ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro (#2, best premium) vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max (#3): in our Gaming Phones scoring the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro totals 9.6/10 and the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max 8.9/10, the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro leading on Gaming Features and Display and the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max on Battery Life.
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Side by side
| ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro | Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1295 | $1339 |
| Display | 6.78" AMOLED, 2448x1080, 165Hz | 6.9" Super Retina XDR, 2868x1320, 120Hz ProMotion |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite | A19 Pro Bionic |
| RAM | 16GB | 12GB |
| Storage | 512GB | 256GB-1TB |
| Battery | 5,500mAh, 65W HyperCharge | Up to 37hr video |
| Features | AirTrigger 9, X Mode | — |
| Camera | — | 48MP main + 48MP ultrawide + 48MP 5x telephoto |
How they differ in real use
Built from our best gaming phones scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro and the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max made our Top 5 Gaming Phones, at #2 (best premium) and #3. Premium gaming flagship with smoothest 165Hz display, AirTrigger 9 ultrasonic controls, and best build quality among gaming phones. Last ROG Phone model—a collector's item. Best for Apple ecosystem gamers with A19 Pro sustained performance, console-quality games (RE Village, AC Mirage), and Apple Arcade. MagSafe controller attachment is seamless.
We score gaming phones on Performance (35%), Display (25%), Cooling (20%), Gaming Features (10%) and Battery Life (10%). On that basis the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro totals 9.6 out of 10 and the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max 8.9. The widest gap is Gaming Features, where the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro scores 10 against 6 for the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max — triggers. Display also separates them: 10 for the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro versus 9 for the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max. The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max claws back ground on Battery Life.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Display — 6.78" AMOLED, 2448x1080, 165Hz on the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro versus 6.9" Super Retina XDR, 2868x1320, 120Hz ProMotion on the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max; Processor — Snapdragon 8 Elite on the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro versus A19 Pro Bionic on the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max; RAM — 16GB on the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro versus 12GB on the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max; Storage — 512GB on the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro versus 256GB-1TB on the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max; Battery — 5,500mAh, 65W HyperCharge on the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro versus Up to 37hr video on the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Pricing as of July 18, 2026: $1,295 for the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro and $1,339 for the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max, a $44 difference in the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro's favor. Owners praise the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro for 165Hz smoothest display and airTrigger 9 controls; the most common complaint is $1,099 premium price. Owners praise the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max for best-in-class video recording and 4K 120fps smooth capture; the most common complaint is $1,199+ premium price.
ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro
- 165Hz smoothest display
- AirTrigger 9 controls
- Best gaming phone build
- Armoury Crate software
- $1,099 premium price
- Last ROG Phone model
- Large and heavy
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Best-in-class video recording
- 4K 120fps smooth capture
- Zero shutter lag
- Spatial photo/video for Vision Pro
- $1,199+ premium price
- 12GB RAM less than Android
- Slower charging than competitors
Which should you buy?
The ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro is the better fit for premium gaming experience and flagship quality + gaming — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Gaming Features and Display. The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is the better fit for photography enthusiasts and video creators, and the stronger choice if Battery Life matters more to you than the overall score. Since the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro is both the higher scorer and $44 cheaper, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max only makes sense for photography enthusiasts. The ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro is a poor fit for budget gamers; the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is a poor fit for budget conscious.
Choose the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro if
- Premium gaming experience
- Flagship quality + gaming
- ROG ecosystem
Skip it if
- Budget gamers
- Future-proofing concerns
Choose the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max if
- Photography enthusiasts
- Video creators
- Apple ecosystem users
Skip it if
- Budget conscious
- Fast charging needs
Common questions
Is the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro better than the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max?
In our Gaming Phones ranking the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro scores higher overall, 9.6 to 8.9, with the biggest advantage in Gaming Features. The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is stronger on Battery Life, so it is the better pick if that matters most to you.
How much more does the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max cost than the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro?
$44 more as of July 18, 2026: $1,339 for the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max against $1,295 for the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro. Prices move, so the merchant page shows the current figure.
What is the main difference between the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro and the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max?
The headline spec difference is Display: 6.78" AMOLED, 2448x1080, 165Hz on the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro versus 6.9" Super Retina XDR, 2868x1320, 120Hz ProMotion on the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max. In use, the gap that matters most is Gaming Features (10 vs 6 in our scoring): triggers.