Asus has introduced its first-ever Fan Version gaming cellphone, the Asus ROG Cellphone 9 FE.
Not less than that’s what we assume FE means, going by Samsung’s use of the time period. We’ve not seen some other manufacturers use it and Asus doesn’t outright clarify the abbreviation.
Following sizzling on the heels of the expensive Asus ROG Cellphone 9 Professional, which launched in November, comes the Asus ROG Cellphone 9 FE – although it’s solely accessible in Thailand for now.
What’s the distinction?
Simply because the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE was to the Galaxy S24, the Asus ROG Cellphone 9 FE is a barely cheaper, lower-specced tackle the Asus ROG Cellphone 9 Professional.
“Expertise high-end gaming with the ROG Cellphone 9 FE, which completely combines high-end gaming with a contemporary design with a gamer’s id.” stated Asus (translated)
Reasonably than the cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, the brand new FE mannequin motors together with the previous Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 below the hood. It was ok to run the most recent video games on final yr’s gaming cellphone era, so it ought to nonetheless be match for goal right here.
Elsewhere, Asus has dropped the dimensions of the battery from 5800mAh to 5500mAh. Once more, that shouldn’t show to be a massively consequential compromise, though we’re beginning to see normie flagship telephones just like the OnePlus 13 adopting bigger 6000mAh cells.
The show seems to be to be precisely the identical because the Professional, which implies it’s a 6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED with a fast 185Hz most refresh fee and a 2,500 nit peak brightness.
By way of the digital camera set-up, it seems to be to be the identical because the non-Professional ROG Cellphone 9. This entails the identical gimbal-assisted 50MP Sony IMX890 1/1.56-inch primary sensor and the identical 13MP ultra-wide, however with a 5MP macro digital camera instead of the Professional’s 32MP telephoto. You additionally get a 32 selfie digital camera.
Asus
How a lot will the Asus ROG Cellphone 9 FE price?
Whereas we’re not listening to any information a few wider rollout as but, the Asus ROG Cellphone 9 FE has hit shops in Thailand for THB 29,990. That interprets to about £713/$892.
The Asus ROG Cellphone 9 Professional retails for 33% extra in Thailand, so we might in all probability anticipate pricing in the identical ballpark have been the FE to ever come to those shores.
We’ll let you understand if we hear something about wider availability.
Why the FE has its work minimize out
We’re all for Asus making its gaming cellphone vary accessible to extra individuals, as we’re huge followers of the Asus ROG Cellphone 9 Professional.
Nevertheless, it’s price mentioning that there’s one other gaming cellphone participant on the scene in Nubia, and it already gives the Redmagic 10 Professional for a considerably decrease £579.
This will get you a similar Snapdragon 8 Elite processor because the ROG Cellphone 9 Professional, too, in addition to a large 7050mAh battery.
In fact, the ROG Cellphone 9 vary is a a lot classier and extra usable cellphone day after day, so maybe there’s nonetheless area for a extra inexpensive Fan Version choice.