ASUS ROG Phone 9 FE Imminent: Wi-Fi Certification Hints at a "Budget-Friendly" Gaming Flagship

ASUS ROG Phone 9 FE Imminent: Wi-Fi Certification Hints at a "Budget-Friendly" Gaming FlagshipASUS officially launched its flagship gaming phones, the ROG Phone 9 and ROG Phone 9 Pro, on November 19th, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Extreme Performance, starting at 4999. However, a mysterious device with the model number ASUS_AI2401_N recently appeared on the Wi-Fi Alliance certification website, prompting speculation from 91Mobiles that this is likely the highly anticipated ROG Phone 9 FE (Fan Edition)

ASUS ROG Phone 9 FE Imminent: Wi-Fi Certification Hints at a "Budget-Friendly" Gaming Flagship

ASUS officially launched its flagship gaming phones, the ROG Phone 9 and ROG Phone 9 Pro, on November 19th, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Extreme Performance, starting at 4999. However, a mysterious device with the model number ASUS_AI2401_N recently appeared on the Wi-Fi Alliance certification website, prompting speculation from 91Mobiles that this is likely the highly anticipated ROG Phone 9 FE (Fan Edition).

Currently, information on this "budget-friendly" ROG Phone 9 FE remains scarce. However, the Wi-Fi Alliance certification reveals key details. The device supports 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz Wi-Fi bands, and is compatible with Wi-Fi 6 and Miracast. These features suggest the ROG Phone 9 FE is not a low-end device, retaining the wireless connectivity and multi-screen interaction capabilities expected of a flagship gaming phone.

The "FE" or "Fan Edition" typically signifies a more affordable "lite" version of a flagship phone. It aims to attract a wider audience by making reasonable compromises in hardware specifications to lower the price. This strategy is common in the mobile industry, with many manufacturers releasing FE versions of their flagship lines to cater to different budgets.

Given the ROG Phone 9 series' starting price of 4999, and the ROG Phone 9 FE's "budget-friendly" positioning, its price is expected to be below 4999. This implies hardware compromises. Some speculate that the ROG Phone 9 FE might feature last year's flagship processor the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, while a previous generation flagship, still offers robust performance satisfying most gamers. Compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Extreme Performance, it might slightly underperform in some aspects, such as GPU performance and power efficiency. However, this difference might be negligible for average users, particularly in gaming.

Beyond the processor, other specifications of the ROG Phone 9 FE may differ from the ROG Phone 9 and ROG Phone 9 Pro. The screen refresh rate, RAM, storage, and camera sensors might be adjusted to reduce costs. These details await official confirmation from ASUS.

Nevertheless, the ROG Phone 9 FE offers gamers more choices. For those with budget constraints but desiring the performance of the ROG Phone series, the ROG Phone 9 FE will be highly attractive. It could offer a signature ROG gaming experience at a more accessible price, broadening the user base.

In conclusion, the Wi-Fi Alliance certification shrouds the upcoming ROG Phone 9 FE in mystery, generating significant anticipation. While specific specifications are limited, its "budget-friendly" positioning and retention of flagship features are compelling. We await further details from ASUS, hoping to unveil the secrets of this "lite" gaming flagship. Its release is expected to create a stir in the market. Specific configurations and launch dates remain pending official announcements. This Wi-Fi certification, however, provides valuable insight and suggests the ROG Phone 9 FE could be a dark horse in the 2024 gaming phone market.