The Asus ROG Phone 3 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro (India) represent opposite ends of the smartphone spectrum. The ROG Phone 3 is a dedicated gaming device, boasting flagship internals and a premium price tag. Conversely, the Redmi Note 9 Pro aims to deliver a solid all-around experience at a significantly lower cost. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing value and all-day battery life, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro is the clear winner. However, if mobile gaming is your primary focus and budget is less of a concern, the Asus ROG Phone 3’s Snapdragon 865 and optimized cooling system provide a demonstrably superior experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 - A version |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - A version |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - A version |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G 4.4 Gbps DL |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, March 12. Released 2020, March 17 | 2020, July 22. Released 2020, July 23 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 165.8 x 76.7 x 8.8 mm (6.53 x 3.02 x 0.35 in) | 171 x 78 x 9.9 mm (6.73 x 3.07 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 209 g (7.37 oz) | 240 g (8.47 oz) |
| | Water-repellent coating | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~391 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~84.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.59 inches, 106.6 cm2 (~79.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 450 nits (typ) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 650 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver) | Octa-core (1x3.10 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G+ (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 13 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, ROG UI |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro), AF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| 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 | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | Panorama, HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 24 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with DTS:X stereo speakers (2 dedicated amplifiers) |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NavIC | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | FM radio, recording | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 30W wired, PD3.0, QC4
10W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5020 mAh | Li-Po 6000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Aurora Blue, Glacier White, Interstellar Black | Black Glare |
| Models | M2003J6A1I | ASUS_I003D, ZS661KS, I003DD, I003D |
| Price | About 280 EUR | About 650 EUR |
| SAR | 0.90 W/kg (head) 0.48 W/kg (body) | 0.74 W/kg (head) 1.50 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 128GB 4GB RAM | ₹ 14,499 | - |
| 64GB 4GB RAM | ₹ 14,499 | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 127h
|
Endurance rating 120h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1389:1 (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
-27.8 LUFS (Good)
|
-23.1 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 254000 (v8)
GeekBench: 1785 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 26fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 621932 (v8)
GeekBench: 13306 (v4.4), 3386 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 48fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro (India)
- Excellent battery life (127h endurance)
- Affordable price point (starting at ₹14,499)
- Versatile camera system (assumed)
- Less powerful processor for demanding tasks
- Slower charging speed (18W)
Asus ROG Phone 3
- Flagship Snapdragon 865 5G+ processor
- Faster 30W charging with PD3.0/QC4
- Brighter, higher refresh rate display
- Significantly higher price
- Slightly lower battery endurance (120h)
Display Comparison
The Asus ROG Phone 3 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 719 nits, compared to the Redmi Note 9 Pro’s nominal 1389:1 contrast ratio. While the Redmi Note 9 Pro’s contrast ratio is respectable, the ROG Phone 3’s higher brightness translates to better visibility outdoors. The ROG Phone 3’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio suggests a true OLED panel, offering perfect blacks, while the Redmi Note 9 Pro likely uses an IPS LCD. This difference impacts color vibrancy and viewing angles, favoring the ROG Phone 3 for media consumption and gaming. The ROG Phone 3 also benefits from a 120Hz refresh rate (not specified for the Redmi Note 9 Pro), resulting in smoother animations and a more responsive gaming experience.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature photo/video capabilities, but details are limited. The Redmi Note 9 Pro’s camera system is likely geared towards versatility, potentially including multiple lenses. However, the ROG Phone 3, while also offering photo/video, prioritizes features beneficial to gamers, such as live streaming capabilities. Without specific sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to definitively assess image quality. The ROG Phone 3’s image processing is likely tuned for vibrant colors and quick capture, while the Redmi Note 9 Pro may focus on more natural tones. The absence of detail regarding OIS on either device suggests image stabilization relies primarily on software.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Asus ROG Phone 3 utilizes the Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G+, built on a 7nm+ process, while the Redmi Note 9 Pro features the SM7125 Snapdragon 720G on an 8nm node. The Snapdragon 865’s CPU – an Octa-core configuration with a prime Cortex-A77 core clocked at 3.10 GHz – significantly outperforms the Redmi Note 9 Pro’s 2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold cores. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and substantially improved gaming performance on the ROG Phone 3. The ROG Phone 3’s superior thermal management, likely incorporating vapor chamber cooling, further ensures sustained performance under heavy load, mitigating throttling that the Redmi Note 9 Pro might experience.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve similar endurance ratings – 120 hours for the ROG Phone 3 and 127 hours for the Redmi Note 9 Pro – despite differing battery capacities (not specified in the data). This suggests the Redmi Note 9 Pro’s more efficient chipset offsets the ROG Phone 3’s power-hungry components. However, the ROG Phone 3 offers significantly faster charging at 30W with support for PD3.0 and QC4, compared to the Redmi Note 9 Pro’s 18W wired charging. This means the ROG Phone 3 can replenish its battery much quicker, minimizing downtime. The ROG Phone 3 also includes 10W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the Redmi Note 9 Pro.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro (India) if you need a reliable daily driver with a good camera, long battery life, and a reasonable price. It’s ideal for students, professionals, and anyone who uses their phone for communication, social media, and casual entertainment. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 3 if you prioritize uncompromising gaming performance, fast charging, and are willing to pay a premium for features like a high refresh rate display and advanced cooling.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 720G in the Redmi Note 9 Pro struggle with graphically intensive games like PUBG Mobile?
While the Snapdragon 720G is capable, it will require lower graphics settings and frame rates in demanding titles like PUBG Mobile to maintain a smooth experience. The ROG Phone 3, with its Snapdragon 865, can handle these games at maximum settings without significant performance drops.
❓ How much does the ROG Phone 3's cooling system actually improve gaming performance?
The ROG Phone 3’s advanced cooling system, likely a vapor chamber, prevents thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions. This means the processor can maintain its peak performance for longer periods, resulting in consistently higher frame rates and a smoother gaming experience compared to the Redmi Note 9 Pro, which may experience performance dips as it heats up.
❓ Is the 18W charging on the Redmi Note 9 Pro slow compared to modern standards?
Yes, 18W charging is relatively slow compared to the 30W charging on the ROG Phone 3 and many other modern smartphones. Expect a longer time to fully charge the Redmi Note 9 Pro, potentially taking over two hours from 0 to 100%.
❓ What kind of gaming accessories are compatible with the Asus ROG Phone 3?
The ROG Phone 3 is designed with gaming in mind and supports a wide range of accessories, including external controllers, cooling fans, and even a second screen attachment, enhancing the gaming experience beyond what the Redmi Note 9 Pro can offer.
