Asus ROG Phone 9 vs. Xiaomi 14 Pro: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Flagship Performance

The Asus ROG Phone 9 and Xiaomi 14 Pro represent distinct approaches to the high-end smartphone market. The ROG Phone 9 doubles down on gaming features and sustained performance, while the Xiaomi 14 Pro aims for a more balanced flagship experience with a focus on speed and camera capabilities. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For dedicated mobile gamers prioritizing long sessions and cooling, the Asus ROG Phone 9 is the clear winner, thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Elite and optimized thermal design. However, the Xiaomi 14 Pro offers a more versatile experience with faster charging and a potentially more refined software experience for the average user.

PHONES
Phone Names Asus ROG Phone 9 Xiaomi 14 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - GlobalHSDPA 800 / 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, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 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, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE (Up to 7CA), 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, November 192023, October 26
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, November 20Available. Released 2023, November 01
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frameGlass front, aluminum frame or titanium frame, glass back
Dimensions163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 3.02 x 0.35 in)161.4 x 75.3 x 8.5 mm
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight227 g (8.01 oz)223 g or 230 g (7.87 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2Shatterproof glass
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~388 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~88.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 185Hz, HDR10, 1600 nits (HBM), 2500 nits (peak)LTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 3000 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M)Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 830Adreno 750
OSAndroid 15, upgradable to Android 16, up to 2 major Android upgradesAndroid 14, HyperOS
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lens, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, gimbal OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 23mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 75mm (telephoto), PDAF (10cm - ∞), OIS, 3.2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 115˚ (ultrawide), AF
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@24/30/60fps (HDR10+, 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR, 10-bit LOG), 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesPanorama, HDRHDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 22mm (wide), 1/3.2", 0.7µm32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 0.7µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C (side), DisplayPort 1.4; USB Type-C (bottom), OTGUSB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging65W wired, PD3.0, PPS, QC5, 100% in 46 min 15W wireless (Qi) 10W reverse wired120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 18 min 50W wireless, 100% in 40 min 10W reverse wireless
Type5800 mAhLi-Po 4880 mAh
Misc
ColorsPhantom Black, Storm WhiteBlack, Silver, Titanium, Green
ModelsAI2501-12G256G-BK, AI2501-12G256G-WH, AI2501-16G512G-WH, AI2501-16G512G-BK23116PN5BC
Price£ 799.99 / € 899.90About 650 EUR

Asus ROG Phone 9

  • Superior sustained gaming performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite
  • Longer battery life during active use
  • Optimized cooling system for extended gaming sessions

  • Slower charging speeds compared to Xiaomi 14 Pro
  • Gaming-focused design may not appeal to all users

Xiaomi 14 Pro

  • Incredibly fast 120W wired and 50W wireless charging
  • Potentially superior camera system
  • Sleek and modern flagship design

  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 may throttle more under sustained load
  • Shorter active use battery life compared to ROG Phone 9

Display Comparison

The Asus ROG Phone 9 boasts a display capable of reaching 1958 nits of peak brightness, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s brightness isn’t specified, Xiaomi typically employs high-quality panels. The ROG Phone 9’s gaming focus likely prioritizes refresh rate and response time, though details are missing. The Xiaomi 14 Pro, being a flagship, will likely feature an LTPO panel for adaptive refresh rates, improving battery efficiency. Bezels are expected to be minimal on both, but the ROG Phone 9’s design may prioritize cooling vents over absolute screen-to-body ratio.

Camera Comparison

Details on the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s camera system are missing, but Xiaomi flagships are known for their strong camera performance. The ROG Phone 9, while capable, typically prioritizes gaming features over camera innovation. The Xiaomi 14 Pro is expected to have a larger main sensor and more advanced image processing algorithms. Without specific sensor details for the ROG Phone 9, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison, but the Xiaomi 14 Pro is likely to excel in image quality and versatility.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Asus ROG Phone 9 utilizes the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm), featuring a unique octa-core configuration with Oryon V2 Phoenix cores clocked up to 4.32 GHz. This is contrasted by the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm). While the Gen 3 is a powerful chip, the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s Oryon cores are designed for sustained performance, potentially offering a more consistent frame rate during extended gaming sessions. The 3nm process of the 8 Elite also suggests better thermal efficiency. Both phones will likely feature LPDDR5x RAM, but the ROG Phone 9’s cooling system is a critical advantage for maintaining peak performance.

Battery Life

The Asus ROG Phone 9 achieves an impressive 16:41h of active use, suggesting excellent battery optimization despite its gaming focus. It supports 65W wired charging, reaching 100% in 46 minutes, alongside 15W wireless and 10W reverse wired charging. The Xiaomi 14 Pro, however, significantly outpaces this with 120W wired charging, achieving a full charge in just 18 minutes, and 50W wireless charging in 40 minutes. While the ROG Phone 9 offers longer overall usage, the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s charging speed is a major convenience factor.

Buying Guide

Buy the Asus ROG Phone 9 if you need uncompromising gaming performance, extended battery life during intense gameplay, and are willing to accept a more niche aesthetic. Buy the Xiaomi 14 Pro if you prefer a sleek, modern flagship with incredibly fast charging, a versatile camera system, and a more mainstream software experience, even if it means slightly less sustained gaming performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the ROG Phone 9 overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Elite is paired with a sophisticated cooling system in the ROG Phone 9, including vapor chambers and potentially external fan attachments. This is specifically designed to mitigate thermal throttling and maintain peak performance for extended gaming, making overheating less of a concern than with other flagship phones.
❓ How does the 120W charging on the Xiaomi 14 Pro affect battery health over the long term?
Xiaomi employs charging algorithms and battery protection features to minimize the impact of fast charging on long-term battery health. While fast charging generates more heat, the phone dynamically adjusts the charging rate to prevent overstressing the battery. However, some degradation is inevitable over years of use, regardless of charging speed.
❓ Is the difference between the Snapdragon 8 Elite and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 noticeable in everyday tasks?
For typical daily tasks like browsing, social media, and video playback, the difference between the two chipsets will be minimal. Both are incredibly powerful processors. The Snapdragon 8 Elite’s advantage becomes more apparent during demanding tasks like graphically intensive games and video editing, where its sustained performance shines.
❓ Does the ROG Phone 9 support high refresh rates in popular mobile games like PUBG or Genshin Impact?
The ROG Phone 9 is specifically designed for gaming and will almost certainly support high refresh rates (90Hz or higher) in popular titles like PUBG and Genshin Impact, provided the game itself supports those refresh rates. Asus often includes game-specific optimizations to maximize performance and visual fidelity.