ASUS, you betrayed me! - ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra

The video begins with the host expressing a fascination for compact phones and contrasting the Zenfone 10’s small, flagship-grade nature with the newly announced Zenfone 11 Ultra. The unboxing and in-hand impressions highlight a distinct shift in design, moving from a textured plastic back to a smoother glass finish, while keeping an aluminum frame that now uses recycled materials. The presenter notes the IP68 rating and Victus 2 Gorilla Glass on the front, and recalls the Zen Touch button from the Zenfone 10, lamenting its removal in favor of an under-display fingerprint reader and a standard power button. A major visual cue is the prominent camera bump, which is much more conspicuous than before and reportedly contributes to durability concerns, including a cracked lens during initial testing. The box contents include a case and a USB-C to USB-C cable, but notably no wall charger, which the host views as a minor disappointment given the phone’s premium positioning. He then compares the Zenfone 11 Ultra’s silhouette and layout to the ROG Phone 8, arguing that ASUS has essentially cloned the shell of the ROG phone while attempting to refine the experience for a broader audience, including casual users and parents who may prefer a less gamer-centric aesthetic. The segment transitions into the hardware and performance discussion, with the host delivering a quick sponsor break before moving to the phone’s specifications, display, and battery performance. The Zenfone 11 Ultra uses a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, up to 16 GB of RAM, and up to 512 GB of storage, with a 6.7-inch 144 Hz LTPO AMOLED display that adapts to 1 Hz in certain conditions to save power, and a 5500 mAh battery that has shown remarkable longevity in their battery test. Display brightness, speaker quality, and overall media capabilities are praised, painting the phone as a strong multimedia device, but camera performance is acknowledged as a major weakness compared to top-tier competitors like Pixel and iPhone. The camera system includes a 50 MP main sensor, a 32 MP telephoto, and a 13 MP ultra-wide, but color reproduction and processing are described as not particularly outstanding, with a note that the ultra-wide struggles in challenging lighting. The host also highlights the phone’s AI features, zoom capabilities, and video stabilization options, including a six-axis AI gimbal and 8K/4K recording options, while warning about potential heat buildup under sustained gaming loads. In gaming tests, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 proves capable but thermals can throttle performance in high-stress scenarios, pushing the host to recommend Dynamic mode over dedicated Performance mode. Concluding thoughts touch on the software experience, user interface customization choices like the Splendid display presets, and the overall value proposition. The reviewer stresses that while the Zenfone 11 Ultra is competent and well-built, it loses its core differentiator of being a small phone, making it less compelling against compact competition and flagship rivals, and notes the price point around $900 as a barrier to entry given the market’s strong alternatives. The video ends with cautious optimism for a future Zenfone 11 non-ultra that might retain small size and better differentiation, while personally remaining fond of the device overall and encouraging viewers to consider it as part of ASUS’s evolving lineup.

Topics · technology · mobile devices · smartphones · review · gaming · battery · display · camera