BTTR is independent, but when you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Find out more.
Last week while I was caught up with a whole bunch of behind the scenes stuff on BTTR, ASUS rolled out its latest flagship, the Zenfone 11 Ultra, in Australia.
While the phone has been on sale for about a week now, it still offers some pretty nice innovations I’m keen to cover off, in case you missed the news from your other favourite tech sites last week.
A sustainable display
ASUS has been pushing its OLED displays on its laptops for a couple of generations now, so it’s no surprise it’s pushing out a pretty wicked display on this smartphone.
Sporting a 6.78-inch 144 Hz AMOLED display, the phone offers vibrant visuals enhanced by Pixelworks technology and LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) for better energy efficiency. The screen-to-body ratio is an impressive 94%, thanks to significantly smaller bezels, making for an immersive viewing experience.
But it’s not all about aesthetics. ASUS has made a commendable effort towards sustainability. The Zenfone 11 Ultra’s frame is made from 100% recycled aluminium, and its display incorporates over 20% recycled glass.
The packaging has also seen a 94% reduction in plastic use, relying more on wrapping paper. It’s good to see a major tech player making strides towards a circular supply chain.
I like big batteries, and I cannot lie
Under the hood, the Zenfone 11 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform, which is the backbone of many of this year’s flagship devices.
With 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of internal storage, the device is built to handle almost anything you throw at it.
Battery life has also seen a significant upgrade. The 5,500 mAh battery offers more than 26 hours of regular use, and the phone supports 65 W HyperCharge for rapid charging.
Wireless charging is also on board, compatible with any Qi wireless charger.
Compared to its predecessor, ASUS claims a 26.5% improvement in battery life. Given battery life is the one thing that seems to be taking forever to actually improve, this is an impressive stat.
Stability for your photos
The camera system is where the Zenfone 11 Ultra really aims to shine. Featuring a 50 MP main camera, the device includes a 6-Axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabiliser 3.0 and Super HyperSteady video stabilisation.
These features should deliver smooth, blur-free videos even when the phone is in motion. The AI Portrait Video mode adds a depth-of-field effect for a more professional look.
Interestingly, the front camera is no slouch either. The 32 MP sensor boasts improved low-light performance and a wider angle, making it easier to capture those group selfies in challenging conditions.
It’s 2024, so there has to be AI Features
It wouldn’t be a product launch in 2024 if there wasn’t the mention of AI somewhere, would it?
For ASUS, this comes in a few different formats. AI Wallpaper allows users to create personalised wallpapers, while AI Call Translator and AI Transcript offer real-time translation and transcription, enhancing communication and productivity.
The device also includes HyperClarity for better image resolution during zooming, plus Semantic Search for intuitive file management. With ASUS GlideX, users can stream apps from their phone to other devices like PC screens, improving the overall user experience.
ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra: Pricing and availability
ASUS isn’t a brand that typically gets associated with the best phones in Australia, but it has been working hard to build that reputation. Alongside the ROG Phone 8, the ZenPhone 11 Ultra promises to deliver great performance at a reasonable price (for a flagship. It’s not cheap)
The Zenfone 11 Ultra is available now at the ASUS e-Shop and JB Hi-Fi. It has an RRP of $1,599. It comes in two colours: Eternal Black and Skyline Blue.
ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra Specs
| Dimensions / Weight | 163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm / 224g |
| Colour | Classic: Skyline Blue / Eternal BlackNew: Misty Grey / Desert Sand |
| Rear Cam | Main: 50 MP 6-axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabiliser 3.0, 1/1.56″, f/1.9Wide: 13 MP, f/2.2, Free-form LensTele: 32 MP, f/2.4, OIS, 3X optical zoom, pixel binning 1.4μm (Actual output photo: 8MP) |
| Front Cam | 32 MP RGBW, pixel binning 1.4μm (Actual output photo: 8 MP) |
| Screen | 6.78″ flexible AMOLED, FHD+, up to 144Hz refresh rate (Only available in game), LTPO 1 ~ 120 Hz, peak brightness 2,500 nits |
| Battery / Charging | 5,500 mAh (typical), Wired 65 W HyperCharge, Wireless 15 W Qi cert. charging |
| Memory | RAM: up to 16 GB LPDDR5XROM: up to 512 GB UFS 4.0 |
| Frequency | 5G SA&NSA: n1 / n2 / n3 / n5 / n7 / n8 / n12 / n18 / n20 / n25 / n26 / n28 / n38 / n40 / n41 / n48 / n66 / n77 / n78 / n794G FDD-LTE: B1 / B2 / B3 / B4 / B5 / B7 / B8 / B12 / B17 / B18 / B19 / B20 / B25 / B26 / B28 / B32 / B664G TDD-LTE: B34 / B38 / B39 / B40 / B41 / B42 / B43 / B48WCDMA: 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 MHzGSM: 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz |
| Others | Accelerator, E-Compass, Proximity, Ambient light sensor, Fingerprint on Display, Gyro (Support ARCore), Hall Sensor, Wi-Fi 7 ready, Bluetooth 5.4, GPS / GNSS / GLONASS / Galileo / Beidou / QZSS / NavIC, 3.5mm headset, NFC |
