Asus has two main smartphone series: the ROG gaming line and the Zenfone series. Last November, the company revealed new devices for the ROG line with the introduction of the ROG Phone 9 and ROG Phone 9 Pro. Now, it’s time to focus on the Zenfone series. The latest addition is the Zenfone 12 Ultra, and similar to last year’s Zenfone 11 Ultra, there is no standard model available.
Design Changes
In terms of design, the Zenfone 12 Ultra features some modifications, particularly on the backside. This new phone sports a smaller camera island and has removed the geometric design found on its predecessor. The rear is crafted from glass and boasts a smooth matte finish. Asus mentions that the frame is made from 100% recycled aluminum, while the display is composed of 22% recycled glass. The device maintains an IP68 rating, ensuring dust and water resistance.
Color Options and Display
The Zenfone 12 Ultra will come in Sage Green, Ebony Black, and Sakura White. It has a 6.78” FHD+ display, utilizing a Samsung AMOLED LTPO panel with a refresh rate of 120Hz. Asus claims it can reach up to 144Hz during gaming sessions and offers a peak brightness of 2,500 nits. Like many recent flagship Android phones, the Zenfone 12 Ultra is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage.
Camera Features and Software
When it comes to photography, the Zenfone 12 Ultra has a 50MP Sony Lytia 700 camera paired with Asus’s version 4.0 of its 6-axis hybrid gimbal system. It also features a 13MP ultrawide camera with a 120° field of view and a 32MP telephoto lens with optical image stabilization and 3x optical zoom. For selfies and video calls, it includes a 32MP RGBW front camera.
Included with the phone is Android 15, which introduces various AI capabilities. According to Asus, it’s the first smartphone globally to incorporate the Meta Llama 3 8B language model. The company asserts that all AI functionalities can run locally on the device, ensuring data security. However, Asus sticks to its previous pattern of offering only two operating system upgrades for the Zenfone 12 Ultra. Nonetheless, the phone will receive security updates until 2030.
Battery Life and Pricing
The Zenfone 12 Ultra houses a 5,500mAh battery that supports 65W fast wired charging as well as Qi 1.3 wireless charging. Asus hasn’t confirmed if a charger is included in the package, but since the Zenfone 11 Ultra didn’t come with one, it’s likely the new model follows suit. The device is equipped with an audio jack, stereo speakers, dual nano-SIM slots, and Wi-Fi 7.
Starting today, the Zenfone 12 Ultra is available for purchase at €1,099 in Europe. Asus is also offering a €100 discount promotion for early buyers until February 28th.
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