ASUS ROG Phone 9 vs Samsung Galaxy A05s
The Verdict
Comparing these phones reveals a massive gulf between flagship and budget segments. ASUS ROG Phone 9 dominates with Snapdragon 8 Elite processing, a stunning 185Hz LTPO AMOLED display at 2500 nits, and professional-grade camera capabilities including 8K video and advanced Sony IMX906 sensor. Its 5800mAh battery supports rapid 65W charging, while IP68 certification and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 ensure durability. Galaxy A05s targets basic users with modest specifications: Snapdragon 680 chip, 60Hz PLS LCD screen at 400 nits, and 1080p video maximum. The 5000mAh battery charges slowly at 25W, lacks wireless charging, and the phone has zero water resistance. For gaming, content creation, or demanding apps, ROG Phone 9 excels. For calls, messaging, and light browsing on a strict budget, Galaxy A05s suffices. The price difference of $840 reflects entirely different markets and use cases. ROG Phone 9 represents exceptional value for its performance tier, while A05s offers reasonable budget accessibility.
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 Samsung Galaxy A05s if…
- →Extremely affordable at $159 for a Samsung smartphone
- →Large 5000 mAh battery provides two-day endurance
- →Big 6.7-inch display for media consumption
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
Samsung Galaxy A05s
Pros
- Extremely affordable at $159 for a Samsung smartphone
- Large 5000 mAh battery provides two-day endurance
- Big 6.7-inch display for media consumption
- 50 MP main camera takes acceptable daylight photos
- 25W charging is decent for the budget segment
Cons
- HD+ resolution is noticeably pixelated on the 6.7-inch screen
- No 5G — 4G LTE only
- Snapdragon 680 is slow for multitasking
- No NFC — no contactless payments
- Plastic build feels fragile and cheap
Full Specifications
| Spec | ASUS ROG Phone 9 | Samsung Galaxy A05s |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 15 | Android 13 (One UI Core 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 227 g | 194 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Plastic frame and back |
| IP rating | IP68 | None |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 77.0 x 8.9 mm | 167.0 x 77.8 x 8.8 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.9, OIS (Sony IMX906) | 50 MP, f/1.8 |
| Front camera | 32 MP, f/2.4 | 13 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 | 64 GB, 128 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5800 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 65W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | — | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.78 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED | PLS LCD |
| Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 1600 x 720 |
| Refresh rate | 185Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2500 | 400 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz + 4x1.9 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 830 | Adreno 610 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 |
| 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 |
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.
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