Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra review
The Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra marks a significant departure from its compact predecessors, embracing a larger form factor that rivals gaming-oriented Rog phones. This shift in strategy raises questions about the future of the Zen phone lineup. Despite this change, the Zenfone 11 Ultra still boasts many hallmarks of a flagship device, including a high-end chipset, improved camera capabilities, and exceptional battery life. In this review, we'll delve into whether this bold new direction is a worthy successor to the Zen phones that came before.
Build Quality and Design
The Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra deviates from its compact predecessors by offering a larger size, rivaling that of the company's gaming-oriented ROG phones. This shift in strategy has left fans wondering if we'll see another compact Zenphone in the future. Upon closer inspection, it's clear that the design of the Zenfone 11 Ultra is where this phone really stands out. The smooth matte glass back provides a premium feel, and the subtle geometric pattern adds a touch of sophistication. A square black camera module houses the lenses, which are arranged neatly on the flat aluminum frame. One notable change from last year's Zenphone is the lack of grippy polymer design. Instead, you get a solid and sturdy build that feels substantial in hand. The inclusion of IP68-rated water and dust protection further adds to the phone's robustness. The attention to detail is impressive, with a well-finished aluminum frame that complements the glass back perfectly. Overall, the Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra boasts a premium design language that's befitting of a flagship device. While some may lament the departure from compact sizes, it's hard to deny the appeal of the larger display and improved build quality. The Zenfone 11 Ultra's design is undoubtedly a highlight of this phone, and its solid construction should provide peace of mind for users who plan on carrying their device daily. Overall, the Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra's design is a success, offering a sleek and premium look that justifies its flagship status.
Battery Life
The battery life of the Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra is truly impressive. With a large 5500mAh battery, this phone can easily last for two days with moderate use. In our tests, we were able to achieve an active use score of 16 hours and 28 minutes, which is even better than the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Charging the phone is also quick, thanks to its support for 65W fast charging. We were able to charge it from 0 to 80% in just half an hour, and a full charge took around 41 minutes. This means you can easily get through your day without needing to plug the phone back in. Wireless charging is also supported on the Zenfone 11 Ultra, making it easy to keep the phone charged without having to worry about cables. Overall, the battery life of this phone is one of its standout features, and it's a great option for anyone who wants a phone that can last all day without needing to be plugged back in. The only drawback we found was that the phone doesn't come with a charger or adapter in the box, which may be inconvenient for some users. However, this is a small price to pay for the excellent battery life and quick charging capabilities of the Zenfone 11 Ultra.
Display
The Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra boasts a stunning 6.78-inch LTPO OLED display, a significant upgrade from the compact Zenfone lineage. The increased screen size brings a wealth of benefits, including improved content consumption and navigation. The display itself is a masterpiece, with a crisp 1080p resolution that's perfect for everyday use. The inclusion of HDR support ensures vivid colors and an immersive viewing experience, while the impressive brightness of up to 830 nits (boosting to 1,800 nits in auto mode) makes it suitable for even the brightest environments. One of the standout features of the Zenfone 11 Ultra's display is its 144Hz refresh rate. While this high-speed panel may only be utilized for certain games set up within the Game Genie app, it still provides a seamless and smooth experience during general use and swiping around. Additionally, thanks to LTP Tech, the display can dial down to just 1Hz when idling to conserve energy. The inclusion of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection adds an extra layer of durability, making the Zenfone 11 Ultra's display a robust and reliable choice for daily use. Overall, the display on the Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra is a major highlight, offering a visually stunning experience that's perfect for content enthusiasts and everyday users alike. While some may lament the abandonment of the compact Zenfone design, the increased screen size has undoubtedly brought numerous benefits to this latest iteration. The display on the Zenfone 11 Ultra is undeniably one of its strongest features, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a high-end smartphone experience.
