The Asus ROG Phone 9 with a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip is a performance powerhouse, but it can't match other $1,000 phones in ways that matter.

ASUS has launched the ROG Phone 9 and 9 Pro, and the Pro model lets you play games on the rear lighting system.

Over the years, Asus has carved a niche catering to mobile gamers with its ROG smartphone line, focusing on things you won't find in phones from the big dogs. That includes a second USB-C charging port for landscape mode so the cable won't get in the way while gaming.

The ROG Phone 9 Pro doesn't change too much from its predecessor, but you get exciting hardware and a new camera at the back that takes great photos. Combine that with a clean software, and you get the ultimate gaming phone.

The ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro is one of the first phones sporting a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, but is it worth the upgrade?

I booted up the game Mortal Kombat Mobile on the new Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro, and the tutorial that led me into Scorpion pulling off a Fatality against Sub-Zero shows the fiery character slicing through his opponent's skull like butter.

From the get-go, it's pretty obvious that the only notable difference between the ASUS ROG 9 Pro and its predecessor is the sensor behind the camera, and even then, both the Sony LYTIA 700 in the new device and the Sony IMX890 inside the ROG Phone 8 Pro share very similar specs. All the other cameras are essentially the same as before.

The Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro is the most powerful phone on the market at the time of writing. It's also remarkably easy to use day-to-day, with a relatively subtle design, outstanding battery life, an adequate camera,

Asus' ROG Phone 9 offers innovative gaming features like AirTriggers and a stunning AMOLED display. Battery life is respectable at 21 hours, but daily use, especially with the camera, is underwhelming. The ROG Phone 9 excels at gaming, but its design doesn't stand out as a smartphone for non-gamers.

Even if you're the most hardcore gaming fan out there, chances are you don't own one of the best gaming phones on the market. It's a massively niche sector, with very few players remaining in the game.