It is endemic to Papua New Guinea and is only known from the region of its type locality, Myola Guest House in the Owen Stanley Range, Northern Province.

[1][3] The specific name sabini honors Andrew E. Sabin,[2] an American businessman, philanthropist, and environmentalist who joined the expedition during which the holotype of this species was collected.

[4] However, its vernacular name Guest House Guinea frog refers to the type locality instead.

The darker dorsal pattern ranges from reddish brown to dark gray-brown.

The flanks range from yellowish tan through duller tan to orange; the abdomen has a paler shade of orange[2] Aphantophryne sabini is similar to Aphantophryne pansa but slightly smaller.