In a recent poll, the Asus ROG Cellphone 8/8 Professional proved to be a probably extremely popular mannequin if it might clear one hurdle – the $1,100/€1,100 value was too excessive (it was even worse for the Professional, $1,200/€1,200/₹95,000).
What if the ROG Cellphone 8 was cheaper? Want granted – simply not the best way you’ll have thought. This week the corporate unveiled the Zenfone 11 Ultra, its first massive Zenfone since 2021’s Zenfone 8 Flip. This implies a bigger show, bigger battery and (by the way) an extra digital camera (the primary tele module for the reason that Flip).
The identical 12/256GB configuration that prices €1,100 on a ROG cellphone is on the market for €1,000/£870 on the Zenfone. And Asus has a €100 low cost for early birds, which you’ll nonetheless get because the cellphone goes on sale in mid-April. There’s a 16/512GB model too with a €1,000/£950 base value.
The Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra is basically an ROG Cellphone 8 with muted branding – extra muted we must always say, as Asus was already dialing again the “gaming cellphone” aesthetic with the 8-series and making it one thing that may have mass attraction.
Asus Zenfone 11 Extremely: 6.78” 1-144Hz LTPO AMOLED show with FHD+ decision
Comparing the 2 fashions reveals solely minor variations – the 6.78” LTPO AMOLED show runs at 144Hz as an alternative of 165Hz and lacks 10-bit colours. Additionally, the trademark second USB port that the ROG mannequin has is dropped to avoid wasting on price. The RGB-illuminated ROG emblem on the again and the stress delicate triggers on the aspect are gone too – this isn’t a gaming cellphone, you understand.
And that’s it – you continue to get a big, quick show, the highly effective Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, a big 5,5000mAh battery with 65W wired and 15W wi-fi charging, together with goodies like stereo audio system and a 3.5mm headphone jack. In comparison with the earlier Zenfone 10, this one additionally has a 32MP tele digital camera with a 65mm lens (3x), however Asus didn’t see match to additionally equip a microSD slot. At the very least it left the IP68 mud and water resistance intact.
Asus Zenfone 11 Extremely: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 • 50+32+13MP digital camera
For extra particulars on the Asus Zenfone 11 Extremely, take a look at our detailed review. You too can watch our video overview under:
Let’s have a quick have a look at the competitors. In Europe, the Samsung Galaxy S24+ comes with Exynos 2400 as an alternative of Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, however it has a 12/256GB configuration for a similar value. The 6.7” LTPO show trades a couple of hertz (it runs at as much as 120Hz) for the next decision of QHD+ (vs. FHD+ on the Zenfone). The battery is smaller, leading to a decrease lively use rating (12:30h vs. 14:43h) and wired charging is slower (45W, 58 minutes to full).
Nonetheless, the S24+ will obtain 7 years of assist – longer than mainly any Android that isn’t a Pixel and far, for much longer than the Zenfone. Asus continues to be solely promising 2 OS updates and 4 years of safety patches. Is that ok for a €1,000 machine?
The OnePlus 12 is across the similar value for a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and 12/256GB reminiscence. It has a 6.82” LTPO show (additionally a QHD+ 120Hz panel), the next decision 48MP extremely huge digital camera (to go together with the 50MP important and 64MP 70mm periscope), plus a 5,400mAh battery. The lively use rating is a bit decrease (14:11h), however charging is quicker (24 minutes to full vs. 41 minutes for the Asus). The OnePlus will obtain 4 OS updates and 5 years of safety patches.
Samsung Galaxy S24+ • OnePlus 12 • Google Pixel 8 Professional • Apple iPhone 15 Plus
The Google Pixel 8 Professional is half a yr previous, so the true different could be the upcoming 9 Professional (however that’s nonetheless months away). This cellphone makes use of the Tensor G3, which is healthier than its predecessors and that’s the place the compliments cease. The 6.7” 120Hz LTPO show has barely lower than QHD+ decision and the 5,050mAh battery inside is sluggish to cost each wired and wirelessly (30W and 23W, respectively). Battery life is even worse than the S24+ at 11:14h (that Tensor has its flaws). On the plus aspect, Google will assist this cellphone for 7 years.
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus can also be a competitor, even when its spec sheet doesn’t appear like it. You get a 6.7” OLED show with not fairly QHD+ decision, a robust chipset, lengthy software program assist, stellar battery life (16:33h lively use rating!), although charging may be very sluggish (1:34h to full). There’s no tele digital camera, however not less than this technology has a 48MP important.
Will you pre-order the Asus Zenfone 11 Extremely or will you watch for the small mannequin – which Asus by no means formally confirmed to exist? Would you relatively have the ROG cellphone or not one of the above?