Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra : In the ever-evolving world of smartphones, Asus has once again made waves with its latest flagship offering, the Zenfone 12 Ultra.
This device, which hit the market in late February 2025, promises to deliver a premium experience with its cutting-edge features and powerful performance. Let’s dive deep into what makes the Zenfone 12 Ultra tick and see if it lives up to the hype.
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra Design and Build Quality
The Zenfone 12 Ultra continues Asus’s trend of creating sleek and sophisticated devices. Measuring 163.8 x 77 x 8.9 mm and weighing in at 220 grams, it’s a substantial phone that makes its presence felt.
The device sports a glass front and back, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, with an aluminum frame sandwiched in between. This combination not only looks premium but also provides durability.
Asus offers the Zenfone 12 Ultra in three elegant color options: Ebony Black, Sakura White, and Sage Green. These choices cater to different tastes, from classic to contemporary.
The phone’s IP68 rating ensures it can withstand dust and water immersion up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes, adding a layer of practicality to its stylish design.
Display
The Zenfone 12 Ultra boasts a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, resulting in a crisp 388 ppi density.
The screen-to-body ratio of approximately 88% provides an immersive viewing experience. One of the standout features is the 144Hz refresh rate, which ensures buttery-smooth scrolling and animations.
The display’s brightness capabilities are impressive, with a high brightness mode (HBM) of 1600 nits and a peak brightness of 2500 nits.
This ensures excellent visibility even under direct sunlight. HDR10 support enhances the visual experience when watching compatible content, offering deeper blacks and more vibrant colors.
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra Performance and Hardware
Under the hood, the Zenfone 12 Ultra packs a punch with the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, built on a 3nm process.
This octa-core processor features two high-performance Oryon V2 Phoenix L cores clocked at 4.32 GHz and six efficiency Oryon V2 Phoenix M cores running at 3.53 GHz. Coupled with the Adreno 830 GPU, this setup promises top-tier performance for even the most demanding tasks and games.
Asus offers the Zenfone 12 Ultra in two memory configurations: 256GB storage with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage with 16GB RAM.
The UFS 4.0 storage ensures quick app launches and fast data transfer speeds. However, the lack of expandable storage might be a drawback for some users who prefer the flexibility of a microSD card slot.
Benchmark scores reveal the phone’s prowess, with an AnTuTu v10 score of 2,702,580, a GeekBench v6 score of 9,695, and a 3DMark Wild Life Extreme score of 5,678.
These numbers place the Zenfone 12 Ultra among the top performers in the smartphone market.
Camera System
The camera setup on the Zenfone 12 Ultra is a triple-lens affair, headlined by a 50MP main sensor with an f/1.9 aperture and 24mm equivalent focal length.
This primary camera benefits from Asus’s innovative 6-axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer 4.0, which promises exceptional stability for both photos and videos.
Accompanying the main sensor is a 32MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom and a 13MP ultrawide lens with a 120-degree field of view.
This versatile trio allows for a wide range of shooting scenarios, from expansive landscapes to detailed close-ups.
The front-facing camera is a capable 32MP unit, suitable for high-quality selfies and video calls.
Asus has also implemented various AI-powered features to enhance the photography experience, including AI object tracking for video, AI-assisted video portrait mode, and AI Voice Clarity for cleaner audio in videos.
In terms of video capabilities, the Zenfone 12 Ultra can shoot up to 8K at 24fps, 4K at 60fps, and offers slow-motion options up to 480fps at 720p resolution. The inclusion of gyro-EIS and HDR10+ support further enhances the video quality.
While the camera system is undoubtedly capable, it’s worth noting that in comparative tests, the Zenfone 12 Ultra scored 141 in PhoneArena’s Camera Score, placing it below the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra’s score of 158.
This suggests that while the Zenfone’s cameras are good, there’s still room for improvement to match the very best in the market.
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra Battery Life and Charging
The Zenfone 12 Ultra comes equipped with a substantial 5500 mAh battery, which should provide ample power for a full day of heavy use. In active use tests, the phone managed an impressive score of 15 hours and 50 minutes, indicating excellent endurance.
Charging capabilities are equally impressive, with 65W wired fast charging that can juice up the phone from 0 to 100% in just 39 minutes.
For those who prefer wireless charging, the Zenfone 12 Ultra supports 15W Qi wireless charging. Additionally, it offers 10W reverse wired charging, allowing you to top up other devices in a pinch.
Software and AI Features
The Zenfone 12 Ultra runs on Android 15 out of the box, with Asus promising two major Android upgrades. While this update policy is decent, it falls short of the longer support periods offered by some competitors.
Asus has packed the Zenfone 12 Ultra with a suite of AI-powered features to enhance user experience. These include:
AI summary for websites and documents
AI live translation for calls (including third-party apps like WhatsApp)
AI transcript for voice recordings
Semantic Search for easier settings navigation
Circle to Search with Google
AI Magic Fill (similar to Magic Eraser)
AI Photo Unblur
These features, while impressive on paper, are still in their early stages and function more as proofs of concept rather than fully fleshed-out tools. However, they do add value to the overall user experience and show promise for future development.
Audio and Connectivity
The Zenfone 12 Ultra doesn’t skimp on audio quality, featuring stereo speakers and retaining the 3.5mm headphone jack – a rarity in modern flagships. It also supports 32-bit/384kHz Hi-Res audio and Hi-Res wireless audio, catering to audiophiles.
On the connectivity front, the phone is well-equipped with Wi-Fi 7 support, Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, and aptX Lossless codecs. It also features comprehensive GPS support, including dual-frequency GPS for improved accuracy.
The Zenfone 12 Ultra supports 5G networks across a wide range of bands, ensuring good coverage in most regions. It also offers dual SIM functionality with an additional eSIM option, allowing for flexible connectivity options.
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra Price and Value Proposition
Priced at €1,099 for the 16GB/512GB version, the Zenfone 12 Ultra positions itself as a competitive option in the flagship market. It undercuts some of its direct competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the OnePlus 13, while offering similar or in some cases superior specifications.
The generous base storage and RAM configuration add to the value proposition, especially when compared to rivals that often charge premiums for higher storage tiers. However, the lack of expandable storage might be a consideration for some potential buyers.
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra Conclusion
The Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra is a formidable entry in the 2025 smartphone market. It brings to the table a powerful processor, a versatile camera system with innovative stabilization, excellent battery life, and a feature-rich software experience. The high-refresh-rate display and premium build quality further add to its appeal.
However, it’s not without its shortcomings. The camera performance, while good, doesn’t quite match the very best in the market. The software update policy is also less generous than some competitors, which might be a concern for those planning to keep their device for several years.
Ultimately, the Zenfone 12 Ultra represents a compelling option for those seeking a flagship experience without breaking the bank. It offers a balance of performance, features, and value that will satisfy most users.
Whether it’s the right choice for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences, but it’s certainly a device that deserves consideration in the crowded flagship smartphone market.
The Zenfone 12 Ultra showcases Asus’s commitment to innovation and their ability to compete with the biggest names in the industry. As the smartphone market continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Asus builds upon this foundation in future iterations of the Zenfone series.
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