Asus goes big with the cutting-edge Zenfone 11 Ultra

Asus goes big with the cutting-edge Zenfone 11 Ultra،

If you like your handsets small and powerful, you're probably familiar with the Asus Zenfone line. But after defying every trend in the mobile industry over the past few years, the Taiwanese PC specialist behind devices as compact as the 5.92-inch Zenfone 10 and the 5.9-inch Zenfone 9 is now launching into the big screen with the 6.78 inch. Zenfone 11 Ultra.

Of course, the fact that this giant that has just been revealed is not simply called Asus Zenfone 11 gives us hope that a second, more manageable version could also see the light of day. Until (or rather if) that happens, let's see what this new ultra-high-end model is all about and how similar it is to the gaming-focused ROG Phone 8 that released just a few months ago.

Lots of screen, lots of power and very cool cameras

Since we've already put the elephant in the room by talking about the ROG Phone 8, let's quickly address the obvious “problem” with the Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra. Yes, these two products are basically the exact same product, with the Republic of Gamers logo, customizable RGB lighting, and fancy cooling technology removed from the “new” phone.

This certainly doesn't make the Zenfone 11 Ultra very unique or revolutionary, but if you think about it, what does it mean? android phone released in the last five years or so really qualifies for these labels? Plus, it's no secret that ROG designs aren't for everyone, while the ROG Phone 8The specifications may well bring a smile to the faces of many experienced users of the more mainstream Zenfone 11 Ultra.

These specs include everything from a cutting-edge Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor to a generous 12GB of RAM paired with a respectable 256GB of internal storage space, as well as a massive 5,500mAh battery equipped with the two ultra-fast 65 W. Decent 15W wired and wireless charging capabilities.

Despite an unremarkable (by ultra-high-end standards) resolution of 2,400 x 1,080 pixels, the extra-wide 6.78-inch AMOLED display is also bound to turn heads and catch eyeballs with bezels ultra-thin, maximum brightness of 2,500 nits. , and a dynamically adjustable refresh rate between 1 and 120 Hz (or 144 Hz in-game).

While Asus phones aren't typically known for their otherworldly photography skills, the Zenfone 11 Ultra (like the ROG Phone 8) features a very impressive-sounding 50 MP primary shooter with 6-axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer 3.0 technology joined by a 32 MP 3x telephoto zoom secondary camera and a 13 MP tertiary ultra-wide-angle sensor on the rear .

It's definitely too early to tell, but this could be a very good candidate for the title of best Android phone in 2024 if we take into account all of its specifications and capabilities.

Is the price correct?

This, our friends, is the million-dollar question you'll need to answer before deciding whether to go for a Zenfone 11 Ultra or a Galaxy S24 Ultra, for example. At $899, this bad boy is unsurprisingly cheaper than this Samsung-made rival, but is it affordable enough to merit your attention…and some hard-earned money?

Again, it's hard to say until you get your hands on a device and check out its real-world photography prowess, as well as the 26-hour battery life. What works in favor of the Zenfone 11 Ultra is that the ROG Phone 8 currently starts at a slightly higher price of $999.99.

You also have until April 14 to get a free gift for the “early bird” ROG Cetra True Wireless Earbuds, which is a great deal, further enhancing an already solid value proposition.

However, no pre-order freebie can change the fact that the OnePlus 12 also costs $900 with not only more RAM and storage on deck, but also a significantly brighter, higher-resolution 6.82-inch display and three even bigger rears. -facing the cameras.

This is a rival that Asus will likely have to undercut with an outright discount if it wants to find mainstream success in the US. By the way, the Zenfone 11 Ultra is available in an unlocked variant compatible with AT&T and TMobile But no Verizonwhich is another small detail likely to upset potential buyers far more than the phone's similarities to the ROG Phone 8.