How to choose the best holiday gift for gamers: why the ROG Phone makes Christmas unforgettable

Any hardcore mobile gamer can appreciate receiving a gaming phone. It's one of the best holiday gifts for gamers. But the ROG Phone 9 isn’t just a gaming phone. It’s the gaming phone. Between beefy hardware specs, bespoke software, and unique features, it’s unparalleled at what it does. Here’s a closer look at why the ROG Phone 9 is the perfect tech gift for the gamer in your life.

The ROG Phone 9’s hardware dominates all the latest games

These days, a lot of games on mobile closely resemble popular PC games, and some are even largely consistent across platforms. Games like Genshin Impact, Infinity Nikki, and Fortnite deliver a similar experience on both PC and mobile, assuming you have a phone that’s up to the task. That’s where the ROG Phone comes in.

With its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, hefty amount of RAM, and sizeable storage, the ROG Phone 9 can run all the latest games like a champ and fit plenty of them without needing to uninstall anything. It also features advanced thermal technology to keep your hands cool even when pushing its hardware to the limit.

The ROG Phone does more than run games well, though. It makes them look brilliant with an E6 AMOLED display that packs up to a 185Hz refresh rate. This means when your giftee is playing a reflex-testing game like Dead Cells, they’ll see every single frame of action with lightning speed and clarity — giving them an advantage compared to gamers with slower screens.

Perhaps most of all, gamers will appreciate the phone's little hardware touches — like the extra charging port on the side so they can juice up while they play. Even better is the ROG Phone 9’s AirTriggers, which essentially turn the edges of the phone into gamepad-like shoulder buttons. These are customizable and provide precision inputs beyond what a touchscreen can offer, making them perfect for competitive games like Call of Duty: Mobile.

The ROG Phone 9 packs unique, premium perks gamers will appreciate

The ROG Phone packs special software to give gamers total control over their handset. The Armoury Crate app lets you adjust phone performance to balance gaming prowess with battery life, customize display settings, and more. You can even download profiles for popular games that ensure you get optimized frame rates, thermals, and power efficiency.

When you’re in game, just swipe from the corner to bring up Game Genie, which is a virtual control center that gives you quick access to the ROG Phone's most helpful settings and features. It lets you turn off notifications while gaming to eliminate distractions, lock screen brightness to suit your environment, and more.

But the ROG Phone 9 takes software even further, injecting AI into the mix. X Capture 2.0 recognizes when you do something impressive in a game and automatically records the moment for you, capturing highlights without any manual input needed. AI Grabber tech automatically translates in-game text, useful if you're playing a title that doesn't support your language. The phone’s AI can even modify the flow of gameplay. For example, the automatic item pickup feature detects collectible items and virtually clicks them for you, so you don't need to waste thumb tap after thumb tap. These AI tools are just a taste of the phone’s numerous artificial intelligence abilities that make gamers’ lives better than ever.

On top of all this, the ROG Phone 9 champions a unique identity with its AniMe Vision display. This display is made up of programmable mini-LEDs on the back of the phone that can show off custom animations, giving your ROG Phone an illuminated signature detail that says it’s yours. Plus, on the ROG Phone 9 Pro, you have enough mini-LEDs for our AniMe Play feature, which puts entire games — simple, old-school classics like Snake Venture and Aero Invaders — on the back of your phone with that mini-LED array. So, if you want a break from modern apps, simply flip your phone over and play some timeless gems.

You can’t go wrong with the ROG Phone 9

There are no two ways about it: the ROG Phone 9 is a gaming beast that’s hard to beat. But it’s also a high-powered handset with the near-limitless utility of any other premium smartphone. For example, its AI features extend beyond gaming and help users take sharper, smarter photos as well as cutting-edge AI portrait videos. And with such powerful hardware, the phone can run just about any app out there, including the most demanding non-gaming software.

Whether your gamer giftee wants to watch movies and videos, read ebooks, make calls, send emails, download heavyweight apps, or take the coolest photos, they’ll have the ultimate all-in-one device to handle all their needs. And then, when it’s time to game, they’ll be better armed than the competition. The ROG Phone 9 isn’t just a premium gift idea for the gamer in your life — it's useful enough to be a holiday gaming essential.

Make the holidays extra special with these ROG Phone accessories

If you want to give your gamer the ultimate ROG Phone experience this holiday, consider the following accessories.

The ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova earbuds

The ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova earbuds are tiny, lightweight, and built for gaming. They offer up to 46 hours of battery life and sport two connectivity options, Bluetooth or 2.4GHz via a tiny 2.4GHz USB Type-C receiver. The 2.4GHz option is perfect for hardcore competitive play that demands low-latency audio. The Cetra’s bone-conduction AI microphones also help in competitive games, enabling crystal-clear communication with teammates.

These features all complement the earbuds’ incredible sound — high-resolution 24-bit 96 kHz audio in 2.4 GHz mode with the enhanced clarity of Dirac Opteo technology. When you gift someone a pair of ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova earbuds, you’re giving them the best buds ROG offers.

The ROG Tessen Mobile Controller

Any hardcore mobile gamer can benefit from real, physical buttons, which provide a more tactile, precise experience than touchscreen controls. That's why the ROG Tessen is an easy go-to gift option for ROG Phone recipients. It can fold up, making it easy to transport alongside the ROG Phone. It features 18W fast pass-through charging so gamers can use it and charge their phone simultaneously. And it even has RGB lighting for gamers who like to show off their fancy gadgetry's built-in style.

The ROG Tessen works with many mainstream smartphones besides just the ROG Phone, making it a great Christmas gift idea or stocking stuffer for any mobile gamer eager to level up their play. Check out its store page for compatibility requirements.