ASUS Zenfone 12 Ultra vs Nothing Phone (4a)

ASUS Zenfone 12 Ultra

A big, bright 6.78-inch 144Hz AMOLED that's very good in practice — but it's FHD+, not the QHD some expect from an 'Ultra'.

• It's a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED at 144Hz, HDR10, with 1,600 nits HBM / 2,500 nits peak at 1080x2400 (20:9), with an always-on display — unchanged from the 11 Ultra.
• Peak brightness hits 2,500 nits with a real-hero ~2,200 nits at 20% APL — though minimum brightness is a bit high at almost 6 nits.
• It's an LTPO 1–120Hz panel with a boosted 144Hz refresh mode available during gaming.
• Calling it an 'Ultra' but shipping no QHD screen is a recurring criticism among buyers.

Nothing Phone (4a)

A genuine highlight for the price — a big 6.78-inch 120Hz AMOLED that's bright, sharp and HDR-capable, beating similarly priced rivals.

• 6.78-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, HDR10+, 800 nits typical / 1,600 nits HBM / 4,500 nits peak at 1224x2720 (440ppi).
• The 6.78-inch display is 23% brighter than the 3a, reaching 1,600 nits outdoors with a 4,500-nit HDR peak.
• Brightness goes up to 4,500 nits peak, remaining easily readable outdoors — the display is very strong for this price range and one of the standout features.
• In the real world it hits around 700 nits peak SDR and ~1,550–1,600 nits in HDR, with 460ppi and dynamic 120Hz.

ASUS Zenfone 12 Ultra

The gimbal-stabilized main camera is the genuine highlight; the rest of the system is solid-for-the-price but clearly trails rival flagships.

• Asus swapped the main camera sensor as part of a gimbal-stabilizer upgrade that now provides up to 66% better stabilization (6-axis, up to 5° each direction).
• The lead shooter promises gimbal-level stability when snapping or filming — the standout reason to consider this phone.
• The main camera captures 12.5MP pixel-binned stills; the ultrawide is limited to 4K30, the telephoto to 1080p60 and the selfie to 1080p30.
• Camera quality is subpar versus other flagships, with no autofocus on the wide-angle and the front camera capped at 1080p 30fps video.
• Photography and processing fall away once you push past 3x optical, where rivals with longer reach stay stronger.
• Asus confirmed the Zenfone 12 Ultra would launch with new AI camera features.

Nothing Phone (4a)

A standout 3.5x periscope telephoto at this price and a solid main camera, undercut by an under-optimised zoom and a basic ultrawide.

• A triple setup — 50MP main, a 50MP periscope telephoto and an 8MP ultrawide — undoubtedly one of the best experiences at this level.
• The telephoto has been tweaked to a much better 3.5x (80mm) zoom factor.
• A telephoto with optical zoom at this price is great, but this is the worst optimisation I've seen on a 3.5x camera — expect disappointment if you buy for the zoom.
• The 3.5x optical-zoom telephoto is one of the biggest highlights, adding much more flexibility than most competitors in this price range, and the cameras are surprisingly capable.
• Each camera here feels better than what you'd get on Samsung at the price, and the main is solid with nice detail.

ASUS Zenfone 12 Ultra

Snapdragon 8 Elite plus ROG-derived cooling makes this a fast, stable performer with no thermal drama.

• The Snapdragon 8 Elite provides excellent burst performance.
• Paired with up to 16GB RAM and UFS 4.0, load times are fast, app switching is seamless and gaming performance is rock solid.
• The most demanding titles held a steady frame rate with no lag and no overheating, impressive given the slim 8.9mm body.
• It carries thermal controls (limit CPU boost, dim brightness, disable 5G when hot) so you can tune sustained performance outdoors.
• Its gaming result was slightly better than the 11 Ultra despite the overall battery regression.

Nothing Phone (4a)

A capable mid-range chip that handles everyday use and casual gaming well — not a powerhouse, but appropriate for the price.

• Gaming is absolutely possible on this device, with solid everyday performance for the class.
• There's no shortage of substantial hardware upgrades over the 3a, even if the design doesn't stand out as much as the Pro.
• After 24 hours the home screen is extremely customisable and feels massively more functional than iOS, with no responsiveness complaints.
• Gesture-based navigation is fully supported and the overall experience is good thanks to Nothing's optimisations.

ASUS Zenfone 12 Ultra

Strong real-world endurance from the 5,500mAh cell with fast 65W charging — though lab testing shows a regression versus the 11 Ultra.

• The 5,500mAh battery delivered an easy 10–11 hours of screen-on time across a mix of socials, YouTube and light gaming.
• 65W wired charging takes it 0–100% in roughly 39–45 minutes, with 15W wireless and 10W reverse wired charging.
• GSMArena's testing showed a regression — the 11 Ultra hit ~17h14m of battery life versus ~14h11m for the 12 Ultra.
• It carries an IP68 rating and a large 5,500mAh cell — strong stamina credentials for the class.
• One tester reported no wireless charging on their unit, though most sources confirm 15W wireless is supported.

Nothing Phone (4a)

A ~5,080mAh cell with 50W wired charging — reviewers call endurance strong, but a notable group of owners report disappointing screen-on time.

• The Nothing Phone (4a) features a ~5,080mAh cell which delivers very strong endurance in everyday use.
• The battery grew slightly — about 80mAh in most markets but a more meaningful 400mAh in India — with a 50W PD unit recommended on the box.
• Several owners report only 4–6.5 hours of screen-on time with moderate use — worse than other phones with similar ~5,000mAh batteries.
• Battery life on this phone is excellent in everyday use.

ASUS Zenfone 12 Ultra

It undercuts the big flagships on price and is excellent value used — but a thin software commitment and a so-so camera mean stronger options exist if those matter most.

• Although it's an Ultra with Ultra features, the price is significantly lower than a Samsung Galaxy S-series Ultra.
• It's expected to deliver Qualcomm's latest chipset, a large display and a price tag that undercuts a lot of the competition.
• New, the 16GB/512GB model sits around $1,039–$1,099 via import (not officially sold in the US); used units in mint condition go for $750–$850.
• If you're buying new at $1,000+ and cameras or long-term software support matter most, there are stronger options out there right now.
• The Zenfone line has been called an unremarkable big-screen smartphone that does nothing wrong but is eclipsed by stronger competition.

Nothing Phone (4a)

Aggressively priced below the Pixel 10a with a more distinctive design and a real telephoto — the standout budget pick for buyers who want personality.

• It's a good chunk of change cheaper than the $500 Pixel 10a.
• It fits the perfect budget for buyers who can't afford the ~$1,000 needed for an entry-level iPhone 17, with good hardware and excellent battery.
• A very strong mid-range smartphone that stands out with unique design, great display, solid performance and surprisingly capable cameras — definitely worth a closer look.
• Nothing stands out among the crowd with a brand identity strong enough to turn consumers into fans.