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.

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.

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.

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

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.