Gone are the days of Samsung’s Mini or Sony’s Compact devices. However, in recent years, if you wanted a small phone that was still a proper flagship, Asus’ Zenfone 9 and 10 were fantastic choices for 2022 and 2023. However, with last year, the company only released a Zenfone 11 Ultra, which annihilated the OEM’s compact trend.
I was holding my breath for a return to a regular Zenfone 12 for 2025, but Asus waggled a disapproving finger in my face. The company has just confirmed the existence of the Zenfone 12 Ultra and given us an exact launch date. I waited for a Zenfone 11 after last year’s Ultra, but it didn’t come, so don’t expect that to change this year.
Asus Will Launch the Zenfone 12 Ultra on February 6th; The Death Knell of Compact Phones
I’m not the kind of guy who’d use a compact phone, simply because my fingers would struggle to be precise on a relatively small screen. However, I know there are many people who prefer smaller phones, and I love seeing variety in the smartphone market, even if I don’t plan to partake in that variety. That’s why I loved what Asus had going on with its Zenfone devices in recent years.
Last year, however, we didn’t see the usual compact device—the Zenfone 11 Ultra was the only flagship contender in Asus’ Zenfone line. I sort of hoped things would revert to normal this year, but nope. Asus has just confirmed the launch date for the Zenfone 12 Ultra, so without a doubt, that new “big” DNA seems here to stay.
Regardless of whether it is big or small though, the new device is still a proper flagship, so it is worth paying some attention. Asus will be launching the Zenfone 12 Ultra on February 6th at 2:30 PM in Taiwan (GMT+8). That is 1:30 AM EST, so you’ll likely have to catch the news in the morning. The only hint Asus has given is that the device will “unlock the power of AI” (no surprise) and will supposedly improve the photo experience.
The Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra Will Likely Be A “Regular” Rebrand of the ROG Phone 9
If this year is anything like last year, the Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra will use the ROG Phone 9 as a template, but it will be redesigned significantly enough to be more accessible to regular folks who don’t want the whole gamer aesthetic. The specs, for the most part, should be very close to what the ROG Phone 9 brings to the table.
That means you should expect a Snapdragon 8 Elite, a 5,800mAh battery (which shockingly doesn’t classify as “massive” a year later), IP68 water resistance, and 16/512GB in the top configuration. The camera setup will likely be a 50MP primary with gimbal OIS paired with a 13MP ultrawide and 5MP macro lens. The selfie camera will be a 32MP unit.
The screen will remain a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED unit with 2,500 nits of peak brightness and FHD+ resolution. However, it probably won’t keep the 185Hz refresh rate of the ROG Phone and might settle down to 144Hz. Besides that, with the loss of gaming triggers, and the dialing back of some design elements, the phones should be very similar.
