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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 7, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerGoogle Pixel 9 vs ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro
The Google Pixel 9 takes the crown for most users, thanks to its impressive 7-year software support and a stunning 2,700 nits peak brightness. However, if you're into gaming or need a robust camera setup, the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro's 30x zoom and 165Hz display are hard to overlook. The Pixel 9 is the more compact flagship, weighing 7.0oz and featuring a sleek design.
📱 Display: 6.3" vs 6.78"⚡ Refresh: 120 Hz vs 165 Hz🔋 Battery: 4700 mAh vs 5500 mAh
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Google Pixel 9
★4.5
(1,044)•Amazon
Operating System:Android
Software Support:7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates
Processor:Google Tensor G4
Graphics:Arm Mali-G715 MC7
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ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro
★4.7
(63)•Best Buy
Operating System:Android
Software Support:2 major OS updates and 4 years of security updates
Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (SM8650)
Graphics:Adreno 750
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Key spec differences
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
Winner= clear advantage
Spec
Google Pixel 9
ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Google Pixel 9
6.3" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less)
ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro
6.78"Winner
Refresh Rate
Google Pixel 9
60–120Hz (Smooth Display)
ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro
1Hz–120Hz (Adaptive); 165Hz (Gaming mode)Winner
Performance3 specs
ProcessorKey
Google Pixel 9
Google Tensor G4
ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (SM8650)
RAMKey
Google Pixel 9
12GB LPDDR5X
ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro
16GB LPDDR5X (Pro Edition: 24GB)Winner
Storage
Google Pixel 9
128GB / 256GB (UFS 3.1)
ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro
512GB UFS 4.0 (Pro Edition: 1TB)Winner
Camera2 specs
Main CameraKey
Google Pixel 9
50MP Wide (f/1.68, 82° FOV), Octa PD AF, OIS
ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro
50MP Sony IMX890, f/1.9, 6-axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer 3.0
Ultra-Wide Camera
Google Pixel 9
48MP Ultra-Wide (f/1.7, 123° FOV) with Macro Focus
ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro
13MP, f/2.2, 120-degree FOV, Free-form lens
Battery2 specs
Battery CapacityKey
Google Pixel 9
4,700 mAh (Typical)
ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro
5,500mAh (Dual-cell)Winner
Wireless Charging
Google Pixel 9
Up to 15W (Pixel Stand 2nd Gen); up to 12W (Qi certified); Battery Share
ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro
15W Qi 1.3 Wireless Charging
Design2 specs
Weight
Google Pixel 9
7.0 oz (198 g)Winner
ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro
7.94 oz (225 g)
Dimensions
Google Pixel 9
6.0" x 2.8" x 0.3" (152.8 x 72.0 x 8.5 mm)
ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro
6.45 x 3.02 x 0.35 in (163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm)
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Google Pixel 9
5G (Sub6/mmWave varies by model); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC; Dual Band GNSS
ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro
5G (Sub-6/mmWave), Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), Bluetooth 5.4, NFC
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Expand
Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Google Pixel 9 vs ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro
Google Pixel 9
★4.5(1,044)Amazon
ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro
★4.7(63)Best Buy
| Criterion | Google Pixel 9 | ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.5(1,044)Amazon | ★4.7(63)Best Buy |
Operating System | Android | Android |
Software Support | 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates | 2 major OS updates and 4 years of security updates |
Processor | Google Tensor G4 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (SM8650) |
Graphics | Arm Mali-G715 MC7 | Adreno 750 |
RAM | 12GB LPDDR5X | 16GB LPDDR5X (Pro Edition: 24GB) |
Storage | 128GB / 256GB (UFS 3.1) | 512GB UFS 4.0 (Pro Edition: 1TB) |
