ASUS Unveils Zenfone 12 Ultra, Marrying Top-Tier Specs with Advanced AI
TAIPEI, Taiwan – ASUS has officially launched its highly anticipated Zenfone 12 Ultra, the company’s flagship smartphone for 2025, alongside the ROG Phone 9 series, the latest iteration of its gaming-focused mobile devices. Unveiled in February, the Zenfone 12 Ultra boasts a combination of cutting-edge hardware and a suite of artificial intelligence-driven features, setting a new benchmark for ASUS in the competitive smartphone market.
While the ROG Phone 9 series is designed to deliver peak gaming performance, ASUS is positioning the Zenfone 12 Ultra as its AI powerhouse. The device aims to integrate advanced AI capabilities into core functionalities like imaging, display technology, and user experience.
Design and Display
The Zenfone 12 Ultra features a sleek design that maintains ASUS’s commitment to technological aesthetics. The front of the device is dominated by a 6.78-inch Samsung E6 AMOLED display with a FHD+ resolution (2400×1080 pixels).The display supports a 144Hz high refresh rate, dynamically adjustable between 1 and 120Hz to balance performance and power consumption.With a peak brightness of 2500 nits (1600 nits in HBM mode), the screen remains visible and clear even in direct sunlight.
The phone’s rear panel sports a brushed texture finish and a minimalist rectangular camera module with three lenses and a flash.Key Features
Display: 6.78-inch Samsung E6 AMOLED,144Hz refresh rate,2500 nits peak brightness
Audio: 3.5mm headphone jack with 384KHz/32bit high-resolution audio output
Battery: 5500mAh, 65W wired and 15W wireless charging
eSIM: first ASUS phone to offer eSIM functionality
System and Battery
the Zenfone 12 Ultra is powered by a 5500mAh battery, supporting 65W wired fast charging and 15W wireless charging. While it doesn’t adopt the latest Qi2 wireless charging standard, the device should meet the needs of most users. However, the phone does not include a charger.
Users can also activate an “Extra Brightness” mode to further boost screen brightness at the cost of increased power consumption and heat generation.
AI Enhancements
ASUS emphasizes that the Zenfone 12 Ultra’s AI capabilities are core to its functionality, streamlining tasks like recording and transcription. The device’s sound recorder can generate text directly from audio recordings, perhaps saving users time during meetings and interviews. It also has multiple language translation options for both audio and text.
Additional Features and Connectivity
The Zenfone 12 Ultra retains a 3.5mm headphone jack,supporting 384KHz/32bit high-resolution audio output for audiophiles. ASUS has also incorporated eSIM functionality for the first time in their smartphones.
Potential drawbacks
The placement of the charging port on the left side of the phone’s bottom edge may interfere with gameplay while charging.
