Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra: Anyone familiar with Asus’s Zenfone series knows these phones have always marched to their own beat. For years, they stayed compact when everyone else went big, kept headphone jacks when others ditched them, and offered features that made tech enthusiasts genuinely excited. The Zenfone 11 Ultra changes all that—for better and worse.

Size Matters: When Small Becomes Standard

The most obvious change hits you immediately: this phone is massive. At 6.78 inches, the Zenfone 11 Ultra abandons the compact philosophy that made previous models special. Gone are the days when you could easily use this phone one-handed or slip it into any pocket without notice.

This size increase brings real benefits, though. The LTPO AMOLED display looks absolutely stunning, with colors that pop and brightness levels reaching 2,500 nits. Watching videos or playing games becomes genuinely enjoyable rather than just tolerable. The 144Hz refresh rate during gaming makes everything silky smooth, while the adaptive 1-120Hz range during regular use helps preserve battery life.

The build quality feels premium throughout. Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection, IP68 water resistance, and that distinctive matte finish give the phone a sophisticated look that doesn’t scream “gaming device” like some Asus products. You get four color options inspired by different landscapes, though honestly, they’re all pretty subtle choices.

Performance That Actually Impresses

Here’s where the Zenfone 11 Ultra truly shines. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor paired with up to 16GB of RAM delivers performance that rarely disappoints.(Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra )Everything feels fast—opening apps, switching between tasks, even demanding games run without hesitation.

What’s particularly impressive is how well the phone handles sustained performance. Unlike some thinner devices that throttle quickly when heated, the Zenfone 11 Ultra maintains its performance longer. Gaming sessions don’t result in immediate slowdowns, though you will notice some warmth during extended play.

The battery situation deserves special mention. That 5,500mAh capacity easily provides full-day usage, even with heavy use. Power users often see day-and-a-half battery life, which eliminates the constant battery anxiety many smartphone users experience. The 65W fast charging gets you back to full power quickly, though you’ll need to provide your own charger since none comes in the box.

Camera System: Good, But Not Great

This is where things get complicated. The camera setup looks impressive on paper—50MP main sensor with gimbal stabilization, 32MP telephoto with 3x zoom, and 13MP ultrawide. That gimbal stabilization really works well for video recording, producing remarkably smooth footage even when walking or moving around.

For photos, results are decent but not exceptional. The main camera captures sharp, colorful images in good lighting conditions. However, comparing photos side-by-side with other flagship phones reveals where the Zenfone falls short. Images often look over-processed, with artificial sharpening and contrast adjustments that make photos feel distinctly “smartphone-like” rather than natural.

The telephoto camera provides useful zoom capabilities, though image quality drops noticeably compared to the main sensor. Low-light performance across all cameras shows room for improvement, especially when you consider this phone’s flagship pricing.

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Software Experience: Clean But Concerning

Asus keeps the software experience relatively clean, running Android 14 without excessive bloatware or confusing modifications.(Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra)The interface feels responsive and includes some useful AI features like transcript capabilities and semantic search for photos.

However, Asus’s software update commitment raises concerns. Only two major Android updates and four years of security patches feel inadequate when Samsung and Google offer much longer support periods. For a phone you might keep several years, this limitation becomes increasingly important.

Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra The Reality Check

At $899 starting price, the Zenfone 11 Ultra faces fierce competition.(Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra)The OnePlus 12, Google Pixel 8 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus all compete in similar price ranges while offering their own advantages—better cameras, longer software support, or superior features.

The Zenfone 11 Ultra feels like a phone caught between identities. It’s no longer the compact, unique device that made Zenfones special, but it hasn’t quite become the all-around flagship champion needed to justify its price. The excellent battery life, solid performance, and gimbal stabilization provide genuine value, but camera performance and software support hold it back from true flagship status.

For buyers seeking reliable daily performance with exceptional battery life, the Zenfone 11 Ultra delivers. However, those expecting the innovative spirit that made previous Zenfones memorable might find themselves disappointed by this more conventional approach.