Zenfone 12 Ultra vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: A Deep Dive
Here’s a detailed comparison of the Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, outlining their key differences, performance, and value proposition.
Intro
The Zenfone series, once known for compact flagships, shifted gears with the Zenfone 11 and subsequently the Zenfone 12 Ultra, adopting a "Ultra" moniker and embracing a larger form factor, comparable to Samsung’s Galaxy Ultra line. The Zenfone 12 Ultra aims to challenge the 2025 Galaxy S25 Ultra head-on. While both boast similar internals and target the same premium market, only one can come out on top.
Key Differences: Zenfone 12 Ultra vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra
| Feature | Zenfone 12 Ultra | Galaxy S25 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | Large phablet | New flat sides, S Pen included |
| Camera Stabilization | Upgraded 6-axis gimbal OIS | Dual zoom cameras for versatile framing |
| Software Updates | Android 15, expected up to Android 17 | Android 15, expected up to Android 22 |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, 3 nm | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, 3 nm |
| RAM/Storage | 12 GB / 256 GB, 16 GB / 512 GB LPDDR5X, UFS 4.0 | 12/256GB, 12/512GB, 12GB/1TB LPDDR5X, UFS 4.0 |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, headphone jack | No headphone jack, improved speakers |
| Battery | 5,500 mAh, 65 W wired, 15 W wireless | 5,000 mAh, 45 W wired, 15 W wireless |
| Availability | Limited market availability, not available in the US | Wider market availability |
Note: The Zenfone 12 Ultra, mostly, will be available in the 16 GB / 512 GB version. Neither phone is available on the US market.
Review Ratings Comparison (Based on content)
The PhoneArena reviews were included in this analysis.
Design and Display Quality
Aesthetics
- Zenfone 12 Ultra: Maintains a similar design to its predecessor, with a pronounced camera bump. Some design elements have been removed to simplify its look however the camera module remains a point of contention.
Galaxy S25 Ultra: Features a refined design with flattened sides and titanium finishes, with prominent camera rings (large floating rings).
Both phones exhibit premium materials.
Color Options
- Zenfone 12 Ultra: Available in Ebony Black, Sage Green, and Sakura White (pink).
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: Offered in Titanium Black, Gray, Silverblue, and Whitesilver with three exclusive Samsung.com colors which are Titanium Jadegreen, Jetblack, and Pinkgold.
Dimensions
- Zenfone 12 Ultra: 163.8 x 77 x 8.9 mm, 220 g.
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm, 218 g.
Display
- Zenfone 12 Ultra: 6.78-inch Samsung AMOLED display.
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: 6.9-inch Samsung AMOLED display. Both have LTPO panels with a 1-120Hz dynamic refresh rate. The Zenfone can hit 144 Hz during gaming only (Game Genie overlay).
- Both are manufactured by Samsung and offer multiple color calibration adjustments.
- Brightness: Zenfone 12 Ultra: 2,500 nits peak, Galaxy S25 Ultra: 2,600 nits peak, with real world testing showing both exceeding 2,000 nits.
- Minimum Brightness: Galaxy S25 Ultra (below 1 nit) offers superior minimum brightness for nighttime viewing. Zenfone 12 Ultra is a disadvantage at 5.9 nits.
- Anti-Glare: Samsung’s display features an excellent anti-glare coating.
Performance and Software
Processing Power
- Zenfone 12 Ultra: Equipped with the 3 nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite.
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: Features a slightly overclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite "for Galaxy" edition.
- Both utilize LPDDR5X RAM and UFS4.0 storage.
Benchmarks
- CPU: Galaxy S25 Ultra (slightly faster).
- 3DMark: Zenfone 12 Ultra shows superior thermal management, remaining stable under sustained load.
Software
- Both: Feature Android 15 at launch.
- Zenfone 12 Ultra: Runs ZenUI, with added custom features on top of Vanilla Android, including various AI enhancements.
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: Runs Samsung’s One UI with Galaxy AI.
*Both have many similar AI functions such as; website & document summaries, live call translations, google circle to search, AI image fills, and photo unblur.
Camera
Camera Hardware
- Zenfone 12 Ultra: Emphasizes a gimbal stabilizer.
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: Features a quad-camera system with dual zoom lenses and improved image processing.
Camera Scores (From PhoneArena)
The content clearly states that the Galaxy is the winner and is reflected in benchmark scores.
Camera Performance (Sample Observations)
- Main Camera:
- Zenfone 12 Ultra: Struggles with dynamic range, with oversharpened details.
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: Handles high dynamics well, with better color accuracy.
- Low Light:
- Zenfone 12 Ultra: Exhibits sharper contrast and pale skintones.
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: Maintains good dynamics and balanced image.
- Zoom Quality: The Samsung is seen as best.
- Ultra-wide Camera The content mentions better colors on Zenfone, but the HDR quality was poor.
- Selfies: The content emphasizes a lack of vibrancy with pale skin tones.
- Video:
- Zenfone 12 Ultra: Very smooth motion by the gimbal, vibrant colors, but oversharpened details.
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: Balanced footage, slightly colder colors, but better highlight handling.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery Capacity
- Zenfone 12 Ultra: 5,500 mAh.
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: 5,000 mAh.
Battery Test Results
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: Surprisingly outperforms the Zenfone 12 Ultra in overall battery life, especially in web browsing and gaming.
Charging
- Zenfone 12 Ultra: 65 W wired charging.
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: 45 W wired charging. Both support 15 W wireless charging.
Audio Quality and Haptics
- Speakers: Both phones have good stereo speakers. The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s speakers sound better.
- Haptics: Both offer strong and accurate haptic feedback.
Specs Comparison (Abbreviated)
| Feature | Zenfone 12 Ultra | Galaxy S25 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 77 x 8.9 mm, 220 g | 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm, 218 g |
| Frame | Recycled aluminum | Titanium-coated |
| CPU | Snapdragon 8 Elite (4.32 GHz) | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (4.47 GHz) |
| Display | 6.78" AMOLED, 1-120 Hz (144 Hz gaming) | 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED X2, 1-120 Hz |
| RAM/Storage | 12/256, 16/512 GB LPDDR5X, UFS4.0 | 12/256, 12/512, 12/1TB LPDDR5X, UFS4.0 |
| Main Camera | 50 MP, 13 MP ultrawide, 32 MP 3x zoom, 32 MP front | 200 MP, 50 MP ultrawide, 10 MP 3x zoom, 50 MP 5x zoom, 12 MP front |
| Battery/Charging | 5,500 mAh, 65W wired, 15W wireless | 5,000 mAh, 45 W wired, 15W Wireless |
Conclusion: Which One Should You Buy?
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the clear victor. With a more refined design, superior camera performance, additional features like the S Pen, longer software support (7 years, compared to the Zenfone’s 2 Android versions + 4 years of security patches), and better market availability, the S25 Ultra has a strong advantage. Price is a differentiating factor, and the Zenfone 12 Ultra will be sold at a reduced price. However the S25’s superior performance outweighs this factor, and may be worth your money.
