Asus has officially launched the ROG Phone 9 series, including the ROG Phone 9 and ROG Phone 9 Pro, designed to set a new standard in gaming smartphones. Packed with cutting-edge features, these devices boast an impressive Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, ultra-responsive displays, and advanced cooling systems, ensuring peak gaming performance for enthusiasts.

Asus ROG Phone 9 Series: Specifications

The Asus ROG Phone 9 series showcases a 6.78-inch Full HD+ AMOLED HDR LTPO display, offering refresh rates from 1Hz to 165Hz and up to 185Hz in gaming mode. With 2,500 nits peak brightness, HDR10 support, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection, the screen delivers vibrant visuals and durability. The series runs on Android 15-based ROG UI, tailored for gamers.

Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset powers the devices, paired with up to 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage in the Pro Edition. Both models include the in-house ROG GameCool 9 cooling system for effective thermal management during intense gaming sessions.

For photography, the phones feature a triple rear camera setup led by a 50MP Sony Lytia 700 sensor. The Pro model includes a 32MP telephoto lens with OIS and 3x optical zoom, while the standard version has a 5MP macro camera. Both phones sport a 32MP front camera with AI features such as Object Sense and HyperClarity.

Connectivity options are abundant, including 5G, Wi-Fi 7, NFC, and a USB Type-C port. The devices also support Hi-Res Audio, Dirac Virtuo technology, and AirTrigger controls. With IP68 water and dust resistance, a 5,800mAh battery, 65W wired fast charging, and 15W wireless charging, the series ensures convenience and longevity.

Also Read: Smartphone Buying Guide to Choose Best Fit for Your Bucks

Asus ROG Phone 9 Series: Pricing and Availability

The Asus ROG Phone 9 starts at EUR 1,099 (approximately ₹98,000) for the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage variant, while the 512GB variant is priced at EUR 1,149 (₹1,02,800). The ROG Phone 9 Pro is priced at EUR 1,200 (₹1,00,000) for the 16GB RAM + 512GB storage version. The Pro Edition, with 24GB RAM and 1TB storage, costs EUR 1,500 (₹1,33,000).

Available in Phantom Black and Storm White finishes, the series is already on sale in select countries in Europe and the US. Details about the India launch are yet to be announced.

With its robust specifications and gamer-focused features, the Asus ROG Phone 9 series is set to redefine mobile gaming for enthusiasts worldwide.

Also Read: Best Phone for Vlogging in 2024 for Budding Content Creators

Wrap-Up

The Asus ROG Phone 9 series cements its position as a powerhouse in mobile gaming. With top-tier specs, gamer-centric innovations, and stunning visuals, these devices are built for unparalleled gaming experiences. Whether you’re a competitive player or a casual gamer, the ROG Phone 9 series ensures performance and style at its peak.

Meta has been continuously working on enhancing users' privacy and experience across all its platforms including the instant messaging app WhatsApp. From end-to-end encrypted messages to having comtrol over who can see the status, there are number of privacy features that offer a safer experience to users. One of the most important features among these are controlling who can see your WhatsApp profile photo. If you have been worried about who can peep intro your WhatsApp profile photo, you can actually change who cam see it. All you need to do is make some changes in the app's privacy setting. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it.

WhatsApp Profile Photo: How to change privacy settings
WhatsApp let users choose their profile image visibility to - Everyone, My contacts , My Contacts Except and Nobody. Here's how you can do it.

1. First open WhatsApp app on your phone and tap on the three dot available on the top right corner (on Android phones)
2. Then go to your WhatsApp settings. On iPhone or iPad, tap on the gear icon or Settings App Icon at the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.

3. In the Settings, head to Account

4. Next tap on Privacy available on the top.

5. Then tap on Profile Photo.

6. There, you will see four options-
a. Everyone - if you want to allow everyone to see your profile picture
b. My Contacts: if you want only your WhatsApp contacts to see your profile picture
C. My Contacts except…- if you don’t want certain WhatsApp contacts to see your profile picture
D. Nobody - if you don’t want anyone to see your profile picture

7. Once you choose the preferred option, tap on 'Save the settings' and it's done. Your profile photo will only be seen to the people you've selected.

Blaupunkt launched the SBW600 Xceed home theatre system today with Dolby Atmos, DTS, and IMAX-enhanced technologies offering 360 surround sound on 9.1.4 channel. This system combines German precision with American technology to provide an exceptional audio experience.

The SBW600 Xceed soundbar speakers are placed on top, front, and side of the soundbar and dual rear satellite speakers with 3D audio. The SBW600 Xceed has an all-metal construction that also encases every speaker driver. It has connectivity options, which include HDMI-ARC, Optical, Coaxial, AUX, USB, and Bluetooth.

Also Read: Home Theatre Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Home Theatre

With a focus on high-quality audio and a sleek design, the SBW600 Xceed is poised to elevate home entertainment experiences for audiophiles and movie enthusiasts alike. The Blaupunkt SBW600 Xceed is priced at Rs 49,999 and is available directly from the official website.

Samsung has unveiled its Galaxy S25 series last week only and the rumors about the next iteration of its foldable smartphones have already started making their way to the internet. The handsets are months away from its launch but a recent leak has suggested the price and some of the key features of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7. One of the major leaks is use of the new Exynos 2500 chipset in the next-generation clamshell foldable phone. Both the handsets are likely to make their debut in the second half of this year. Check out the expected price as well as features of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 as well as the Galaxy Z Flip 7.

Galaxy Z Flip7 and Galaxy Z Fold7 Price
Tipster @PandaFlashPro has shared that both the Galaxy Z Flip7 and the Galaxy Z Fold7 is likely to retain the same price tags as their predecessors. This means the Galaxy Flip 7 could reportedly start at $1,099 (around Rs 91,000), while the Galaxy Z Fold 7 could debut at a starting price of $1,899 (around Rs 1,58,500).

Galaxy Z Flip7 Chipset and Features Leaked
Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve), a tipster on X, stated that Samsung's Exynos 2500 chipset will power the unannounced Galaxy Z Flip 7. Since the beginning, Samsung has utilized Snapdragon chipsets in its foldable line. The flip-style phone from this year might be the first to use the company's proprietary Exynos SoC.

Under the hood of the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform. UFS 4.X storage and 16-bit 9.6Gbps quad-channel LPDDR5X memory are reportedly supported by Samsung's Exynos 2500. Additionally, it might have an onboard NPU with 56 TOPs (trillions of operations per second) of performance. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5 from last year are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform.

According to a GalaxyClub report, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is also anticipated to have a camera configuration akin to that of the previous Galaxy Z Flip 6. The phone will likely have a 50-megapixel primary rear sensor alongside a 12-megapixel ultra-wide shooter and a 10-megapixel selfie shooter.

As per the report added, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is unlikely to get a telephoto camera. The report notes that the purported foldable may carry the codename B7, while the cheaper Samsung Galaxy Z Flip FE has the codename B7R.