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adThree steps forward, one step back? Since 2021, Asus has positioned itself in a segment hitherto neglected by many manufacturers: compact smartphones. Whether it was the Zenfone 8, the Zenfone 9 or the Zenfone 10, which we particularly appreciated last year, all of these products had a 5.9-inch panel.
This value proposition was really appreciable in a world where smallness is always measured above 6 inches. Certainly the Galaxy S24 and the Pixel 8 tried not to give in to gigantism (6.2 inches), but still. Apart from the iPhone 13 mini (5.4 inches), which is starting to date (2021), no recent smartphone can currently be defined as compact.
With its Zenfone 11 Ultra, Asus is therefore falling into line, while de facto complicating the task. Indeed, in this category, Samsung, Honor, Google, Xiaomi and even OnePlus are already sharing a cake of which only a few crumbs remain. Does the ZenFone 11 Ultra measure up to this competition?? After more than two weeks in its company, here is our opinion.
Available since March 14, the Zenfone 11 Ultra is available in two configurations and in several colors:
- a version available in blue and black with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage at 999 euros.
- a more muscular version with 16 GB of RAM and 512 of storage at 1099 euros. This configuration is available in black, blue, gray or sand.
First indication, for equal configuration, the prices between the Zenfone 10 and the Zenfone 11 Ultra increase by around 150 euros. A point to weigh since the two mobiles do not have the same screen size.
Second remark, Asus is positioned as usual in the “low” high-end. All recent XXL-sized smartphones easily exceed 1000 euros. Only the recent Xiaomi 14 is offered at the same price for the same configurations.
Last point, which embellishes the previous one, Asus is offering a pre-order offer until April 14 with 100 euros reduction on each configuration.
Although it is a beautiful baby (163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm for 224 g), the Zenfone 11 Ultra has the merit of having a fairly well distributed weight. Be careful, this does not mean that using it with one hand will be child's play for everyone. From the front, its appearance is quite successful thanks to its rounded edges, its brushed aluminum edges with a successful matte finish and its ultra-thin screen borders.
From the back, the impression is more abrupt. The rectangular photo block is rather prominent and protrudes a few millimeters. When placed down, the smartphone does not move, but it is somewhat raised. In mineral glass, the back covering is pleasant to the touch and takes few fingerprints.
Visually, a few shiny lines form the Asus monogram. Like what we can see on the manufacturer's laptops. It’s discreet, but it has the merit of existing. Regarding connectivity, it’s a real pleasure to see that Asus has kept the jack socket. In this price segment, or gaming smartphone, the Taiwanese manufacturer is a bit like the last of the Mohicans.
On the other hand, the position of the USB-C port, on the left side of the lower edge, is a little odd. It will prevent gamers from using a Backbone or Kishi type game controller. Did Asus not want to encroach on its ROG Phone range here?? In any case, it can be frustrating, so you might as well take it into account.
Solid (Gorilla Glass Victus 2) and waterproof (IP 68), the Zenfone 11 Ultra continues the current credo of premium smartphones, sobriety above all. Too bad, Asus had already accustomed us to more madness.
In this area, it is not necessary to demonstrate originality, but rather efficiency. What Asus succeeds in doing brilliantly with its 6.78-inch Full HD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) AMOLED panel, i.e. a resolution of 388 pixels per inch on an occupying screen surface. approximately 89% of the front facade.
As you will have understood, the immersion is rather good, while in terms of refresh rate, the Taiwanese manufacturer does not make any missteps. Thanks to LTPO technology, it oscillates between 1 and 120 Hz and can even go up to 144 Hz.
To do this, you will have to manually unlock the option via the game center (Game Génie) and of course play compatible titles. This is particularly the case for Shadowgun: Legends, Dead Cell and Minecraft, to name a few. And to complete the experience, the screen is particularly responsive and reflections do not appear en masse on the screen.
In terms of brightness, we were pleasantly surprised. With an announced HDR peak of 2500 nits, the Zenfone 11 Ultra panel is dazzling. We were able to check it under a few rays of sunlight, outdoors we were never inconvenienced. Even to read the interventions on the chat of a Twitch live.
Finally, in terms of colorimetry, we found the whole thing a little cold by default. Nothing detrimental, since it is easy to adjust the color temperature according to several options.