Display Size | 6.3" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less) | 6.78" |
Screen Type | Actua OLED Display | Samsung E6 Flexible AMOLED, LTPO, 1,600 nits (HBM) |
Resolution | 1080 x 2424 pixels (FHD+), 422 ppi | 2400 x 1080 (FHD+) |
Refresh Rate | 60–120Hz (Smooth Display) | 1Hz–120Hz (Adaptive); 165Hz (Gaming mode) |
Peak Brightness | 1,800 nits (HDR) / 2,700 nits (Peak) | 2,500 nits |
Main Camera | 50MP Wide (f/1.68, 82° FOV), Octa PD AF, OIS | 50MP Sony IMX890, f/1.9, 6-axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer 3.0 |
Ultra-Wide Camera | 48MP Ultra-Wide (f/1.7, 123° FOV) with Macro Focus | 13MP, f/2.2, 120-degree FOV, Free-form lens |
Telephoto Camera | N/A (No dedicated telephoto lens) | 32MP, f/2.4, OIS, 3x Optical Zoom (Not periscope) |
Optical Zoom | 2x Optical Quality (via sensor crop) | 3x Optical |
Digital Zoom | Up to 8x Super Res Zoom | Up to 30x (Hyper Clarity AI up to 10x) |
Video Recording | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60fps; 10-bit HDR | 8K UHD @ 24fps; 4K UHD @ 30/60fps; HDR10+ |
Front Camera | 10.5MP Front (f/2.2, 95° FOV), Dual PD AF | 32MP RGBW, f/2.5, 90-degree FOV (Bins to 8MP) |
Battery | 4,700 mAh (Typical) | 5,500mAh (Dual-cell) |
Wired Charging | Up to 27W (charges up to 55% in ~30 min with Google 45W USB-C Charger) | 65W HyperCharge (Adapter included) |
Wireless Charging | Up to 15W (Pixel Stand 2nd Gen); up to 12W (Qi certified); Battery Share | 15W Qi 1.3 Wireless Charging |
Connectivity | 5G (Sub6/mmWave varies by model); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC; Dual Band GNSS | 5G (Sub-6/mmWave), Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), Bluetooth 5.4, NFC |
USB | USB Type-C 3.2 | Side: USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort 1.4); Bottom: USB-C 2.0 |
Durability | IP68 (Dust and water resistant); Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (front/back); Fingerprint-resistant coating | IP68 (Dust/Water Resistant); Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (Front) |
Dimensions | 6.0" x 2.8" x 0.3" (152.8 x 72.0 x 8.5 mm) | 6.45 x 3.02 x 0.35 in (163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm) |
Weight | 7.0 oz (198 g) | 7.94 oz (225 g) |
Biometrics | Ultrasonic Fingerprint Unlock; Face Unlock | Optical under-display fingerprint sensor, Face Unlock |
Extras | Satellite SOS; Gemini AI integrated; VPN by Google One; Car Crash Detection | AniMe Vision (341 Mini-LEDs on back), AirTrigger buttons, 3.5mm Headphone Jack, Dual USB-C ports |
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Google Pixel 9
Rating:★4.5(1,044)Amazon
Operating System:Android
Software Support:7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates
Processor:Google Tensor G4
Graphics:Arm Mali-G715 MC7
RAM:12GB LPDDR5X
Storage:128GB / 256GB (UFS 3.1)
Display Size:6.3" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less)
Screen Type:Actua OLED Display
Resolution:1080 x 2424 pixels (FHD+), 422 ppi
Refresh Rate:60–120Hz (Smooth Display)
Peak Brightness:1,800 nits (HDR) / 2,700 nits (Peak)
Main Camera:50MP Wide (f/1.68, 82° FOV), Octa PD AF, OIS
Ultra-Wide Camera:48MP Ultra-Wide (f/1.7, 123° FOV) with Macro Focus
Telephoto Camera:N/A (No dedicated telephoto lens)
Optical Zoom:2x Optical Quality (via sensor crop)
Digital Zoom:Up to 8x Super Res Zoom
Video Recording:4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60fps; 10-bit HDR
Front Camera:10.5MP Front (f/2.2, 95° FOV), Dual PD AF
Battery:4,700 mAh (Typical)
Wired Charging:Up to 27W (charges up to 55% in ~30 min with Google 45W USB-C Charger)
Wireless Charging:Up to 15W (Pixel Stand 2nd Gen); up to 12W (Qi certified); Battery Share
Connectivity:5G (Sub6/mmWave varies by model); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC; Dual Band GNSS
USB:USB Type-C 3.2
Durability:IP68 (Dust and water resistant); Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (front/back); Fingerprint-resistant coating
Dimensions:6.0" x 2.8" x 0.3" (152.8 x 72.0 x 8.5 mm)
Weight:7.0 oz (198 g)
Biometrics:Ultrasonic Fingerprint Unlock; Face Unlock
Extras:Satellite SOS; Gemini AI integrated; VPN by Google One; Car Crash Detection
✓ Pros:
- • Compact and premium design with satin metal frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2
- • Bright Actua display reaches 2,700 nits peak brightness
- • Industry-leading 7-year software update commitment
- • Excellent dual-camera system with Macro Focus on the ultrawide lens
