Introduction
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra Price, Specs, and Release Date – Full Breakdown The Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra is here and it’s being touted as one of the most powerful smartphones of 2025. Equipped with cutting-edge hardware, a superior camera system, and an eye-catching design, this flagship device aims to compete with the best smartphones from Samsung, Apple, and Google. Whether you’re a gamer looking for high performance, a photographer looking for an advanced camera setup, or a power user in need of all-day battery life, the Zenfone 12 Ultra promises to give you it all.
In this detailed analysis, we’ll cover its official price, release date, full specifications, and key features to help you decide if it’s worth the upgrade. Let’s find out everything you need to know about the Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra!
Table of Contents
2. Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra: Release Date & Availability
Global launch and availability:
Launch event: The global launch event took place on February 6, 2025 at 2:30 pm Taipei time (GMT+8).
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Market availability:
Europe: The Zenfone 12 Ultra is available for purchase in several European countries, with the 16GB RAM and 512GB storage variant priced at €1,099.99.
Technical advisory
United States: Notably, Asus has decided not to release the Zenfone 12 Ultra in the US market. The move is in line with a previous pattern, as the Zenfone 11 Ultra was also not available in the US.
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Asia: The device is available in several Asian markets, including Taiwan and India, with pricing and availability varying by region.
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Pre-orders and Shipping:
Pre-orders: Pre-orders began immediately after the launch event on February 6, 2025.
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Shipping Dates: The first units began shipping to customers on February 10, 2025.
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Retail Partners and Online Availability:
Europe: In Europe, the Zenfone 12 Ultra is available through Asus’ official online store and authorized retailers, including major electronics chains and mobile carriers.
Asia: In Asian markets, the device can be purchased through Asus’ official channels as well as popular e-commerce platforms and local retailers.
3. Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra: Price & Variants
The Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra is available in two primary configurations:
256GB storage with 12GB RAM: This variant is for users who need ample memory and storage for everyday tasks and moderate usage.
512GB storage with 16GB RAM: Designed for power users, this model offers better performance and wider storage capacity.
Pricing overview:
Europe: The 16GB/512GB variant is priced at €1,099.99.
Technical advisory
United States: The Zenfone 12 Ultra is not officially available in the US market.
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Additional features:
Display: The device features a 6.78-inch LTPO screen with 1080p resolution and 1-120Hz variable refresh rate.
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Battery: It has a 5,500mAh battery that supports 65W wired and 15W wireless charging.
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Camera system: The Zenfone 12 Ultra sports a 50MP main camera, a 32MP 3x telephoto lens, and a 13MP ultrawide camera with advanced AI functionalities for better photography and video recording.
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4. Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra: Full Specifications
The Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra is a flagship smartphone that delivers top-notch performance with the best technology.
Design and build:
Dimensions and weight: Measures 163.8 x 77.0 x 8.9mm and weighs 220 grams.
Materials and colours: Premium build available in Sage Green, Ebony Black, and Sakura White.
Durability: IP68-rated for dust and water resistance.
Display:
Size and type: 6.78-inch FHD+ (2400×1080 pixels) Samsung E6 flexible AMOLED display.
Refresh rate: LTPO technology supports variable refresh rates from 1Hz to 120Hz, with up to 144Hz available for gaming.
Brightness: Offers 1,600 nits HBM and peaks at 2,500 nits.
Protection: Shielded by Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus™ 2.
Performance:
Processor: Equipped with the Qualcomm® Snapdragon® 8 Elite Mobile Platform, an octa-core processor with a clock speed of up to 4.3GHz.
Graphics: Integrated Qualcomm® Adreno™ 830 GPU.
Memory and Storage: Available in two configurations:
12GB LPDDR5X RAM with 256GB UFS 4.0 storage.
16GB LPDDR5X RAM with 512GB UFS 4.0 storage.
Camera System:
Rear cameras:
Ultrawide camera: 13MP sensor with 120° field of view and free-form lens.
Telephoto camera: 32MP sensor with 3x optical zoom and built-in OIS.
Front camera: 32MP RGBW sensor with pixel binning (1.4μm) and 22mm equivalent focal length.
Video recording: Supports 8K UHD video at 30 fps, 4K UHD at 30/60 fps, and various slow-motion modes. Features 3-axis electronic image stabilization and HDR10+ recording.