Now, every year, the vast majority of premium smartphones are equipped with the same chip. The one that is the most powerful at the moment. Only Google, since 2021, and Samsung, which sometimes brings out its Exynos SoC to us, are really standing out on Android.
For 2024, this chip is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 which already equips the Galaxy S24 Ultra, the Honor Magic6 Pro, the Xiaomi 14 or even the OnePlus 12… And everything suggests that it still risks becoming embedded in a few flagships this year. Therefore, the goal is not really to know how powerful this processor is. It is and it allows you to play and launch the most demanding applications from the Play Store.
The interest is rather to analyze the way in which the engineers of each brand use this chip. Where some manufacturers sometimes limit the power, for fear of poorly managing the rise in temperature, Asus decides to let the dogs loose. According to our benchmarks, the Zenfone 11 Ultra is one of the most impressive Android smartphones running Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in terms of raw power.< /p>
However, and this is where the difference is currently being made, the Zenfone 11 Ultra is as stable as an image and its heating is generally well controlled. Whatever the game, you will be able to play it at 60 FPS, with the graphics at maximum, without any discomfort even during long sessions. The remarkable work of the firm's engineers is to be saluted here.
What would a high-end smartphone of 2024 be without AI?? To not be left behind on this subject, Asus has introduced several AI features. Tools that we have already seen on the Google Pixel 8 and within Samsung's Galaxy AI ecosystem. Except that here the experience is more mixed, many functions still being in beta.
The summary of voice notes is capricious (“AI Transcript”), it does not always work. Instant translation during a call is messy in its interface and can sometimes be improved (“AI Call Translator”). In any case in English, the version we tested, other languages should arrive soon (German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese), in addition to Chinese already available).
It is also possible to generate wallpapers (“AI Wallpaper”) according to three parameters. After 10 minutes spent on it, it quickly becomes boring. Indeed, we quickly realize that we prefer to have one of our own photos as a wallpaper or an image found on the web.
In the end, only two functions have really found favor with us for the moment. Semantic search within the photo gallery.It's not revolutionary, but it is practical and effective. And AI noise cancellation which is supposed to improve the quality of our calls by reducing ambient noise. For now, we tested and approved it at Châtelet les Halles in Paris, on a Saturday around 3 p.m. Between a call made with an iPhone 15 Pro and another with the Zenfone 11 Ultra, the difference in hubbub was obvious, both for us and for our interlocutor.
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Although we end on this good note, we still feel that Asus' AI proposal is currently sluggish. Unlike Samsung, we feel here that the manufacturer wanted to make AI, to make AI… The ergonomics are not simplified by a magic button and the majority of the functionalities are still very perfectible.< /p>
We don't blame the manufacturer, its AI is still getting used to it, it could quickly improve.However, Asus must not forget that the adoption of AI depends as much on the quality of a functionality as on its ergonomics of use…
When it comes to overlays, Asus has always been discreet. Running Android 14, this Zenfone 11 Ultra is no exception to the rule. Here, the user has the choice between the stock version of Android or an interface optimized by Asus. The latter ultimately only changes a few things like the appearance of the control panel. For everything else, it's crystal clear, without frills and without bloatware. Those who like sobriety will be in heaven. While full of good ideas, the Zenfone 11 Ultra manages to display them in a minimalist interface.
For example, by tapping the back of the phone, it is possible to trigger certain actions such as a screen capture. It's very useful. Without reaching the extreme level of customization found in ROG Phones, the game mode will also delight meticulous gamers. Finally, the “on-board tool” function is useful for customizing a quick application launch according to our current desires.
Once again, the overall interface of this smartphone is a real success. What a shame that this feeling is weighed down by… only two years of Android updates. While all manufacturers are making efforts on this point and Samsung and Google are even going so far as to offer seven years of upgrading, the error here is almost unforgivable. So of course, security updates are spread over four years, but it's a difficult pill to swallow.
It would have been a shame to gain in size without taking the opportunity to perfect your photographic proposition. Compared to its compact predecessor, the Zenfone 11 Ultra is therefore adorned, for our greatest pleasure, with a new sensor, a telephoto lens.
