Zenfone 12 Extremely vs Zenfone 11 Extremely: discover the variations

Intro

Design and Show High quality

Move me the Zenfone 12 Extremely. No, that is the 11 extremely

Minor variations (Picture credit score – PhoneArena)

The Zenfone 12 Extremely carefully follows within the curves of the Zenfone 11 Extremely. In actual fact, some might say that it is encased in the exact same physique. It encompasses a large 6.8-inch show, an aluminum body, and a matte glass again. Whereas the 11 Extremely had a number of streaks on its again to present it a little bit of an aggressive styling, the Zenfone 12 Extremely opts for a cleaner look, with solely a small, refined brand centered on the again glass. The digicam module on the 12 Extremely is barely redesigned — it nonetheless stands out, however it’s total a smaller block.

The inexperienced one is the previous one (Picture credit score – PhoneArena)

They weigh about the identical at 220 g vs 224 g, and measure just about the identical at 163.8 x 77 x 8.9 mm vs 163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm (Zenfone 12 Extremely vs 11 Extremely, respectively).

Samsung-made AMOLED panels (Picture credit score – PhoneArena)

The shows are 6.78″ in diagonal and have AMOLED panels made by Samsung. The decision on each is 2400 x 1080 pixels, making for a PPI of 388. Purists would say “not sharp sufficient”, however we discover them to be properly detailed. They’re LTPO and may go from 1 Hz for always-on-display to 120 Hz for super-smooth animations. Inside video games, you will get them to 144 Hz for that further oomph. However sure, they give the impression of being and function the identical. And you’ve got shade calibration choices inside settings to tune them to style — from saturated and chilly to life like and heat.

Show Measurements:

Our measurements additionally reaffirm that these are kind of the identical panels. In fact, there are minor tolerances, however you’re going to get the identical 2,500 nit peak brightness and similar 5.9 nit minimal brightness. That latter one remains to be a disappointment — it isn’t best for nighttime viewing, the place you need 1 nit or much less.

Efficiency and Software program

Elite vs third gen

ZenUI for full calm (Picture credit score – PhoneArena)

The Zenfone is taken into account a flagship, subsequently it will get the flagship chip of the yr. That’d be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite this yr — the primary 3 nm Snapdragon with extra energy and extra vitality effectivity (and extra warmth). So far, each different telephone that has launched with the Elite has beat the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 of their predecessor. Certainly, we’ll get the identical outcomes?

Efficiency Benchmarks:

Surprisingly, no we didn’t. In actual fact, the Zenfone 12 Extremely hovers across the rating of the Zenfone 11 Extremely. Why? Possibly thermals had been a problem, or perhaps Asus desires to maintain the highest rating for the ROG Cellphone. It bears point out that, when it throttles, the Zenfone 12 Extremely throttles a lot lower than the 11 Extremely did (3DMark low scores).

Each of those fashions include both 12 GB RAM and 256 GB of storage, or 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage. These are LPDDR5X anf UFS4.0 chips, so we do get the quick {hardware} therapy, no worries there.

The ZenUI interface could be very gentle and vanilla-Android-like. But it surely comes with a reasonably modest replace dedication — 2 Android builds post-release, and 4 years of safety patches. That goes for each Zenfones right here.

Digital camera

Similar specs, however new gimbal

Similar specs, barely totally different efficiency, however not higher (Picture credit score – PhoneArena)

Final yr, Asus began placing bodily gimbal stabilizers within the ROG Telephones and Zenfones — form of a part of the explanation why the digicam module appears a bit blocky. This yr, the stabilizer was “upgraded” with a pair further levels of stabilization added. That is cool, however the digicam sensors appear to be the identical. And the post-processing hasn’t gotten an improve, too, which was and us much-neeeded.

PhoneArena Digital camera Rating:

And that may be see in our benchmark rating. We use particular, set-in-stone processes to measure sharpness, publicity, and the general digicam expertise. The Zenfone 12 Extremely would not present a lot enchancment over the Zenfone 11 Extremely. And they’re each lagging behind the competitors.

