Exploring Zenfone 12 Ultra: Design, AI and Performance

The Zenfone 12 Ultra recently made its debut, offering a blend of modern design, solid performance, and a suite of AI-driven features. Here’s a closer look at what this new smartphone brings to the table.

Sleek and Sustainable Design

The Zenfone 12 Ultra stands out with its Zen-inspired aesthetic. Its silky matte glass finish, ultra-narrow bezels, and rounded corners create a refined look that feels both modern and comfortable to hold. Beyond appearance, durability is a priority, with an IP68 rating that helps protect against dust and water. Notably, ASUS has taken a sustainable approach by incorporating a 100% recycled aluminum frame and recycled glass into the design, all packaged in FSC-certified materials. The phone is available in three calming shades—Ebony Black, Sakura White, and Sage Green—allowing users to pick a style that suits their personality.

Pro-grade Camera System

Photography enthusiasts have much to appreciate. The Zenfone 12 Ultra features a triple-camera setup that caters to a range of shooting scenarios. At its core is a 50MP main sensor equipped with a 6-Axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer 4.0, ensuring steady shots even on the move. Complementing this are a 13MP ultrawide lens with a 120° field of view and a 32MP telephoto lens that offers 3X optical zoom along with optical image stabilization (OIS). A 32MP front camera, featuring an RGBW sensor, rounds out the setup for high-quality selfies. Alongside these hardware features, the phone includes several AI enhancements to track subjects, add cinematic effects, and reduce background noise during video recording.

Smart AI Integration

Under the hood, the Zenfone 12 Ultra leverages AI to simplify everyday tasks. It offers a dual approach with both on-device and cloud-based AI capabilities, ensuring functionality even when offline. Among its tools are AI Transcript 2.0 for meeting transcriptions and translations, AI Article and Document Summaries, and AI Call Translator 2.0 for real-time conversation translation. An exciting highlight is the integration of Meta Llama 3 8B on-device, a first in the smartphone world, which improves its summarization and language processing capabilities.

Robust Performance and Connectivity

Performance is powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon® 8 Elite Mobile Platform, designed to handle demanding applications and multitasking with ease. The Zenfone 12 Ultra’s 6.78-inch FHD+ Samsung Flexible AMOLED display not only brings vibrant visuals to the forefront but also supports LTPO technology with refresh rates ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz (and even up to 144Hz for gaming scenarios). A robust 5500mAh battery offers more than 26 hours of usage, complemented by HyperCharge 65W wired charging and Qi 1.3 wireless charging. Modern connectivity is well-covered with dual Nano SIM slots (plus eSIM support) and WiFi 7 readiness.

Overall, the Zenfone 12 Ultra presents a balanced mix of aesthetics, performance, and smart features that cater to both daily productivity and creative endeavors. While it carries a competitive price tag, details on pricing and availability were briefly mentioned in the press release—so keep an eye out for further updates.