The complete photo configuration of the Zenfone 11 Ultra is composed as follows:
- a 50 Mpx wide-angle sensor with an aperture of F/1.9;
- a 13 Mpx ultra-wide-angle sensor with an aperture of F/2.2 and a viewing angle of 120°;
- a 32 Mpx telephoto lens with an aperture of F/2.4 and a 3x optical zoom;
- a 32 Mpx front sensor with an aperture of F/2.5.
The main sensor is an excellent surprise as it is comfortable in all situations. The sharpness is sublime and the exposure between the areas of shadow and light perfectly managed. Even on the fly, on a scene with movement, the photos are beautiful, sharp and precise thanks to the 6-axis gimbal stabilizer.
For its part, the colorimetry is rather flattering, without falling into excess, except perhaps on red when the brightness is very present.
Very useful in town, the x2 digital zoom offers a beautiful dynamic range and the overall colorimetry is faithful to the reality of what is in front of us. For its part, the ultra wide-angle has the merit of not underexposing the center of the image, nor of distorting the edges.
Once again, it's a pleasant surprise to see that Asus has mastered this sensor which is so difficult to tame. Sometimes the sensor result lacks a bit of vigor. This is particularly the case in the shadow areas, which we would have preferred to be a little more exposed, but it is very light.
In addition to being a real pleasure to use, the return of this telephoto lens is a success. If you feel like it, it It is possible to try a x10 digital zoom. The stabilizer is effective and the result is sometimes surprisingly usable. To take portraits, the Zenfone 11 Ultra does not use the telephoto lens, which is quite surprising, but the wide-angle sensor.
The results are attractive thanks to a consistently consistent bokeh effect and rather precise clipping. Selfies are also excellent. They don't fall into the pitfall of underexposure as is often the case.
5x zoom
Portrait mode – Bokeh management
mode Portrait
Finally, at night, the Zenfone 11 Ultra has always been convincing. The eponymous mode manages to enhance a scene without distorting it too much and the control of light sources is really appreciable.
Although digital noise appears in the darkest areas of the shots, two-thirds of the image maintains a generally satisfactory level of detail.
The question of format also has its advantage here. While the Zenfone 10, due to its size, had a 4300 mAh battery, that of the 11 Ultra is much larger, 5500 mAh.
Well helped by its lightweight software overlay, the latest offspring from Asus really keeps up the pace. Even during intensive use with a lot of 3D games, it does not run out despite our 5.5 hours of screen time. At the end of the day, we had an average of 30% battery left. Enough to last without any problem until the following noon. When we were less greedy, gaming and streaming video, the Zenfone 11 Ultra could practically last two days.
However, what a shame that Asus is following the trend of its colleagues. Namely, no longer deliver a charger in the box, which was still the case last year. Compatible with 65W fast charging, the Zenfone 11 Ultra takes around 45 minutes to recover half of its strength. And almost an hour and a half for the whole thing. Although it is indeed a long-distance runner, the Zenfone 11 Ultra still needs a little rest between its runs.
Well in all respects, the Zenfone 11 Ultra is an attractive smartphone. With its bright 144 Hz screen and its perfect control of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, it is ideal for entertainment. Its interface is simple and well thought out, its audio part clearly stands out from the rest and its autonomy is gigantic. Even in photos, Asus can now no longer have any complexes. We go from good to very good, enough to satisfy the majority of users.
So certainly its design is a bit boilerplate, its loading a bit slow and its AI part still has work to do. However for its price, in the “low” range premium, these are largely acceptable defects. On the other hand, what is much less so is its software support of only 2 years. An incomprehensible choice.
Ultimately the biggest fault of this Zenfone 11 Ultra does not come from it, but from the market. After three years of dabbling alone in the compact smartphone segment, the manufacturer is returning to dip into waters where competition is fiercer. By standardizing its proposal, the Taiwanese firm is de facto confronting those more experienced than itself.
Didn't Asus make life complicated by abandoning (temporarily ?) the compact smartphone sector ? If the question seems logical, don't However, let us not be naive.
Although they have a successful reputation, and the merit of offering something different, do compact smartphones really seduce the crowds ? Here is another question to which Asus brought its own answer with this Zenfone 11 Ultra.
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