Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra Review
Tech Writers Rating: 8.5/10 (Legacy rating)
The Zenfone 11 Ultra delivers an impressive array of features and specifications, it marks a departure from Asus’ previous emphasis on compactness. Nonetheless, its powerful performance and versatile features are sure to appeal to users in the market for a flagship device.
The Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra carries the Zenfone legacy, it’s far from small. Asus aims to capture the mainstream market with this flagship device. I’ve had the chance to spend time with the Zenfone ahead of its launch to give you insights.
Specifications:
| Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra | |
| Dimensions: | 163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9mm |
| Weight: | 224g |
| Display: | 6.78-inch (2400 x 1080) 20:9 1Hz to 144Hz LTPO AMOLED |
| Chipset: | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| RAM: | 12GB / 16GB (LPDDR5X) |
| Storage: | 256GB / 512GB (UFS 4.0) |
| OS (at launch): | Android 14 |
| Primary camera: | 50MP, f/1.9, Sony IMX890 w/ ‘Gimbal’ OIS |
| Ultra-wide camera: | 13MP w/ 112º FoV & freeform lens |
| Telephoto camera: | 32MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom w/ OIS |
| Front camera: | 32MP w/ RGBW pixels |
| Battery: | 5,500mAh |
| Charging: | 65W wired, 15W wireless |
| Colors: | Skyline Blue, Eternal Black, Misty Gray, Desert Sand |
The Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra stands out as the sole release under the Zenfone lineup in 2024, positioning itself as the pinnacle of the series. Packed with the latest 2024 platform, it boasts the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, coupled with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage for £869 in the UK. Alternatively, you can opt for the 16GB RAM and 512GB storage variant priced at £949.
Batteries & Charging:
In terms of power, this handset boasts one of the largest batteries among mainstream phones this year, boasting a 5500mAh capacity. It supports rapid charging up to 65 watts, although a charger isn’t included in the retail package. Additionally, it offers wireless Qi charging capabilities of up to 15 watts.
According to Asus, the Zenfone can run for an average of 26.5 hours on a full charge. While actual usage may vary based on your activities, I found that it comfortably passes the “all-day use” test. However, it’s worth noting that high-power activities like modern smartphone gaming may drain the battery faster. If gaming is your priority, Asus recommends considering its ROG Phone 8 gaming smartphone instead.
Standard function:
Like many manufacturers, Asus offers a distinctive feature with its Smart Key, which enhances the functionality of the power button. While a single press performs its standard function, a double-tap activates Asus’ voice input system, and you can customize a long press to initiate a specific function or launch your preferred application. While it may seem minor, I find assigning the long press to my music player quite intuitive, even though I don’t typically utilize voice input.
Headphone jack, SIM tray, speaker:
Curiously, Asus has chosen to keep the 3.5mm headphone jack for audio output, a feature that was once ubiquitous on smartphones but has become increasingly rare. I suspect that most smartphone users no longer possess a pair of wired headphones. However, including the jack has influenced the design, as Asus has packed the bottom edge with the headphone jack, SIM tray, speaker, and USB-C port, resulting in a rather cramped layout.
Instead of aiming to be the ultimate gaming phone, the Zenfone 11 Ultra shifts its focus to Asus’ advancements in AI technology. Features such as AI Transcript, AI Call Translator, AI wallpaper generation, AI-driven noise cancellation during calls, and semantic search may not all be available right at launch. Nevertheless, they appear poised to elevate the Zenfone 11 Ultra beyond being just another smartphone, positioning it as a direct competitor to Samsung’s Galaxy AI initiatives and even the newly released Xiaomi 14 series.
AMOLED Screen:
The primary advantage of this generation’s larger size is the inclusion of a spacious AMOLED screen. This Full HD+ panel offers a refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz in regular usage, with the capability to ramp up to 144Hz for compatible games. Additionally, the Zenfone 11 Ultra boasts a substantial 5,500mAh battery, supporting 65W wired fast charging and 15W wireless charging. Asus claims a remarkable 26.5% increase in battery life compared to its predecessor, with approximately 26 hours of regular use per charge an assertion that we will undoubtedly scrutinize in our comprehensive Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra review.
Camera Features:
The primary camera features a 50MP Sony IMX890 sensor, which may not seem particularly remarkable as it serves as a secondary camera on some other phones. The second camera is a 13MP ultrawide lens. Camera number three boasts a 32MP sensor with a 3x optical zoom capability.
Despite the excitement surrounding the new features and powerful hardware, if you’re still mourning the absence of a compact flagship champion in the Zenfone series, the inclusion of the ‘Ultra’ suffix hints at the possibility of a Zenfone 11 Pro or an even more modest Zenfone 11 in the future. When questioned directly, Asus representatives informed TechRadar that they had nothing to disclose “at this moment,” leaving room for speculation.
| Memory / storage | US price | UK price | AU price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12GB RAM / 256GB | $899.99 | £869.99 | TBC |
| 16GB RAM / 512GB | N/A | £949.99 | TBC |
If you’re still interested in getting your hands on the new Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra, you can pre-order it starting from March 14. The phone will be available for sale in key markets, such as the US, Europe, and the UK, on April 14.
Asus also confirmed to TechRadar that the Zenfone 11 Ultra will be launched in Australia in the second quarter of 2024. However, pricing information has not yet been disclosed, even internally.
Pros:
- Outstanding battery life
- Excellent performance
- Fully water and dust resistant
Cons:
- Inconsistent camera performance
- Not compatible with Verizon network
- Heavy device
