Asus reportedly halts phone launches for 2026, existing devices to receive after-sales support

Asus

• Asus will not launch new ROG or Zenfone smartphones in 2026 per reports
• Existing Asus phones will still get software updates and warranty support
• It's unclear if Asus is exiting the smartphone market or just pausing for a year

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Asus has made a name for itself with its gaming-centric ROG smartphone series, which caters to a small niche segment of hardcore mobile gamers. The company also updated its flagship lineup last year, with the launch of the Zenfone 12 Ultra in February 2025. However, since then, Asus has not refreshed its phone lineup, with recent reports suggesting a delay in its production. Now, a new report has affirmed these claims and suggests that the company’s ROG Phone and the Zenfone lineups might not be updated, at least in 2026, halting its smartphone releases for the year.

Asus will not launch phones in 2026: Report

According to a new report by DigiTimes, Asus will not launch new smartphones this year as part of its existing ROG and ZenFone lineups. Distributors in Taiwan have been unable to source ASUS smartphones for some time and were informed that the company’s smartphone unit would effectively close temporarily on December 31, 2025.

Reportedly, Asus has also clearly communicated to telecom channels that its after-sales smartphone operations will continue, and that maintenance, software upgrades, and warranty services for all existing products will not be affected. This means that if you own a latest Asus smartphone, like the Zenfone 12 Ultra or an ROG Phone 9, you can still expect your software updates and warranty repairs to go through normally.

Asus' statement does not confirm whether it is completely exiting the smartphone market or taking a temporary pause for this year. However, this decision also fuels speculation that the Taiwanese tech giant may be gradually winding down its smartphone ambitions, where the market remains dominated by giants like Samsung and Apple, leaving little room for smaller brands to grow. This decision also comes at a time when various other smartphone manufacturers are trying to find a way around the increasing component costs due to the shortage of memory and storage parts.