Battery and charging:
Capacity: 5,500mAh battery.
Wired charging: Supports 65W fast charging.
Wireless charging: Compatible with Qi EPP standard, supports up to 15W.
Audio:
Speakers: Dual stereo speakers with Dirac Virtuo™ spatial sound technology.
Headphone jack: Includes 3.5mm headphone jack.
Audio output: Supports Hi-Res audio up to 384 kHz/32-bit.
Microphone: Equipped with three microphones with ASUS noise reduction technology.
Connectivity:
Wi-Fi: Supports 802.11 be/ax/ac/a/b/g/n in the 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz bands.
Bluetooth: Version 5.4, supports Qualcomm® aptX™ Adaptive and Lossless.
NFC: Enabled for contactless transactions.
Software:
Operating System: Runs on Android™ 15 with ASUS’ custom ZenUI enhancements.
Additional Features:
PC Continuity: Compatible with Microsoft Phone Link and seamless experience for integration with PC.
AI Enhancements: Includes features like AI background noise removal for video recording, semantic search in gallery, voice memo transcription and document summarization.
5. Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra: Pros & Cons
Benefits: What makes Zenfone 12 Ultra special?
- Stunning display with LTPO technology
It features a 6.78-inch Samsung E6 AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution.
120Hz LTPO refresh rate (can dynamically switch between 1Hz and 120Hz).
Peak brightness of 2500 nits, making it ultra-visible even in bright sunlight.
HDR10+ support for an immersive viewing experience.
- Powerful performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
Adreno 830 GPU for smooth gaming and multimedia performance.
Up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage for fast multitasking.
- Versatile camera system with gimbal stabilization
50MP Sony Lytia 700 main sensor with gimbal OIS stabilization.
32MP 3x telephoto lens with optical image stabilization (OIS).
13MP ultrawide lens with 120° field of view.
8K video recording at 30fps and 4K HDR10+ video support.
- Large 5,500mAh battery with fast charging
65W wired charging (fast charging from 0-100% in under 45 minutes).
15W wireless charging support (Qi wireless charging compatibility).
Excellent battery life that lasts more than a day with heavy usage.
- Flagship-grade build and durability
IP68-rated (dust and water resistant).
Premium design with aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
Available in multiple colours: Sage Green, Ebony Black, Sakura White.
- Premium audio and connectivity features
Dual stereo speakers with Dirac Virtuo™ sound technology.
3.5mm headphone jack (rare in flagships).
Hi-res audio support for wired and wireless headphones.
Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 support for next-gen connectivity.
Cons: Where the ZenFone 12 Ultra falls short
- No official U.S. release
Not available in the U.S. due to Asus’ limited global distribution.
Buyers in North America need to import the device, which may lead to compatibility issues with U.S. carriers.
- No expandable storage
Lacks a microSD card slot, which means users will have to rely on internal storage.
The base variant (256GB) may not be enough for users with extensive media files. - Software updates and ZenUI customizations
Asus’ update policy is unclear, with a history of limited software support compared to Samsung and Google.
ZenUI doesn’t have some of the advanced AI features found in competitors like Google’s Pixel lineup. - No periscope zoom camera
Only 3x optical zoom, while competitors offer 5x or 10x periscope zoom.
May not be ideal for long-range photography. - No ultra-fast wireless charging
While it supports 15W wireless charging, it’s much slower than competitors like Samsung (which offers 25W) and Xiaomi (which offers 50W+). - Expensive price in some regions
It costs €1,099.99 in Europe, making it more expensive than some alternatives.
Asus doesn’t offer a competitive trade-in program like Apple or Samsung.
6. How Does It Compare to Other Flagships?
The Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra establishes itself as a strong contender in the flagship smartphone space. To understand its position, let’s compare it with other leading devices in the market:
Design and build quality:
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra: It has a premium construction with an aluminium frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection. It measures 163.8 x 77 x 8.9mm and weighs 220 grams, giving a sturdy feel.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: It has a titanium-coated frame, measures 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2mm and weighs 218 grams. Both devices are IP68-rated for dust and water resistance. PHONEARENA.COM
Display:
ZenFone 12 Ultra: Equipped with a 6.78-inch FHD+ (2400×1080 pixels) Samsung E6 flexible AMOLED display, supporting variable refresh rates from 1Hz to 120Hz, with up to 144Hz available for gaming. It offers a peak brightness of 2,500 nits.
