It seems like ASUS might be hitting the pause button on its smartphone endeavors. Recent reports indicate that the company doesn't have any plans to release new smartphones in 2026. This news has understandably stirred up some concern about the future of ASUS's presence in the mobile market.

Distributors in Taiwan have reportedly stopped receiving ASUS phones, with some claiming they've been told the smartphone division will cease operations by the end of 2025, which sounds like a pretty definitive end date. When questioned, ASUS has stated that its smartphone operations will continue, emphasizing that current users will still receive support. This includes maintenance, software updates, and warranty services. The company also affirmed it would maintain its "current operating model" for after-sales support. However, the confirmation that no new models are planned for 2026 adds a layer of complexity to the situation. I think it's fair to say that its a bit confusing.

Even though there aren't new devices coming up, ASUS seems committed to its existing user base. For example, they rolled out Android 16 to the ROG Phone 9 and Zenfone 12 Ultra. These actions do suggest that they're not completely abandoning their current customers.

The Zenfone 12 Ultra, which launched globally in February 2025, was ASUS's last major worldwide release. Around the same time, they introduced the ROG Phone 9 FE, but it was only available in Thailand. Considering the lack of new phone releases planned for 2026, it's hard to know if ASUS is simply changing its strategy or if this is the beginning of the end for their smartphone line. For the time being, ASUS wants everyone to believe that they will return with new phones. Only time will tell if they actually will, or if they will quietly exit the smartphone stage.