Red Magic 11 Pro vs Asus ROG 9 Pro
Which is the best gaming device?
Mobile gaming has come a long way from mindless swipes on Temple Run and Angry Birds. In 2025, phones are literal mini-consoles, liquid-cooled, AI-powered, and capable of running Call of Duty at full tilt. Leading the charge in bringing PC-level gaming to your pocket are two rivals: Asus’s ROG Phone 9 Pro, the long-reigning king of gaming smartphones, and Redmagic’s new 11 Pro, the flashy underdog promising more power for half the price.
Both devices push the boundaries of mobile gaming, but in very different ways. The Redmagic 11 Pro is the first mass-produced smartphone with an active circulating liquid cooling system and an internal pump, the AquaCore Cooling System, ensuring sustained performance for marathon gaming sessions.
Meanwhile, the ASUS ROG 9 Pro leans heavily into AI innovations, including X Sense 3.0 for automatic loot collection and task management, X Capture 2.0 to record key moments, AI Grabber for in-game text recognition and translation, and Air Triggers that double as camera shutter buttons.
David Adubiina
/1. Design
Here’s where the personality clash begins. The Redmagic 11 Pro feels like a mini gaming rig. Its transparent rear panel showcases the AquaCore Cooling System, letting you see coolant circulate through micro-channels — a striking combination of function and style. Haptic shoulder triggers and a dedicated Game Space switch make it feel as ready for battle as it looks.
Asus, meanwhile, continues its obsession with sci-fi minimalism. The ROG Phone 9 Pro’s angular chassis, back-LED matrix, and dual USB-C ports highlight ergonomics and maturity, making it comfortable for long gaming sessions.
/2. Display
Both brands know their audience, no gimmicks, just buttery-smooth panels. The Redmagic 11 Pro features a 6.85-inch AMOLED display, 144Hz refresh rate, and a hidden under-display selfie camera. The result is total immersion, no holes, no notches, just pure gaming real estate. Colours pop, blacks are deep, and motion feels incredibly fluid.
The ROG Phone 9 Pro, on the other hand, goes all in on brightness and responsiveness. Its 6.78-inch AMOLED panel hits a whopping 185Hz and 2000 nits peak brightness, perfect for outdoor use or when playing HDR content. It’s one of the few displays that make games like Genshin Impact and PUBG Mobile look like console titles.
/3. Performance
This is where the fun begins. The Redmagic 11 Pro packs Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, and it’s ferocious. Benchmarks show a huge leap in sustained performance, with the phone maintaining high frame rates even during extended sessions of Call of Duty Mobile or Fortnite. The AquaCore cooling system ensures stable frame rates during hours of gameplay, giving it a consistent edge for extended sessions, and maintaining PC-level performance in your hand.
The ROG Phone 9 Pro, running the older Snapdragon 8 Elite, is no slouch, but it starts to show its age during long, graphics-heavy sessions. Asus’s vapour chamber cooling is efficient, but Redmagic’s liquid system takes thermal management to another level.
/4. Cameras
Gaming phones have never been about photography, but Asus refuses to settle. The ROG Phone 9 Pro houses a 50MP Sony Lytia 700 main sensor, paired with ultrawide and telephoto lenses that actually deliver decent dynamic range. You won’t be ditching your DSLR, but shots look crisp, and the colour science feels natural.
By contrast, the Redmagic 11 Pro plays catch-up here. Its 50MP main camera performs well in daylight but struggles in low light. The under-display selfie camera, while futuristic, still can’t match a traditional lens for clarity. You can game hard, just don’t expect influencer-level selfies.
/5. Software and Features
Both devices are tuned for gamers, but the execution differs. The Redmagic 11 Pro runs a light gaming skin on Android 15, featuring Google’s Gemini integration, Circle to Search, and a quirky anime-style assistant named Mora, who reacts to your gameplay. It’s fun, weirdly personal, and very Redmagic.
The ROG Phone 9 Pro leans into utility. Its Game Genie overlay gives real-time system stats, custom macros, and even AI-driven gameplay assists, it can auto-aim, highlight enemies, or optimise battery mid-session. Features like AI Grabber allow text recognition and translation in-game, while Air Triggers enhance both gaming and photography. The phone’s ecosystem feels polished and built for competitive play.
It’s every competitive gamer’s dream, wrapped in a clean, ad-free interface.
/6. Storage and Memory
Gaming phones live and die by how fast they can load and multitask, and both devices bring serious muscle here. The Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro packs up to 24GB RAM of LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB (1024GB) of UFS 4.0 storage, easily making it one of the most powerful configurations on any smartphone today. It’s overkill in the best way, perfect for emulators, heavy games, and multitasking without a single frame drop.
The Redmagic 11 Pro comes in two configurations: 12GB RAM with 256GB UFS 4.1 storage, or 16GB RAM with 512GB UFS 4.1. While slightly behind in raw capacity and speed compared to Asus’s UFS 4.0, the difference in day-to-day performance is barely noticeable, and you’re still getting incredible speed for the price.
/7. Price and Availability
The Redmagic 11 Pro is hitting shelves on November 13 for £629 / $749, and that’s already a statement. You’re getting flagship-level performance at a mid-range price, a rare sight in today’s market.
The Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro, meanwhile, still sits in luxury territory at £1299 / $1499. For that, you get Asus’s proven build quality, ecosystem accessories, and years of refinement, but the gap in value has never been this wide.
/8. Battery and Charging
Battery life is often the silent killer of gaming phones, but not this time. The Redmagic 11 Pro boasts a monstrous 7500mAh battery and 80W fast charging. You can game for hours and still have juice left for Netflix. A full charge takes just over 30 minutes, and it easily stretches past two days with moderate use.
The ROG Phone 9 Pro, with its 5800mAh cell and 15W wireless charging, lags a bit behind. However, the dual charging ports make marathon gaming sessions far more comfortable, and you can charge while holding it horizontally without tangling cables.
Conlcusion
Both phones are pushing mobile gaming closer to PC levels. Redmagic 11 Pro’s AquaCore cooling system, new-gen chipset, and immersive display deliver long-lasting, high-performance gameplay at an incredible price.
Asus ROG 9 Pro counters with refined design, AI-powered features, superior storage, and polished software, making it the ideal full-flagship choice. For gamers chasing PC-level performance in the palm of their hand, the choice is between bold, sustained power and all-around sophistication.
David Adubiina
