Stuff Verdict

A powerful and long-lasting Android phone – but with size no longer on its side, the Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra lands in a sea of superior rivals.

Pros

Rapid performance and long-lasting battery

Streamlined styling

Effective video stabilisation

Cons

Cameras can’t compete with rival flagships

Stiff competition at this price

Off-centre USB port breaks accessory compatibility

Introduction

There aren’t many truly pocket-friendly options on Stuff’s best smartphone list. Asus could usually be relied on to fly the flag for small screens – but that’s not the case for this year’s Zenfone offering. The Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra is a much bigger beast, having more in common with the gamer-focused ROG Phone than its petite predecessors.

Some familiar Zenfone tropes return, including a 3.5mm headphone port and a gimbal-stabilised lead camera on the rear. Naturally it’s packing the best chipset Qualcomm has to offer, and the battery has gone through a significant growth spurt compared to the last-gen model. Asus has also fully embraced AI, like the rest of the phone world.