85
NotebookcheckRead review ↗
“The Zenfone 12 Ultra is a solid upper-class smartphone, featuring a fast processor, a decent camera, and excellent battery life.”
Publisher score: 85/100 · 18mo ago
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Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra
$1099 · Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite · 1y 8m old
64
Review
Radar
Image credit: ASUS
Editor's Verdict
Our Take
SS
Let's be blunt: at $1099, the Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra is asking a lot, and frankly, it doesn't deliver enough to earn that premium. While the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and that buttery smooth 144Hz AMOLED display provide a solid foundation for a high-end device, the overall package feels… safe. Critics have rightly pointed out a lack of genuine innovation; there are no groundbreaking features here to set it apart from the established giants. It’s a capable smartphone, yes, with good battery life and a decent camera, but "decent" isn't what we expect when shelling out over a grand. Asus has built a competent phone, but in the cutthroat premium segment, competence alone isn't enough to justify the price tag.
The Zenfone 12 Ultra feels like a device that *wants* to be more than it is, a sentiment echoed across the reviews. It’s a shame, because the hardware is undeniably potent. You get top-tier build quality, ample RAM, and fast storage. However, without a compelling reason to choose it over a Samsung, an Apple, or even a Google Pixel at a similar or lower price point, it’s difficult to recommend. The promise of advanced features seems to have been scaled back, leaving us with a solid, but ultimately uninspired, flagship. If you're looking for a phone that pushes boundaries and offers genuine value at the top end, your money is likely better spent elsewhere.
Sanjiv Sathiah · Managing Editor
Alternatives
Compare with nearby picks
Most positive review signal
“The Zenfone 12 Ultra is a solid upper-class smartphone, featuring a fast processor, a decent camera, and excellent battery life.”
Notebookcheck · 85
Most cautious review signal
“Despite doing a lot competently, it's hard to recommend the ASUS Zenfone 12 Ultra to many people.”
Android Authority · 48
Tech publication reviews
75
Android PoliceRead review ↗
“This sums up the Zenfone 12 Ultra, a device that wants to be more than it is but isn't.”
Publisher score: 7.5/10 · 17mo ago
70
TechRadarRead review ↗
“It doesn't do enough to justify its high price, with no novel or useful extra features to help it compete with big-name rivals.”
Publisher score: 70/100
70
GSMArenaRead review ↗
“We still think the Zenfone 12 Ultra is worth considering because there is nothing bad about it, but it doesn't really shine compared to its predecessor either.”
Publisher score: 70/100
60
Trusted Reviews
“I had high hopes for the Zenfone 12 Ultra. Sadly, those have been all but dashed after properly testing it.”
Publisher score: 3/5 · 20mo ago
58
PhoneArena
“The Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra falls behind its contemporaries in a few key categories, with its camera definitely leaving a lot to desire for a phone around the €1,000 price.”
Publisher score: 58/100
50
Android CentralRead review ↗
“As much as I like the phone, I can't recommend it — the cameras just aren't good enough for what it costs, and Asus's insistence on delivering just two Android platform updates is a deal-breaker.”
Publisher score: 50/100
48
Android AuthorityRead review ↗
“Despite doing a lot competently, it's hard to recommend the ASUS Zenfone 12 Ultra to many people.”
Publisher score: 48/100 · 20mo ago
Additional review coverage
GSMArenaCoverage
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra review
“The Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra is here and it is more or less an iterative upgrade over last year's model. Not a lot has changed, neither physically nor in...”
Source page
TechRadarCoverage
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra review
“It doesn't do enough to justify its high price, with no novel or useful extra features to help it compete with big-name rivals.”
Source page · 3mo ago
Android PoliceCoverage
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra review
“This sums up the Zenfone 12 Ultra, a device that wants to be more than it is but isn't.”
Source page · 17mo ago
NotebookcheckCoverage
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra review
“The Zenfone 12 Ultra is a solid upper-class smartphone, featuring a fast processor, a decent camera, and excellent battery life.”
Source page · 18mo ago
Tom's GuideCoverage
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra review
“Asus' latest attempt at an ultra flagship is great value and offers as much power and battery as you could ask for. But it's missing cutting-edge tech elsewhere that would secure its place among the top Android contenders.”
Source page · 19mo ago
Android CentralCoverage
ASUS Zenfone 12 Ultra review: I really like this phone, but you shouldn
“The Zenfone 12 Ultra is great at a lot of things, but it doesn”
Source page · 20mo ago
Android AuthorityCoverage
The ASUS Zenfone 12 Ultra is a lesson in AI overkill and short-term thinking
“ASUS bets big on AI to sell you on its new Zenfone 12 Ultra, but that extra effort means not much else has changed.”
Source page · 20mo ago
Trusted ReviewsCoverage
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra review
“I had high hopes for the Zenfone 12 Ultra. Sadly, those have been all but dashed after properly testing it.”
Source page · 20mo ago
64
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra