Asus has long been a name synonymous with high-performance laptops, but when it comes to smartphones, the company’s track record has been somewhat hit or miss. Particularly the Asus Zenfone range has been a product line that has drawn numerous compliments but has been under continuous criticism over time. With the launch of the Zenfone 11 Ultra,the Taiwanese tech titan sought to restore credibility in the ever-competitive smartphone industry. Still, the most often asked question is: Is the Zenfone 11 Ultra a real comeback for Asus or an overhyped flop?
In response to that, let us analyze the main features of the phone, analyzing both its advantages and disadvantages, keeping it in the viewpoint of its ancestors and the competitive position of the market.
Design and Build Quality: Not Revolutionary but A Forward Step
Design-wise, Asus has always adopted audacious and original concepts. Not different is the Zenfone 11 Ultra. The phone feels strong and wonderfully made in the hand from its premium glass-and- metal shell. It first seems to be any other high-end flagship, sleek, glossy, with a somewhat curved display. Though not particularly imaginative, most people will probably find appeal in its design.
The design lacks punch even if the narrow bezels and the LTPO AMOLED panel are really pleasing. The Zenfone 11 Ultra partly resembles competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or iPhone 15 Pro Max somewhat vaguely. Although the design lacks the “wow” element that would make it unique, Asus has definitely improved its workmanship.
On the other hand, Asus kept a headphone jack—a rarity on many luxury gadgets nowadays—and included an under-display fingerprint sensor, a good feature. One may argue, though, that given the weight Asus pays design, it plays it too conservative.
Performance: An Amazing Combining Bag of Restraints and Authority
With the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor—a major improvement over its predecessor—the Zenfone 11 Ultra gets close to parity with other 2024 flagships. With up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage, the phone shows incredible on paper performance. Practically speaking, the gadget completes daily chores easily; multitasking, gaming, and program switching are quick and adaptable.
Still, the Zenfone 11 Ultra can have trouble in connection with prolonged gaming or resource-intensive work. The thermals typically slow after long usage even if the phone can run popular games like PUBG Mobile and Genshin Impact on high settings. Though it’s hardly a deal-breaker, especially in relation to smartphones from firms like Xiaomi and OnePlus, Asus still trails in optimizing speed for intense use.
Though it operates really well, the phone feels not revolutionary. Given the enthusiasm around the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, one might anticipate the Zenfone 11 Ultra to blow rivals in terms of raw performance. Regretfully, that is not the situation here. Though hardware restrictions or software optimization is yet unknown, the Zenfone 11 Ultra does not quite provide the same degree of smooth experience that rivals like the Google Pixel 8 Pro or OnePlus 12 can give.
Camera: Aiming for Excellence but Not Quite There
Among the main selling propositions of the Zenfone 11 Ultra is its camera technology. Apart from a 13MP ultra-wide lens, the phone also features a 50MP primary sensor, a 32MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. This arrangement should theoretically offer a great visual experience, and it does in certain respects.
Arguably Zenfone 11 Ultra’s best quality is daytime photography. The camera catches amazing dynamic range, vivid colors, and great details especially in well-lit environments. One can crop high-resolution photographs received from the amazing camera sensor without any loss of quality. On low-light performance, though, the camera begins to reveal flaws. Noise reduction is erratic and images can come out either underexposed or overprocessed, especially in demanding settings.
Although Asus has obviously worked hard to upgrade the camera software, the phone’s photographic quality falls far short of class-leading. Particularly in low-light and night shooting, competitors including the Google Pixel 8 and iPhone 15 Pro still produce more consistent and natural images.
The Zenfone 11 Ultra excels in the video market with 8K video capture at 24fps, a rarity for phones this price range. Besides, 4K recording is really clear and steady. Said another way, the whole camera experience feels more like a mixed bag than a home run.
Software: Buggy and Unpolished
Though Asus has advanced software optimization over time, the Zenfone 11 Ultra’s software still seems to be a bit deficient around the edges. Powered on Android 14, the gadget runs ZenUI 10. Though Asus has introduced numerous helpful tools like Game Genie for gamers and PowerMaster for energy management, the general user experience seems to be inconsistent sometimes.
The bloatware included pre-installed is one of the main negatives. Most users find most of the apps Asus unnecessary; removal of them is not frequently easy. Furthermore, the Zenfone 11 Ultra feels less polished than it ought to be for a phone of this kind since it stutters sometimes and has slow animations while switching between apps.
Updates also seem haphazard; although Asus promises long-term support, the firm has been erratic in timely security fix provision. Asus still has a lot to go in terms of software support, unlike Samsung’s and Google’s dedication to consistent upgrades.
Excellent but Not Outstanding Battery Life
Especially in view of 65W fast charging and 15W wireless charging capability, the 5,500mAh battery is a great increase. Usually consistent for a day of use, battery life is not very innovative. The phone will get you through a full day depending on your usage; those hoping for great battery life might want to search elsewhere.
Though it lets you charge the gadget to 50% in around 20 minutes, the rapid charging speed is a good bonus; Asus hardly leads in the battery aspect when compared to competitors like OnePlus and Xiaomi.
Finally, either overhyped or a real comeback?
Unquestionably, the Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra is a decent gadget with some amazing capabilities; nevertheless, depending on what you want from a smartphone, either an overhyped flop or a real comeback for Asus.
The phone falls short of the high notes set by the competitors even if it boasts amazing performance, a nice display, and a passable camera system. Though Asus is obviously getting better, the Zenfone 11 Ultra feels more like a phone trying to catch-up than a tool redefining new benchmarks. Lack of a very creative design, simple software interface, and varying camera performance all help to produce a product that might not measure up to the promise.
Though it might not be a flop, it most surely does not fit the kind of game-changing comeback enthusiasts of Asus could have envisioned. The Zenfone 11 Ultra feels more like a solid opponent than a leader since every flagship product in a fiercely competitive market is expected to push limits. The Zenfone 11 Ultra is a good progression for individuals entwined within the Asus ecosystem. Though for the larger public the phone doesn’t really stand out enough to have a significant influence.
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