Camera
The camera setup on the Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra is an improvement over its predecessors. The phone features a 50-megapixel main camera with gimbal OIS, a 32-megapixel three times telephoto cam, and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide camera. In good lighting conditions, the main camera captures solid photos with nice and natural colors. Details are good, but there's some aggressive sharpening that leads to an overprocessed look when zoomed in closely. The dynamic range and contrast are all right, but not exceptional. Low-light performance is decent, with an automatic night mode applied. The frame has plenty of detail, and balanced-looking processing results in great colors and a wide dynamic range. However, the main camera struggles with noise in low light conditions. The 8K video capabilities at 24 FPS are a welcome feature. In good lighting, videos have excellent contrast and colors, with practically no noise and plenty of detail. However, low-light video performance is compromised by excessive grain and noise, making it less ideal for capturing footage in dimly lit environments. The three times telephoto cam produces 8-megapixel images with plenty of detail and well-matched colors to the main camera. Contrast and dynamic range are okay in low light, but the telephoto cam does produce decent shots with practically no noise and good-looking colors. Videos taken at 1080p resolution from the telephoto cam have a decent amount of detail, despite being limited by their lower resolution. The ultra-wide cam produces decent enough photos with okay detail and contrast. Low-light performance could be better, but overall, it's an acceptable performer. However, its 4K video capabilities struggle with low contrast for some reason. Selfies taken from the 30-megapixel front-facing camera come out in 8 megapixels and look decent. Details are there, skin tones look natural, and contrast and dynamic range are quite all right.
Price and Value
The Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra is a significant departure from the compact flagship norm that the brand has been known for. This latest offering brings a larger display, improved camera setup, and the latest chipset to the table, but at what cost? Priced around [insert price], the Zenfone 11 Ultra is positioned as a high-end device that competes directly with other flagships on the market. While it delivers in terms of performance, battery life, and features, the question remains whether its size and design justify the premium price tag. In our review, we found the Zenfone 11 Ultra to be a solid flagship overall, with great battery life and no glaring deficiencies across the board. However, the lack of expansion storage options via microSD card may be a concern for some users who value having more flexibility in terms of storage capacity. The cameras on the Zenfone 11 Ultra are similar to those found on recent Rog phones, but with slightly better performance in certain areas. The main camera captures decent photos and videos, while the ultra-wide cam produces okay results. However, the telephoto cam's limited zoom capabilities and lackluster low-light performance may not be enough to win over enthusiasts who crave more from their smartphone cameras. Considering its price point, the Zenfone 11 Ultra falls into the upper-midrange category, where value is king. While it offers great battery life, a snappy interface, and decent camera capabilities, we can't help but feel that it's missing something to truly justify its premium pricing. In comparison to other flagships on the market, such as the OnePlus 12 or Samsung Galaxy S24+, the Zenfone 11 Ultra may not stand out enough in terms of sheer value. Ultimately, the question remains whether the Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra is worth its price tag. While it's a solid flagship that checks most boxes, we can't help but feel that it falls short of being truly exceptional in certain areas.
Performance
The Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra is a significant departure from the compact flagships that have characterized the Zenphone lineup in the past. But while its larger size may come as a surprise, it's the phone's performance that truly sets it apart. Under the hood, you'll find Qualcomm's latest and greatest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which delivers respectable flagship-grade scores in benchmarks. The phone also features an improved camera setup, with a large 5500mAh battery providing excellent battery life. In our tests, we measured 16 hours and 28 minutes of active use, beating even the iPhone 15 Pro Max. One of the standout features of the Zenfone 11 Ultra is its sustained performance over time. While it may not match the Rog gaming phones in terms of raw power, the phone's Dynamic mode ensures smooth operation with no slowdowns or hiccups. Intensive tasks are handled with ease, and thermal throttling is minimized. However, when pushed to its limits in Performance mode, the phone does experience some thermal throttling during prolonged stress tests. This isn't unexpected, given the phone's size and power consumption. Nevertheless, it's still impressive that Asus has managed to deliver such a smooth and efficient performance across the board. In terms of charging, the Zenfone 11 Ultra supports 65W charging, but disappointingly, no charger is bundled with the device. Wireless charging is also supported, however, making up for this omission somewhat. Overall, the Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra's performance is a significant highlight of this phone, and one that sets it apart from other high-end devices on the market. With its excellent battery life, smooth operation, and respectable benchmark scores, it's a solid flagship that's worth considering.