In an interesting twist, it appears that Asus is drawing some naming cues from Samsung for an unexpected forthcoming release. A smartphone dubbed the ROG Phone 9 FE has been detected in benchmark tests, blending the well-known Asus ROG Phone 9 moniker with Samsung’s “FE” suffix, which is short for Fan Edition.

Asus only just launched the ROG Phone 9 and ROG Phone 9 Pro, and there was no mention of a third variant at that time. We might have anticipated an “Ultimate” edition down the line, based on Asus’ previous approach with the ROG Phone 7 series. However, this FE model could potentially offer fewer specs than the ROG Phone 9.

Samsung uses the FE branding on slightly revamped older flagship phones that it releases later to complement its newest models, like the Galaxy S24 FE. This provides customers the option to purchase a recent high-end phone at a more reasonable price point. Despite its unfortunate history, where it was first used by Samsung to clear out its old Galaxy Note 7 phones (the ones that didn’t explode), Asus seems to have picked up on the name, at least in the benchmark test results.

The phone has the model number AI2401 N, which is also found in the GSM Association’s (GSMA) database of devices. This suggests that the benchmark test information is likely accurate. There’s no leaked specification details yet, but there are connections being drawn between it and the ROG Phone 8, which had the model number AI2501 C.

Asus might also be following Samsung’s FE model strategy by rebranding the ROG Phone 8’s design and specifications as an ROG Phone 9 model, then applying the FE name to distinguish it within the lineup. This decision is somewhat peculiar, as the FE tag has no significance outside Samsung’s circle, and within it, it’s linked to a challenging period in the brand’s history.

While no release details are currently available, the ROG Phone 9 and ROG Phone 9 Pro are already on sale. If you’re an ardent mobile gamer, these devices are definitely worth considering.