So much to like
There’s quite a bit to like concerning the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra, an inexpensive cellphone with loads of premium options and a glossy design that makes it look costlier than it’s. But there are some concessions, most notably the restricted software program and safety updates. But with the attractive display, headphone jack, and AI options, you’ll adore it.
For
- Sleek and classy design
- Plenty of AI options
- Ultra-high peak brightness, attractive display
- Actually has a headphone jack
Against
- Limited software program and safety updates
- Can overheat whereas gaming
- Doesn’t include a charger within the field
A top-notch Pixel
The Google Pixel 8 Pro is essentially the most highly effective Pixel within the line-up up to now with tons of fabulous options, a lot of which leverage Google AI expertise. From taking nice photographs and with the ability to intelligently edit them after the actual fact to having fun with all that Google has to supply by way of its apps and software program, it is a top-notch premium gadget with no premium price ticket.
For
- Fabulous display
- Powerful cameras with AI-powered modifying options
- Seven years of software program and safety updates
- Other clever AI options
Against
- No expandable storage
- Tensor processor nonetheless is not preferrred for gaming
If you’re in search of a smartphone with loads of AI options, likelihood is two you could be deciding between are the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro. Both supply compelling options however received’t break the financial institution by way of value. How are you able to presumably select which one is best for you? We’re right here to assist.
ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro: Aesthetics and fundamentals
Introduced in March 2024, the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra is available in 4 cool colours: Skyline Blue, Eternal Black, Misty Grey, and Desert Sand, however that is simply on the again: the edges in every are black. It’s outfitted with a 6.78-inch versatile E6 AMOLED show with a 2,400 x 1,080-pixel decision, a slim bezel, and a 94% display-to-body ratio. The cellphone is a shocking sight to behold, due to the shiny matte end that includes the Chinese image for “people,” which makes it stand out among the many pack. The Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 display, in the meantime, makes it sturdy as nicely, together with the IP68 certification for water and dirt resistance.
With 1,600 nits brightness and a pair of,500 nits peak brightness, you may simply view the display in all kinds of lighting circumstances, together with even brilliant daylight outside. The adaptive refresh charge goes from 1-120Hz to regulate primarily based on what exercise you’re engaged in, however there’s additionally a lift as much as 144Hz for gaming. In his Zenfone 11 Ultra evaluate, nevertheless, Android Central’s Harish Jonnalagadda says you may’t manually flip this on, and it solely works in sure gaming titles.
The cellphone’s dimensions are 6.45 x 3.02 x .035 inches, and it weighs 225 grams, making it barely greater and heavier than the Google Pixel 8 Pro, however not by a lot. Jonnalagadda admits that whereas the cellphone is tall and heavy, ASUS “nailed the weight distribution.” It comes with both 256GB or 512GB storage, which isn’t expandable, so that you’ll probably wish to go for as a lot storage as you will get domestically.
Coming out of the field loaded with Android 14 and extra customization choices by way of ZenUI (although you may select to make use of solely inventory Android), it comes with the promise of two main software program updates and 4 years of safety updates. If you propose on holding onto the gadget for longer than a number of years, this might sway your choice since Google guarantees greater than 3 times the variety of software program updates and virtually twice as lengthy a interval for safety updates.
Powered by a 5,500mAh battery, the cellphone helps 65W HyperCost in addition to wi-fi charging, so that you may be assured that it’s going to final all day and might be up and working very quickly when you do must recharge it.
Additional options you’ll discover with the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra embrace twin stereo audio system that Jonnalagadda says are “among the loudest in this category,” twin mics with ASUS Noise Reduction expertise, fingerprint sensor, face recognition, Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi Direct, NFC, twin SIMs, and 5G. A rarity these days, it additionally has a 3.5mm enter for connecting wired headphones and earbuds, which is nice should you’re in a pinch and solely have a backup wired pair available.
By comparability, the Google Pixel 8 Pro, launched in October 2023, may be picked up within the conventional Google colours: Porcelain, Bay, and Obsidian. It has a 6.7-inch Super Actua LTPO OLED show with 2,992 x 1,344 decision, a peak of two,400 nits of brightness (1,600 nits), and an adaptive refresh charge from 1-120Hz. The edgeless display is fabricated from Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, which is each scratch- and fingerprint-resistant, and the cellphone can also be IP68-rated. In his Pixel 8 Pro evaluate, Android Central’s Nicholas Sutrich says the matte glass again of the cellphone “feels so good, it’s ridiculous,” including that the cellphone is total snug to carry due to its rounded corners.
