ASUS ROG Phone 9 vs iPhone 18 Pro: Which One Should You Buy?

ASUS ROG Phone 9 edges ahead with a BeastScore of 89.5/100 — but the right choice depends on what matters to you.

Head-to-head
Comparing 2 devicesSwipe ⇄
Asus · 2024

ASUS ROG Phone 9

ASUS ROG Phone 9
90/ 100
Launch price$1,099
Apple · 2026

iPhone 18 Pro

iPhone 18 Pro
89/ 100
Launch price$1,299
Head-to-head

ASUS ROG Phone 9 wins overall; iPhone 18 Pro takes 4 of 8 categories

Here's exactly where each phone is stronger.

ASUS ROG Phone 9
ASUS ROG Phone 9
3 wins
iPhone 18 Pro
iPhone 18 Pro
4 wins
At a glance

Bigger shape = better phone.

SpeedCameraSelfieBatteryDisplayConnectivitySecurityValue
ASUS ROG Phone 9iPhone 18 Pro
Category winners

Scores out of 100. How we score

  • SpeediPhone 18 Pro
    90
    95
  • CameraiPhone 18 Pro
    91
    92
  • VideoNot enough data
  • SelfieASUS ROG Phone 9
    88
    76
  • BatteryASUS ROG Phone 9
    94
    80
  • DisplayASUS ROG Phone 9
    100
    92
  • ConnectivityiPhone 18 Pro
    95
    100
  • SecurityTie
    100
    100
  • ValueiPhone 18 Pro
    55
    62
Key differences
  • ASUS ROG Phone 9 has the bigger battery5,800 mAh vs 4,288 mAh
  • ASUS ROG Phone 9 charges faster65W vs 45W
  • ASUS ROG Phone 9 has a sharper main camera50 MP vs 48 MP
  • ASUS ROG Phone 9 has a smoother screen185 Hz vs 120 Hz
  • ASUS ROG Phone 9 has the bigger screen6.78" vs 6.3"
  • iPhone 18 Pro is lighter211 g vs 227 g
  • ASUS ROG Phone 9 launched cheaper$1,099 vs $1,299
  • ASUS ROG Phone 9 has a sharper selfie camera32 MP vs 18 MP
  • iPhone 18 Pro has newer Bluetooth6 vs 5.4
  • iPhone 18 Pro has the faster chipApple A20 Pro (2 nm) vs Snapdragon 8 Elite
  • iPhone 18 Pro can text for help by satelliteYes vs No
See all specs ↓

Why buy each phone

Swipe ⇄
Reasons to buy ASUS ROG Phone 9
  • ✓$200 cheaper at launch ($1,099 vs $1,299)
  • ✓Bigger 5,800 mAh battery (+1,512 mAh)
  • ✓50 MP main camera
Reasons to buy iPhone 18 Pro
  • ✓16 g lighter (211 g vs 227 g), easier to hold
  • ✓48 MP main camera
  • ✓6.3" display at 120 Hz

Full specifications

Swipe ⇄
SpecificationASUS ROG Phone 9iPhone 18 Pro
1. Display & Screen🏆 ASUS ROG Phone 9 Wins Display
Screen typeLTPO AMOLEDLTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision
Screen Size6.78"6.3"
Resolution & Density2400x1080 (388 ppi)1206 x 2622 pixels (19.5:9 ratio) (460 ppi)
Refresh Rate185 Hz adaptive120 Hz ProMotion
Brightness2,500 nits peak1000 nits (typ), 1600 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak)
Screen ProtectionNot listedCeramic Shield 2, Anti-reflective coating, Always-On display
2. Platform & Performance🏆 iPhone 18 Pro Wins Performance
Chipset / ProcessorSnapdragon 8 Elite (3nm)Apple A20 Pro (2 nm) (2nm)
CPU CoresNot listedHexa-core (2x High Performance + 4x Efficiency)
GPU GraphicsAdreno 830Apple GPU (7-core graphics)
Operating SystemAndroid 15iOS 27
3. Memory & Storage
RAM Memory12 GB LPDDR12GB LPDDR5X
Internal Storage256GB / 512GB256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB
Storage SpeedNot listedNVMe fast flash
Card SlotNoNo
4. Main Camera Optics🏆 iPhone 18 Pro Wins Camera
Primary Camera50 MP, f/1.9, OIS, Sony LYT-70048 MP, f/1.5, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, OIS, Dual pixel PDAF, Sensor-shift OIS (gen 2)
Telephoto Zoom32 MP (3x optical zoom), f/2.448 MP (4x optical zoom), f/2.8, 100mm (periscope telephoto), OIS
Ultrawide Camera13 MP, f/2.248 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide)
LiDAR / DepthNoneTOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth sensing & night portrait)
5. Video
Main Camera Video
Not listed
4K@24/25/30/60/100/120fps1080p@240fps10-bit HDRDolby Vision HDR (up to 120fps)ProRes RAWApple Log 2Spatial 3D video & stereo sound
Front Video
Not listed
4K@24/25/30/60fps1080p@120fpsgyro-EISDolby Vision HDR
6. Selfie Camera
Selfie Lens32 MP, f/2.518 MP, f/1.9, 20mm (ultrawide multi-aspect)
7. Body & Dimensions🏆 iPhone 18 Pro Lightest Chassis
Dimensions163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm150 x 71.9 x 8.8 mm (5.91 x 2.83 x 0.35 in)
Weight227 g211 g (7.44 oz)
Build MaterialsNot listedGlass front (Ceramic Shield 2), aluminum frame, aluminum/glass back
SIM TypeNot listedNano-SIM + eSIM + dual eSIM support
Water ResistanceIP68IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min)
8. Battery & Charging🏆 ASUS ROG Phone 9 Wins Battery
Battery Capacity5,800 mAh4,288 mAh
Wired Fast Charging65W wired fast charging45W wired fast charging
Wireless Charging15W wireless charging25W wireless charging
Reverse ChargingNot listedNot listed
9. Sound & Audio
LoudspeakerNot listedYes, with stereo speakers (Spatial Audio)
3.5mm Headphone JackNoNo
10. Connectivity
Wi-Fi StandardWi-Fi 7Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band, hotspot)
Bluetooth5.4Bluetooth 6.0, A2DP, LE
USB Port & SpeedUSB-C 3.2USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (up to 10Gbps), DisplayPort video out
NFCYes (contactless payment)Yes (Apple Pay Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
11. Sensors & Security
SensorsNot listedFace ID, LiDAR scanner, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Satellite FeaturesNot listedEmergency SOS, Messages and Find My via satellite
12. Colors & Overview
ColorsNot listedBlack, Silver, Glacier, Burgundy
Launch Price$1,099$1,299
Our verdict

