Asus might be cooling its heels when it comes to smartphones, at least for now that is. A new rumour mentions the company may no longer release new ROG Phone or Zenfone devices by 2026. That doesn't necessarily mean that Asus is leaving the smartphone business, but it may indicate that the company's looking at new ways to compete in a market where companies have to pay more and more for their hardware while charging less for devices.
No More Asus Phones in 2026
A report by DigiTimes suggests that Asus will not be reviving any of its ROG Phone or Zenfone models in the current year. That would mean 2026 is the first year in many not to see a new flagship or gaming phone from the Taiwanese company. Taiwanese phone retailers are also readying themselves to cease restocking Asus' smartphones, suggesting stock will cease altogether once they sell through what remains.
ALSO READ: CES 2026: Samsung Unveils AI-Powered Home Ecosystem With Bespoke Appliances
At the same time, Asus isn't leaving current customers out in the cold. The company will also continue to offer over-the-air software updates, warranty coverage and full after-sales support for phones already in the market, according to the report. In short, ROG Phone and Zenfone users who are currently using them will not be abandoned.
Recommended For You
After-Sales Support Will Continue
Even as new launches have been put on hold, Asus is reportedly still committed to “comprehensive after-sales” service. This applies to distributing promised Android updates, security patches and maintenance to existing devices. It remains to be seen if Asus will still make and sell its existing phones or if it will sell through existing inventory.
The company has not issued an official statement in response to the report, including whether this hiatus is a temporary situation or a long-term pivot away from smartphones. The timing is interesting, considering that many brands are facing higher component prices and slimmer margins, especially in the premium Android space.
The ROG Phone 9 Series – Final Refresh
Asus' gaming phone series was last updated in November 2024 with the international release of the ROG Phone 9 and ROG Phone 9 Pro, along with a more affordable version, the ROG Phone 9 FE (shorthand for Fan Edition), early this year. At the time of its launch, the ROG Phone 9 Pro came at around EUR 1,200 for the variant with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
The ROG Phone 9 Pro has a Samsung AMOLED LTPO, 6.78-inch Full HD+ screen that measures 2,500 nits of peak brightness and offers a high refresh rate of up to 165 Hz. Its muscle comes from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, alongside up to 24GB of LPDDR5x RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage. Battery-wise, the phone comes with a 5,800mAh cell that supports 65W wired and 15W wireless charging.
What This Means for Asus ROG Fans
If the report is accurate, 2026 might be a relatively quiet year for Asus in the smartphone department. For the loyalists among you who love the ROG Phone or Zenfone series, that means no new hardware for now, but also a bit of peace in knowing your devices will still receive support. Whether Asus will come back in 2027 with refreshed devices or keep winding down its phone business is yet to be seen.