The cellphone is a smidge smaller than the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra at 6.4 x 3 x 0.3 inches and a bit lighter at 213 grams. You can select from 4 storage capacities: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB, however this isn’t expandable both, so hold that in consideration when selecting which model to get. If you wish to think about cloud storage, the Google Pixel 8 Pro comes with a six-month trial to Google One Premium with as much as 2TB storage. But you’ll need to pay past that time frame should you select to proceed.
The Google Pixel 8 Pro additionally comes with Android 14, however the huge profit right here is that you just stand up to seven years of OS and safety updates, so this cellphone is an efficient one should you’re in it for the lengthy haul. It’s additionally value noting that it comes with a six-month subscription to Fitbit Premium, which you need to use alongside both a Fitbit smartwatch or health tracker or a Google Pixel Watch, just like the Google Pixel Watch 2. Additionally, get three months of YouTube Premium should you’re a brand new subscriber.
Equipped with a 5,050mAh battery as nicely, the Google Pixel 8 Pro additionally has an Extreme Battery Saver mode that may prolong this to as much as 72 hours, preferrred should you’re touring and forgot your charger at dwelling. In addition to assist for quick wi-fi charging, the cellphone may also use battery share to recharge different appropriate gadgets, like a pair of Google Pixel Buds.
Find the same characteristic set like stereo audio system, three mics with noise suppression, fingerprint unlock, face unlock, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, and 5G. This cellphone, nevertheless, doesn’t have a headphone jack.
ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro: Comparing specs
Head-to-head, how do these two telephones evaluate by way of specs?
| Header Cell – Column 0 | ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra | Google Pixel 8 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Android 14 | Android 14 |
| Colors | Skyline Blue, Eternal Black, Misty Grey, Desert Sand | Obsidian, Porcelain, Bay |
| Screen Size | 6.78 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 1,080 x 2,400 | 1,344 x 2,992 |
| Screen Type | Flexible E6 AMOLED | LTPO OLED |
| Refresh Rate | 1-120Hz (144Hz increase) | 120Hz |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Google Tensor G3 |
| RAM | 12GB, 16GB | 12GB |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB (not expandable) | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB (not expandable) |
| Cameras | 50MP principal, 32MP telephoto, 13MP ultra-wide, 32MP entrance | 50MP principal, 48MP ultra-wide, 48MP telephoto, 10.5MP ultra-wide entrance |
| Speakers | Stereo Speakers, Hi-Res Audio | Stereo Speakers, Spatial Audio |
| Battery | 5,500mAh | 5,050mAh |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes (with powershare) |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Water Resistant | IP68 | IP68 |
| Cellular | 5G | 5G |
| Size | 6.45 x 3.02 x 0.35 inches | 6.4 x 3.01 x 0.35 inches |
| Weight | 225 grams | 213 grams |
The two telephones are fairly comparable in terms of the specs, which every having a leg up in several areas on the opposite. But let’s dive deeper.
ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro: Power, processing, and audio
Both these telephones have highly effective processors and different goodies to maintain up along with your each day duties.
The ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra comes powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, so that you don’t have to fret that it received’t be zippy and capable of sustain with all of your multitasking and data-intensive productiveness or leisure wants. Get 12GB RAM as much as a blazing quick 16GB, relying on the mannequin you select.
The cellphone is loaded with tons of AI-powered options. You’ll see issues like AI noise cancellation to cancel out background noises, however most of the options are nonetheless in beta mode. With AI name translator, for instance, it is going to translate your phrases into textual content and voice so the particular person on the opposite finish of a name or message can perceive you and vice versa. This makes it fairly seamless to have a dialog with somebody who speaks one other language.
Also in beta is AI transcript, which transcribes cellphone calls in real-time, a dream for a journalist (current firm included!), scholar, or anybody else making an attempt to furiously take notes from a name or recording and transcribe it manually later. Another beta choice is AI wallpaper, which is powered by Qualcomm’s NPU. With this characteristic, the cellphone crafts customized photographs in your most popular model so the gadget intelligently adapts to a appear and feel you’ll love.
The ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra excels in terms of audio efficiency primarily based on its spectacular specs. Along with twin stereo audio system, there’s assist for lossless audio and Hi-Res audio as much as 384kH2/32-bit when listening by way of wired headphones. There’s additionally Dirac Virtuo for Headphone spatial sound, so that you get an immersive expertise when listening to tunes, podcasts, enjoying video games, or watching movies. Indeed, Jonnalagadda says the tuning makes a “legitimate difference” when enjoying video games or streaming content material. With the complete AptX suite of audio codecs, you may confidently stream high-res tunes by way of a superb pair of headphones.
Additionally, there’s a PC continuity characteristic that may be likened to Samsung’s DeX. With ASUS GlideX, you may mirror your cellphone and share movies and photographs throughout completely different gadgets. Along with extending the display, you can even use the cellphone’s digicam as a webcam, enhancing your desktop set-up. Meanwhile, Phone Link permits for syncing with a laptop computer or PC to switch recordsdata, take calls, and handle duties.
For gaming, there’s the sport turbo engine, which Jonnalagadda says is the “best you’ll find on any phone.” A neat characteristic known as Video Genie mutes calls and notifications whilst you’re enjoying so that you don’t get distracted. But Jonnalagadda notes that typically he skilled overheating throughout prolonged gaming periods.
What concerning the Google Pixel 8 Pro? It is powered by Google Tensor G3 with Google AI and has 12GB RAM, whatever the storage choice, which implies you’ll get a implausible expertise throughout the board.
Google affords helpful options within the AI realm as nicely, like Call Screen for routinely screening spam calls, silently answering them for you so that you don’t need to cope with them, nor the cellphone repeatedly ringing. Sutrich says it’s simply his favourite Pixel characteristic, but it surely’s additionally easy to show off for many who don’t need it.
Live Translate works out of the gate, making it straightforward to attach with colleagues, associates, and household in a number of languages. Use Google Assistant to summarize, learn aloud, and even translate net pages, in addition to compose messages utilizing your voice. There are additionally helpful apps like Google Wallet and Google Maps with upgraded immersive views. Gmail additionally affords new and helpful prompts. For safety, the Titan M2 chip and VPN by Google One is an additional benefit, as are options like automotive crash detection.
AI Wallpaper is one other neat addition, permitting you to select from preset themes that embrace work, terrains, textures, and extra. Once you choose a time period, like glacier or seaside, context-sensitive choices seem. When you might be prepared, choose Generate, and also you’ll see 4 photographs created by generative AI from which you’ll be able to select or ask for extra.
Gaming is doable on the cellphone, however framerate dips repeatedly, Sutrich finds. While he might simply play video games like Minecraft, he had a tough time working even easy visible video games like Fortnite. If you’re in search of a cellphone for gaming, you then’ll wish to hold this in thoughts.
The temperature sensor has confirmed to be extra of a novelty characteristic than the rest, but it surely’s nonetheless a cool choice to have. Hold the cellphone by an object, like a boiling pot of water or a child bottle, and it might let you know the temperature. This characteristic will turn out to be extra helpful if it formally works like a thermometer: Google has utilized to the FDA for the flexibility to make use of it to take your personal temperature (or that of another person) and retailer the info within the Fitbit app. But that is nonetheless pending.
While the Google Pixel 8 Pro doesn’t have all of the audio options you’ll discover on the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra, it does assist Spatial Audio, so you may anticipate a splendidly immersive sound expertise from this gadget as nicely.
ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro: What concerning the cameras?
The AI-powered options in each telephones work with their cameras as nicely.
The ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra has a 50MP principal digicam, 32MP telephoto digicam with a 90° FOV, 3x telephoto, and built-in optical picture stabilization (OIS), a 13MP ultra-wide digicam, and a 32MP entrance digicam for selfies. Jonnalagadda’s verdict: the cellphone takes nice photographs in daylight with good dynamic vary and shade accuracy, and detailed photographs in low gentle situations as nicely, albeit with some fringing and lack of element. The 3x zoom lens leaves one thing to be desired, however total, he says the digicam on this cellphone are the most effective of any Zenfone mannequin he has tried up to now.
A portrait video mode makes use of an AI algorithm to supply a pure depth-of-field impact when capturing movies. It may also acknowledge focal factors in actual time and faces, together with these of pets in addition to individuals. This is a characteristic pet house owners (and lovers!) will admire.