- • Includes useful AI features like Add Me, Best Take, and Gemini integration
✗ Cons:
- • Lacks a dedicated telephoto lens (zoom limited to 8x Super Res Zoom)
- • Charging speed (27W wired) is slower than many competitors
- • Base storage starts at 128GB with UFS 3.1 (slower than UFS 4.0)
- • Tensor G4 performance lags behind Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in raw benchmarks
- • Display refresh rate bottoms out at 60Hz (not LTPO 1–120Hz like Pro models)
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ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro
Rating:★4.7(63)Best Buy
Operating System:Android
Software Support:2 major OS updates and 4 years of security updates
Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (SM8650)
Graphics:Adreno 750
RAM:16GB LPDDR5X (Pro Edition: 24GB)
Storage:512GB UFS 4.0 (Pro Edition: 1TB)
Display Size:6.78"
Screen Type:Samsung E6 Flexible AMOLED, LTPO, 1,600 nits (HBM)
Resolution:2400 x 1080 (FHD+)
Refresh Rate:1Hz–120Hz (Adaptive); 165Hz (Gaming mode)
Peak Brightness:2,500 nits
Main Camera:50MP Sony IMX890, f/1.9, 6-axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer 3.0
Ultra-Wide Camera:13MP, f/2.2, 120-degree FOV, Free-form lens
Telephoto Camera:32MP, f/2.4, OIS, 3x Optical Zoom (Not periscope)
Optical Zoom:3x Optical
Digital Zoom:Up to 30x (Hyper Clarity AI up to 10x)
Video Recording:8K UHD @ 24fps; 4K UHD @ 30/60fps; HDR10+
Front Camera:32MP RGBW, f/2.5, 90-degree FOV (Bins to 8MP)
Battery:5,500mAh (Dual-cell)
Wired Charging:65W HyperCharge (Adapter included)
Wireless Charging:15W Qi 1.3 Wireless Charging
Connectivity:5G (Sub-6/mmWave), Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), Bluetooth 5.4, NFC
USB:Side: USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort 1.4); Bottom: USB-C 2.0
Durability:IP68 (Dust/Water Resistant); Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (Front)
Dimensions:6.45 x 3.02 x 0.35 in (163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm)
Weight:7.94 oz (225 g)
Biometrics:Optical under-display fingerprint sensor, Face Unlock
Extras:AniMe Vision (341 Mini-LEDs on back), AirTrigger buttons, 3.5mm Headphone Jack, Dual USB-C ports
✓ Pros:
- • First ROG phone with IP68 water/dust resistance and telephoto lens
- • Incredible performance with advanced thermal management features
- • Brightest-in-class 165Hz LTPO AMOLED display (2,500 nits peak)
- • Includes 65W charger, case, and braided cable in the box
- • Retains enthusiast features: 3.5mm jack, notification LEDs, and AirTriggers
✗ Cons:
- • Software support (2 OS updates) lags behind Samsung/Google flagships
- • Battery capacity reduced (5,500mAh) compared to previous generation (6,000mAh)
- • Cameras, while improved, still trail top-tier photography flagships
- • Thermal throttling can occur earlier than previous bulky models without the cooler
- • No dedicated macro mode (uses Ultrawide) unlike previous iterations
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Which one is better?
The ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro is the better buy for most people - its jaw-dropping 165Hz display crushes the Google Pixel 9's 120Hz. That said, grab the Pixel 9 if you want a premium design and will benefit from its extended software support.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Google Pixel 9 if: you want a compact design with a premium feel, need long software support with 7 years of updates, or prioritize camera features like macro focus.
Choose the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro if: you game frequently and need a smooth 165Hz display, want the best battery life with a 5,500mAh capacity, or require an advanced camera system with 30x zoom.
Conclusion
There is no wrong answer here. Focus on the features you will use daily and pick the model that aligns with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Google Pixel 9 excels if you value compact and premium design with satin metal frame and gorilla glass victus 2. ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro is better if you prioritize first rog phone with ip68 water/dust resistance and telephoto lens. Pick based on your budget and daily use.
+Is this an independent review?
Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.
+Do newer models exist?
Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.
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