Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra

A radical break from the compact tradition: Asus swaps the handy format for a massive 6.78-inch flagship that is technically almost identical to the ROG Phone 8, but presents itself in a serious business attire. While the enormous battery life and the bright 144 Hz display impress, the year 2026 marks the official end of support for major Android updates, significantly limiting the device's future viability. Those looking for an unexciting powerhouse with a gimbal camera and headphone jack will find one of the last great all-rounders of its kind here.

Classification and target audience

The Zenfone 11 Ultra marks the moment when Asus abandoned its niche of compact high-end smartphones. It is essentially a ROG Phone 8 without RGB lighting and targets users seeking maximum gaming power (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3) in a discreet design for everyday use. Weighing in at 225 g, it is a heavy heavyweight and goes head-to-head with the Samsung Galaxy S24+ and the OnePlus 12.

Display and casing

The 6.78-inch Samsung Flexible AMOLED display is one of the brightest of its generation, reaching a peak brightness of 2,500 nits. Thanks to LTPO technology, it is extremely energy-efficient, offering 120 Hz in everyday use and ramping up to 144 Hz in compatible games. The casing is IP68 certified and features a high-quality satin glass back that effectively prevents fingerprints. A highlight for purists remains the 3.5 mm headphone jack.

Performance and hardware

With the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and 12 GB of RAM, the device offers excellent performance even in 2026. However, the true star is the 5,500 mAh battery: With over 17 hours of runtime under normal usage, it ranks among the most enduring flagships on the market. It charges at 65W (approximately 54 minutes to 100%) or wirelessly at 15W.

The 50 MP main camera utilizes the 6-axis hybrid gimbal stabilizer 3.0, which keeps videos impressively steady even during significant movement. It is complemented by a 32 MP telephoto lens (3x optical) and a 13 MP ultra-wide angle. While the stabilization is top-notch, the image processing tends to produce very high color saturation, which does not always appear natural.

Software criticism (as of 2026)

A significant drawback in April 2026: The Zenfone 11 Ultra received its last major operating system update with the upgrade to Android 16 (December 2025). While security patches will continue until 2028, Asus lags far behind manufacturers like Google or Samsung (7 years) in this regard.

Conclusion and value for money

With a current market price of around €650 to €750 (as of April 2026), the Zenfone 11 Ultra offers a lot of hardware for the money. It is the perfect choice for users who want to combine "understated" design with gaming specs and a headphone jack, but have no problem with the fact that no new Android versions will follow.