Asus is making waves again. Just days after launching the ROG Phone 9 FE, the company shifts focus to another major release. The Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra arrives earlier than expected. Instead of a mid-July launch, it debuts in early February.
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra: Powerful Hardware Upgrades
The Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset is a game-changer. It delivers 45% faster CPU performance and a 40% boost in GPU speed. The NPU performance also improves by 40%. The phone comes with up to 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB UFS 4.0 storage. This setup ensures smooth multitasking and high-speed data access.
AI-Powered Features
Artificial Intelligence plays a big role in the Zenfone 12 Ultra. Asus combines on-device AI with Cloud AI. The phone includes Meta’s Llama 3 8B model for high-quality text summarization without internet dependency.
Other AI features include:
- AI Call Translator 2.0 – Translates calls in real-time, including third-party VoIP apps.
- AI Transcript 2.0 – Identifies multiple speakers and summarizes conversations.
- AI Article Summarization – Quickly condenses documents and articles.
Improved Camera System
The Zenfone 12 Ultra gets major camera upgrades. It swaps the IMX890 sensor for the Sony Lytia-700. The 6-axis hybrid gimbal stabilizer (version 4) corrects movement by ±5°, a 66% improvement from before.
Additional camera highlights:
- 32MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and 10-30x HyperClarity zoom.
- 120° ultra-wide camera for expansive shots.
- 32MP RGBW selfie camera with a 90° field of view.
Brilliant Display and Long Battery Life
The 6.78-inch OLED (Samsung E6) display offers a 1-120Hz LTPO refresh rate. Gamers can enjoy a 144Hz boost. The display reaches 2,500 nits brightness and features Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection.
The 5,500mAh dual-cell battery supports 65W wired and 15W wireless (Qi 1.3) charging. A full charge takes only 39 minutes. Once charged, the battery lasts up to 26 hours.
Premium Audio and Sustainable Design
The 3.5mm headphone jack remains, a rare feature in modern flagships. Dirac Virtuo enhances wired and wireless audio. The phone also features multi-magnet stereo speakers for immersive sound.
Asus prioritizes sustainability. The frame is 100% recycled aluminum, and the screen contains 22% recycled glass. The device is available in Sage Green, Ebony Black, and Sakura White. It maintains an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.
Connectivity and Pricing
The Zenfone 12 Ultra supports dual-SIM 5G. This year, Asus adds eSIM support for better convenience when traveling.
The phone launches today in Europe, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. In mainland Europe, it costs €1,100. Early buyers between February 6-28 can get it for €1,000. Asus will soon announce availability in Japan.
So, with powerful AI features, an upgraded camera, and high-end performance, the Zenfone 12 Ultra is a top contender in the flagship smartphone market.
Source: Giz China