You’ll purportedly get clean photographs and movies due to the 6-axis hybrid stabilizer 3.0 and Super Hyper Steady EIS algorithm. OZO Audio expertise, in the meantime, is used for guaranteeing lifelike audio and 3D sound in recordings.
With the 10x zoom with HyperReadability AI algorithm, the cellphone may also deal with direct processing of RAW recordsdata. AI Object Sense can acknowledge objects and optimize them utilizing a particular algorithm.
Another cool photo-related characteristic is for after the photographs are captured: semantic search makes it straightforward to search out what you’re in search of by way of related outcomes supplied by AI and utilizing pure language. You can seek for photographs primarily based on parameters like occasions, instances, areas, and even objects that seem within the photographs.
The Google Pixel 8 Pro is not any slouch within the AI picture division both. It has a 50MP principal digicam, a 48MP telephoto digicam, a 48MP ultra-wide digicam with improved Macro Focus, and a ten.5MP selfie entrance digicam. With Super Res Zoom, you may stand up shut and private with topics, zooming as much as 30x with out shedding element, focus, or readability. Sutrich says the cameras are the most effective total of any Android cellphone he’s used up to now.
There are skilled controls, too, with superior digicam settings for shutter velocity in addition to Night Sight and astrophotography. With any picture, Google AI expertise works within the background to scale back noise and increase high quality, each in nonetheless photographs and movies, and in any lighting situation.
Google’s picture modifying options have turn out to be favorites, together with Magic Editor for making customized edits and high quality enhancements to photographs. While Sutrich says it really works extremely nicely, he additionally seen the cellphone tends to get heat when utilizing it, but it surely doesn’t overheat. There’s additionally Best Take for combining comparable photographs of the identical factor to maintain the “best take” shot (no extra closed eyes or fidgeting infants when everybody else is smiling!), Photo Unblur and Face Unblur, Portrait Mode, and Magic Eraser for eradicating undesirable components from photographs.
AI extends to video as nicely, with options like Audio Magic Eraser that makes use of Google AI to scale back distracting sounds when taking pictures outside or in louder circumstances, like when a furnace is buzzing within the background of your dance video. Video Boost will also be used to regulate shade, lighting, stabilization, and graininess.
ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro: Which do you have to purchase?
It’s choice time now. In the showdown of ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro, which do you have to purchase as your subsequent gadget?
When it involves the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra, which is successfully a rebadged ROB Phone 8, as Jonnalagadda factors out, it won’t stay as much as expectations. “ASUS went from making the best small phone,” he says within the evaluate, “to a device that doesn’t quite have a distinct visual identity.” He loves the AI options and says ZenUI is considered one of his favourite Android skins. However, the cameras aren’t pretty much as good as these in its class, specifically the Google Pixel 8 Pro.
The Google Pixel 8 Pro won’t be as highly effective a cellphone total, and it doesn’t have as huge a battery. But it has higher cameras and is supported for longer than you’ll in all probability even hold the cellphone. That means if you find yourself able to improve, you could have a greater likelihood of getting good cash if you wish to resell or commerce it in. You may also confidently hand it over to a good friend or member of the family, they usually’ll nonetheless be capable of take pleasure in years of use with it. That counts for lots.
Sutrich calls the Google Pixel 8 Pro the “king of the Androids,” and for good cause. With its mixture of premium options, AI integration, fabulous cameras, and inexpensive value, it’s powerful to beat. Thus, it is sensible as the highest choose between these two. You’ll get extra bang on your buck, and it’ll final a protracted, very long time with strong new options flowing persistently by way of Feature Drops. If you wish to discover different choices, try the most effective Android telephones obtainable as we speak to see what different manufacturers might need to supply as nicely.
An excellent short-term cellphone
With solely two years of software program updates, the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra is a strong premium but inexpensive gadget to make use of for now should you plan to improve in a number of years. Along with futuristic AI options, a few of that are nonetheless in beta mode, it has a gloriously brilliant display, respectable cameras, and affords strong gaming efficiency. Plus, it has one thing nearly no cellphone has anymore: a headphone jack!
Still the one to beat
The Google Pixel 8 Pro stays the Android cellphone to beat in terms of premium options but inexpensive value. It won’t boast as excessive specs because the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra, together with a decrease decision entrance digicam, smaller battery, and arguably much less highly effective processor, notably for gaming. But it’s the all-around finest bang on your buck in terms of Android telephones.