 12R’s faster charging is a major advantage for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.

Buying Guide

Buy the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro if you absolutely need the highest possible frame rates in demanding mobile games, value a brighter display for outdoor visibility, and are willing to trade some battery life for raw power. Buy the OnePlus 12R if you prioritize all-day battery life, incredibly fast 100W charging, and a more versatile smartphone experience without sacrificing significant performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the OnePlus 12R throttle during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s 4nm process and the OnePlus 12R’s cooling system are designed to mitigate throttling. While some performance reduction is inevitable during prolonged, demanding gaming, it’s likely to be less pronounced than on older generation chipsets. The OnePlus 12R should maintain a consistently high frame rate for most mobile games.
❓ Does the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro’s 65W charging feel slow compared to the OnePlus 12R’s 100W?
While 65W is still considered fast charging, the OnePlus 12R’s 100W charging is significantly quicker, taking just 26 minutes for a full charge. The ROG Phone 9 Pro requires 46 minutes. This difference is most noticeable for users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery.
❓ Is the difference in display brightness between the two phones noticeable in everyday use?
The 1958 nits peak brightness of the ROG Phone 9 Pro is most impactful outdoors in direct sunlight. Indoors, the difference is less dramatic, but the ROG Phone’s display will still appear more vibrant and punchy. The OnePlus 12R’s 1181 nits is still a very good brightness level for most indoor scenarios.