Galaxy S25 Ultra: Features a slightly larger 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a higher resolution of 3120 x 1440 pixels, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 2,600 nits.
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Display:
Both devices: Are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor built on the 3nm process. The ZenFone 12 Ultra has a CPU clocked at up to 4.32GHz, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra has a CPU clocked at up to 4.47GHz.
Memory and Storage: Both offer configurations with either 12GB or 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM. The ZenFone 12 Ultra offers up to 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra offers up to 1TB of storage.
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Camera System:
ZenFone 12 Ultra: It has a 50MP main sensor with gimbal OIS, a 32MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 13MP ultrawide lens.
Galaxy S25 Ultra: It has a 200MP main sensor, a 50MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, an additional 12MP telephoto lens, and a 50MP ultrawide lens.
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Battery and charging:
ZenFone 12 Ultra: It has a 5,500mAh battery that supports 65W wired charging and 15W wireless charging.
Galaxy S25 Ultra: It has a 5,000mAh battery, 45W wired charging, and 25W wireless charging.
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Additional features:
ZenFone 12 Ultra: It includes a 3.5mm headphone jack and Hi-Res audio support.
Galaxy S25 Ultra: It doesn’t have a headphone jack, but it offers extended software support with up to seven years of updates.
Designer Tale
Price:
ZenFone 12 Ultra: It costs around $1,200.
Galaxy S25 Ultra: It costs around $1,560.
7. Final Verdict: Should You Buy the Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra?
Who should buy the Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra?
If you want a compact yet powerful flagship
Unlike many oversized flagships, the Zenfone 12 Ultra strikes a balance between size and power, making it easy to handle without compromising on performance.
Its 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate ensures a seamless experience for gaming and multimedia consumption.
If you are a power user or a gamer
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset delivers exceptional speed, making it one of the fastest phones of 2025.
With LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, apps load quickly, and multitasking is seamless.
It includes advanced cooling systems, which reduce overheating during long gaming sessions.
If you want a flagship camera experience
The 50MP Sony Lytia 700 main camera delivers sharp and detailed images.
Gimbal OIS stabilization improves low-light photography and video recording.
The 8K video support and HDR10+ recording make it a great choice for content creators.
If you want long battery life and fast charging
The 5,500mAh battery easily lasts a full day even with heavy usage.
The 65W wired charging allows for quick top-ups, while 15W wireless charging is convenient.
If you want a clean Android experience
ZenUI is lightweight and close to stock Android, unlike heavily customized skins from Samsung or Xiaomi.
Asus promises software updates for at least three years, making it last a long time.
Who would want to miss out on the Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra?
If you want a global release (especially in the U.S.)
The Zenfone 12 Ultra is not widely available in all regions, especially the U.S. market.
Importing may lead to higher costs and potential carrier compatibility issues.
If you want a periscope zoom camera
Although the 3x telephoto lens is nice, it doesn’t have a periscope zoom lens, which is common in competing flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (10x optical zoom).
If you prioritize long-range photography, Samsung or Xiaomi flagships may be better options.
If you want the best software support
Asus offers 3 years of updates, but competitors like Google and Samsung now offer 7 years of major OS updates.
If long-term software support is important to you, the Pixel 8 Pro or Galaxy S24 Ultra may be a better investment.
If you want expandable storage
There’s no microSD card slot, so you’re limited to internal storage.
If you store a lot of media files, you may need the 512GB variant, which is more expensive.
Final Verdict: Is it worth buying?
The Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra is a great flagship option for users who prioritize performance, compact size, and a clean Android experience. It excels at gaming, photography, and battery life, making it a strong competitor in the 2025 smartphone market.
However, its limited availability, lack of a periscope zoom lens, and less software support than Samsung and Google may deter some buyers. If you’re in a region where it’s available and don’t need extreme zoom photography, this is a great flagship worth considering.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Pros: Compact, powerful, great display, great camera, fast charging.
Cons: Limited availability, no periscope zoom, less software support.
Would you like to compare with other flagship phones, or are you interested in alternatives?
