ASUS ROG Phone 9 vs Samsung Galaxy A35
The Verdict
ASUS ROG Phone 9 dominates as a flagship gaming powerhouse with the Snapdragon 8 Elite, 16GB RAM, and industry-leading 185Hz LTPO AMOLED display hitting 2500 nits brightness. Its 50MP Sony IMX906 main camera with OIS, 65W fast charging, and 5800mAh battery deliver premium performance across gaming and content creation. Samsung Galaxy A35 serves budget-conscious users well with capable 50MP main camera, 120Hz Super AMOLED display, and solid 5-year software support, though its Exynos 1380 processor struggles with demanding tasks, 25W charging feels dated, and 13MP front camera disappoints. Display quality and performance gap heavily favor ASUS, while Samsung excels in software longevity and value pricing. For gaming, multimedia, or power users, ROG Phone 9 justifies its premium. Budget buyers accepting performance compromises should consider Galaxy A35.
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 A35 if…
- →Solid build with Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both sides
- →Bright 120Hz Super AMOLED display
- →Long-lasting 5000 mAh battery
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 A35
Pros
- Solid build with Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both sides
- Bright 120Hz Super AMOLED display
- Long-lasting 5000 mAh battery
- IP67 water and dust resistance
- Four years of OS upgrades promised
Cons
- Only 6 GB RAM in base configuration
- Wi-Fi 5 is dated for 2024
- Exynos 1380 trails Snapdragon 7 chips
- Slow 25W charging with no in-box charger
Full Specifications
| Spec | ASUS ROG Phone 9 | Samsung Galaxy A35 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 15 | Android 14, One UI 6.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 227 g | 209 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus+ |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP67 |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 77.0 x 8.9 mm | 161.7 x 78.0 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.9, OIS (Sony IMX906) | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 32 MP, f/2.4 | 13 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps | 4K@30fps |
| Ultrawide | 13 MP, f/2.2, 120-degree | 8 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 5 MP macro |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 16 GB | 6 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5800 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 65W wired | 25W wired |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.78 inches | 6.6 inches |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 185Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2500 | 1000 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz + 4x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 830 | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | Exynos 1380 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.3 |
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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