Major Digital camera

The Zenfone digicam struggles with particulars, dynamic vary, and colours. Sadly, this hasn’t authorised this yr. In actual fact, each cameras appear to ship an identical efficiency. High quality particulars are jagged and oversharpened, with some halo-ing round them. The colours and distinction of the Zenfone 12 Extremely are a step above the 11 Extremely, we are going to give it that. Its footage are extra textured and barely extra life like, in comparison with the pink-ish pale imaging of the Zenfone 11 Extremely. But it surely nonetheless has an extended approach to go.

It would not get higher in low-light conditions when the telephones amp the publicity up. Skintone will get simply washed out, and dynamics take yet one more hit. The Zenfone 12 Extremely photograph lacks element and appears a bit like a portray with its large distinction and sudden shifts in publicity. The Zenfone 11 Extremely photograph is extra evenly uncovered, however appears a bit uncanny, with a pale skintone and lack of depth within the particulars.

Zoom High quality

The oversharpening is much more obvious once you attain for that zoom slider. At 10x, the telephones usually maintain it collectively to present you a transparent photograph, however not for lovely memorabilia. Publicity begins to endure, and particulars are visibly oversharpened by the software program, supplying you with very clear halos and bizarre jagged edges.

Extremely-wide Digital camera

The ultra-wide digicam of the Zenfone 12 Extremely does really feel prefer it has been tuned to have an analogous shade replica as the primary one, the place the Zenfone 11 Extremely veers in the direction of extra saturated colours, and neon-blue skies. However you’ll discover that each create HDR ghosts — take a look at these birds! Once more, not best, nowhere close to what we might need from a 2025 flagship telephone.

Selfies

Sadly, skintones stay pale and yellowish even with the selfie digicam. And regardless that each entrance snappers have a 32 MP sensor beneath, we will not promise you a lot element there. Sure, beard and hair will seem sharp, due to the software program. However particulars like wrinkles within the pores and skin dissapear in a smoothed mush.

Extra Digital camera Samples

Battery Life and Charging

And once more — similar

5,500 mAh once more (Picture credit score – PhoneArena)

The Zenfone 11 Extremely got here with a 5,500 mAh battery. The Zenfone 12 Extremely… we’re recognizing a sample right here — comes with the identical battery within the same-sized physique. What’s left to ask is “will the three nm Snapdragon drain much less battery?”. Effectively, we put them to the take a look at:

PhoneArena Battery and Charging Take a look at Outcomes:

Effectively, it appears the Zenfone 11 Extremely is definitely higher on this area. Extra energy-efficient or not, the Snapdragon 8 Elite is a battery-guzzling beast. Although, the Zenfone 12 Extremely positively retains it collectively for a very long time. It’s kind of of a shocker that it is the YouTube streaming that knocks it down. However in terms of gaming or fixed net shopping, we nonetheless received it to run for nicely north of 10 hours.

Audio High quality and Haptics

Similar physique, similar battery, did we count on totally different audio system? The Zenfone 12 Extremely is tuned barely in a different way, with a little bit of a shift within the bass, however nothing noteworthy. Each of those telephones have loud, meaty audio system that you could fine-tune with an EQ baked into the software program. And each click on and clack with the identical, responsive haptic motors.

Specs Comparability

Which one must you purchase?

Is the brand new one even value it? (Picture credit score – PhoneArena)

As an example you’re dead-set on shopping for a Zenfone as a result of… you might have your causes. It is actually onerous to argue that the Zenfone 12 Extremely is the higher choose right here. The one factor that involves thoughts is that its software program help will be certain that you’re going to get Android 17 and safety patches up till early 2029, whereas the Zenfone 11 Extremely will cease at Android 16 with patches till 2028. Yeah, Asus nonetheless commits to 2 Android builds and 4 years of software program patches.

So, in case you occur to return throughout a Zenfone 11 Extremely at an unimaginable low cost, and are questioning to your self “Hey, perhaps the Zenfone 12 Extremely is a lot better and value full value?”. No, bounce on that deal.