ASUS ROG Phone 9 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
The Verdict
ASUS ROG Phone 9 dominates in raw performance and gaming capability with its Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, 16GB RAM, and exceptional 185Hz LTPO AMOLED display delivering 2500 nits brightness. Battery capacity reaches 5800mAh with 65W fast charging. Samsung Galaxy S23 FE counters with a more compact 6.4-inch form factor, telephoto lens for versatile zooming, and wireless charging at $400 less. However, the ROG Phone 9's superior processor, vastly superior display refresh rate, larger battery, and faster charging make it the stronger choice for demanding users and mobile gamers willing to invest premium dollars. Galaxy S23 FE suits budget-conscious buyers prioritizing compact design and basic flagship features.
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 S23 FE if…
- →Flagship features like 120Hz AMOLED and IP68 at a lower price
- →Bright 1450-nit display for good outdoor visibility
- →3x optical zoom telephoto is rare in this price range
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 S23 FE
Pros
- Flagship features like 120Hz AMOLED and IP68 at a lower price
- Bright 1450-nit display for good outdoor visibility
- 3x optical zoom telephoto is rare in this price range
- Four years of OS updates guaranteed
- Wireless charging with reverse wireless PowerShare
Cons
- Exynos 2200 variant has weaker performance and efficiency
- Only 25W wired charging is slow for 2023
- Gorilla Glass 5 is older protection than Victus 2
- 8 MP telephoto resolution is low
- Heavier at 209 g due to older processor thermals
Full Specifications
| Spec | ASUS ROG Phone 9 | Samsung Galaxy S23 FE |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 15 | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 227 g | 209 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 5 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 77.0 x 8.9 mm | 158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.9, OIS (Sony IMX906) | 50 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Front camera | 32 MP, f/2.4 | 10 MP, f/2.4 |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps | 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 13 MP, f/2.2, 120-degree | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 8 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5800 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | 65W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | — | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.78 inches | 6.4 inches |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 185Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2500 | 1450 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz) | Octa-core |
| GPU | Adreno 830 | Xclipse 920 / Adreno 730 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | Samsung Exynos 2200 / Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| 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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