ASUS ROG Phone 9 vs Nokia G42 5G
The Verdict
These phones target completely different markets. The ASUS ROG Phone 9 is a flagship gaming powerhouse with a 6.78-inch 185Hz LTPO AMOLED display reaching 2500 nits brightness, paired with the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and Adreno 830 GPU for demanding gaming and apps. Its 50MP main camera with OIS, 8K video recording, 16GB RAM, and 5800mAh battery with 65W charging deliver premium performance across the board. The Nokia G42 5G prioritizes sustainability and repairability with its recycled plastic build and modular design, offering practical mid-range specs: 6.56-inch 90Hz IPS LCD, Snapdragon 480+ 5G, 4-6GB RAM, and 5000mAh battery. Its 50MP main camera shoots only 1080p video, and charging maxes out at 20W wired. The ASUS excels in gaming, display quality (2500 vs 450 nits), processor speed, and multimedia with vastly superior specs across nearly every category. The Nokia wins on price per gigabyte, repairability, and environmental consciousness, making it suitable for light users prioritizing longevity and sustainability. For gaming, content creation, or performance-demanding tasks, the ASUS is incomparably better. For basic messaging, social media, and light usage on a strict budget, the Nokia delivers reasonable functionality at one-quarter the price.
Who Should Buy
Buy the ASUS ROG Phone 9 if…
- →185Hz display refresh rate is the highest on any smartphone
- →Snapdragon 8 Elite with advanced cooling sustains peak gaming performance
- →5800 mAh battery handles extended gaming sessions
Buy the Nokia G42 5G if…
- →Three years of OS updates and three years of security patches
- →Repairability-focused design with easily replaceable parts
- →100% recycled plastic back for environmental sustainability
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
ASUS ROG Phone 9
Pros
- 185Hz display refresh rate is the highest on any smartphone
- Snapdragon 8 Elite with advanced cooling sustains peak gaming performance
- 5800 mAh battery handles extended gaming sessions
- AniMe Vision LED dot-matrix display on the back for notifications
- AirTrigger ultrasonic shoulder buttons enhance mobile gaming controls
Cons
- Heavy at 227 g — feels chunky as a daily driver
- 65W charging is slow compared to Chinese gaming phone rivals
- Camera is competent but not flagship-level for the price
- Gaming-focused design is too aggressive for many users
Nokia G42 5G
Pros
- Three years of OS updates and three years of security patches
- Repairability-focused design with easily replaceable parts
- 100% recycled plastic back for environmental sustainability
- 5G connectivity at a budget $249 price
- 5000 mAh battery provides multi-day endurance
Cons
- HD+ resolution is pixelated on the 6.56-inch screen
- Snapdragon 480+ is underpowered for demanding tasks
- 2 MP macro and depth cameras are useless
- Only 20W charging is very slow for the 5000 mAh battery
- 8 MP front camera produces soft selfies
Full Specifications
| Spec | ASUS ROG Phone 9 | Nokia G42 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 15 | Android 13 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 227 g | 193 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | 100% recycled plastic back, repairable design |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP52 |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 77.0 x 8.9 mm | 164.6 x 75.8 x 8.5 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.9, OIS (Sony IMX906) | 50 MP, f/1.8, PDAF |
| Front camera | 32 MP, f/2.4 | 8 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Ultrawide | 13 MP, f/2.2, 120-degree | — |
| Depth | — | 2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Macro | — | 2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 16 GB | 4 GB / 6 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5800 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 65W wired | 20W wired |
| Wireless charging | — | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.78 inches | 6.56 inches |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED | IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 1612 x 720 |
| Refresh rate | 185Hz | 90Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2500 | 450 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz + 6x1.9 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 830 | Adreno 619 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | Qualcomm Snapdragon 480+ 5G |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.1 |
Want to compare a third product?
Add another product for a 3-way comparison.
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in phones, see all ASUS products or all Nokia products. View full details for the ASUS ROG Phone 9 or the Nokia G42 5G.