ASUS ROG Phone 9 wins — BeastScore 89.5/100

The ASUS ROG Phone 9 is the better pick for most people thanks to its bigger battery (5,800 mAh vs 4,288 mAh) and faster charging (65W vs 45W). The iPhone 18 Pro is worth a look if you prefer its lighter body (211 g vs 227 g).

Buy ASUS ROG Phone 9 if you want

Larger battery: 5,800 mAh vs 4,288 mAh · Faster wired charging: 65W vs 45W

Buy iPhone 18 Pro if you want

Brighter screen: 3,000 nits vs 2,500 nits · Lighter: 211 g vs 227 g (16 g less)

Common questions

Which is better: ASUS ROG Phone 9 or iPhone 18 Pro?

The ASUS ROG Phone 9 is the better pick for most people thanks to its bigger battery (5,800 mAh vs 4,288 mAh) and faster charging (65W vs 45W). The iPhone 18 Pro is worth a look if you prefer its lighter body (211 g vs 227 g). BeastScore: ASUS ROG Phone 9 89.5/100, iPhone 18 Pro 88.5/100.

What are the main battery and display differences between ASUS ROG Phone 9 and iPhone 18 Pro?

ASUS ROG Phone 9 has a 6.78-inch display and 5800 mAh battery. iPhone 18 Pro has a 6.3-inch display and 4288 mAh battery.

How do ASUS ROG Phone 9 and iPhone 18 Pro compare for speed?

ASUS ROG Phone 9 scores 90/100 for performance; iPhone 18 Pro scores 95/100.

Similar Smartphones

Gear for the ASUS ROG Phone 9

All Amazon Finds →

Related articles

All articles →
Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 57" vs. Odyssey OLED G9 49" vs. ASUS ROG Swift PG49WCD vs. LG UltraGear 45GS96QB: The Definitive Flagship Super Ultrawide & Curved Gaming Monitor Architecture, Dual 4K 7680x2160 vs. Dual QHD QD-OLED, DisplayPort 2.1 Bandwidth (UHBR 13.5/20), 240Hz Refresh Rates, 2,392 Mini-LED Local Dimming Zones vs. Infinite Contrast OLED, KVM Multitasking, and GPU Driveability Shootout (2026)Flagship Monitor Shootout
16 min read

Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 57" vs. Odyssey OLED G9 49" vs. ASUS ROG Swift PG49WCD vs. LG UltraGear 45GS96QB: The Definitive Flagship Super Ultrawide & Curved Gaming Monitor Architecture, Dual 4K 7680x2160 vs. Dual QHD QD-OLED, DisplayPort 2.1 Bandwidth (UHBR 13.5/20), 240Hz Refresh Rates, 2,392 Mini-LED Local Dimming Zones vs. Infinite Contrast OLED, KVM Multitasking, and GPU Driveability Shootout (2026)

A comprehensive architectural shootout of the world's most advanced curved super ultrawide monitors. We compare Samsung's 57-inch Dual 4K Quantum Mini-LED titan against 49-inch Gen 2 QD-OLEDs and LG's 45-inch 800R curved WOLED across DisplayPort 2.1 bandwidth tunneling, 240Hz motion clarity, text rendering subpixel matrices, multi-window KVM workflows, and GPU horsepower requirements.

Read →
Here are the Apple iPhone Duo alternativesGuide
6 min read

Here are the Apple iPhone Duo alternatives

Explore top alternatives to the $2,000 Apple iPhone Duo, including the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, Xiaomi 18 Fold 5G, Vivo X Fold5 Pro, and OnePlus Open 2.

Read →
UGREEN NASync DXP4800 Plus vs. Synology DiskStation DS923+ vs. QNAP TS-464 vs. Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen3 (AS6804T): The Definitive Flagship 4-Bay NAS Architecture, 10GbE Networking, Intel Core i5 vs. AMD Ryzen vs. Celeron Silicon, Plex 4K Hardware Transcoding, M.2 NVMe Storage Pools, and Private Cloud OS Showdown (2026)Prosumer NAS Flagship Shootout
14 min read

UGREEN NASync DXP4800 Plus vs. Synology DiskStation DS923+ vs. QNAP TS-464 vs. Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen3 (AS6804T): The Definitive Flagship 4-Bay NAS Architecture, 10GbE Networking, Intel Core i5 vs. AMD Ryzen vs. Celeron Silicon, Plex 4K Hardware Transcoding, M.2 NVMe Storage Pools, and Private Cloud OS Showdown (2026)

We compared the four leading 4-bay prosumer NAS appliances across 10GbE multi-gig sequential throughput, Plex 4K HEVC/AV1 hardware transcoding, dual M.2 NVMe SSD storage pools, Docker container workloads, and OS security models. Here is the definitive data-driven benchmark breakdown.

Read →