Today we’re going to talk about Asus. Тhe Taiwanese brand has been known primarily for its laptops and PC components but you’d be surprised to find out that Asus has been making phones for nearly 20 years now!
In a smartphone world where Apple and Samsung are calling the shots, it’s really refreshing to see what an underdog (of sorts) can do. Here’s our list of the best Asus phones you can get in 2025!
The ZenFone lineup has been around since 2014 (with Windows-equipped Asus phones dating even further back to mid 2000s) and during all those years Asus put a lot of effort and money into developing the brand. And here we are - giving the nod of approval to the tenth generation of Zenfone (one of the best compact Android phones on the market), and the inception of the ZenFone Ultra model, a gaming phone disguised as a regular flagship.
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra
Elite contender
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra
7.4
Price Class Average
Battery Life
0
7.1
Photo Quality
0
7.3
Video Quality
0
6.4
Charging
0
6.4
Performance Peak
0
6.7
Performance Daily
0
7.4
Display Quality
0
8
Design
0
7.4
Wireless Charging
0
7.2
Biometrics
0
7.6
Audio
0
7.5
Software
0
8.5
Why the score?
This device scores 100% worse than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the vivo X200, Motorola Edge 50 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S25+
The Zenfone 12 Ultra is Asus' second take on the big flagship phone with an "Ultra" slapped to its name. It's obviously going for the big guys with the same moniker (check out our Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Zenfone 12 Ultra comparison), but at the same time, it tries to play it safe.
The phone does a lot of things right—its display is very bright, color-accurate, and a joy to look at, especially at 144Hz when playing games. The loudspeakers are loud and boomy, something of a staple of Asus phones in the past couple of years. The chipset onboard is the best in the business at the moment, and the battery and charging unsurprisingly surpass modern and more popular flagships.
However, there are some question marks over the Zenfone 12 Ultra. For starters, the camera system is not on par with other "Ultra" devices, and in general, the phone doesn't bring anything new and exciting compared to its predecessor. That includes the design, which is a bit uninspiring. And when we factor in the asking price, which is north of 1000 euros, these drawbacks start to feel heavy on the shoulders of the Zenfone 12 Ultra.
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Nevertheless, the phone is the best Asus can offer outside its dedicated ROG gaming line, so if you want to support the company but don't like the flashiness of gaming phones, the Zenfone 12 Ultra can be a decent choice.
This device scores 5.5% worse than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the OnePlus 13, Google Pixel 9 Pro XL and Samsung Galaxy S25+
Asus surprised everyone with the official announcement of the Zenfone 11 Ultra. After several generations of compact flagships, the company obviously decided to try and compete with bigger, quite literally, fish. Hence, the Zenfone 11 Ultra and its 6.78-inch form factor.
Is the Zenfone 11 Ultra a worthy competitor to other big shots, such as the S24 Ultra or the iPhone 15 Pro Max? It depends. The phone does a lot of things right. It has the brightest screen we've measured so far, the fastest Qualcomm chipset, and a hefty battery that you can fill up in less than 50 minutes. What's not to like?
Well, the camera is still not the strongest feature of the Zenfone lineup. It has remained almost unchanged, with the addition of a 32MP telephoto. Another interesting point is that the Zenfone 11 Ultra and the ROG Phone 8 are very similar. But if you enjoy the raw power of ROG phones and don't want the added sparkle of LEDs and gaming triggers, the Zenfone 11 Ultra is a great option.
With the ZenFone 8 and the Zenfone 9, Asus made a sharp U-turn in design and overall philosophy, going down the compact route. Now, the ZenFone 10 has taken this idea and perfected it in every possible way. The phone features the best Qualcomm processor at the moment, it now supports wireless charging, and the battery life is just astounding for such a small device.
Everything you loved about the ZenFone 9 is present here as well - all the audio Dirac magic with some additional algorithm enhancements (the phone sounds really good, and there's a 3.5mm jack too), the display now has a 144Hz gaming mode on top of the regular 120Hz available everywhere else, it's calibrated to perfection, and last but not least, RAM and storage are aplenty.
The main camera algorithms have been upgraded, and the whole thing sports the second iteration of the sophisticated gimbal system that can make you the next Kubrick (if only it were that easy). The Zenfone 10 is a really good deal (there's a case and a charger in the retail box) at $799. Currently, it's the best compact Android flagship phone on the market.
If you've always secretly wanted a gaming phone, Asus has got you covered. The company has been really popular among gamers with the aforementioned Republic of Gamers series of devices (PCs, laptops), and the same goes for smartphones. That next ROG phone could be yours, even though you're not a kid anymore. Asus has already launched its next ROG model - the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro, and of course, it's found its place on our list.
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro
Power overwhelming
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro
What we like
Stellar performance
Fantastic battery endurance and good charging speed
Design mixes fun with classy
What we don't like
A bit heavy
Camera is OK, but not on par with $1k competitors
Speakers still a downgrade from ROG 7, not as good as iPhone 16 Pro Max
7.5
PhoneArena Rating
7.6
Price Class Average
Battery Life
8.6
7.9
Photo Quality
6.3
7.4
Video Quality
6.2
6.6
Charging
7.9
6.1
Performance Peak
9.1
7.3
Performance Daily
8.9
8.1
Display Quality
7
8
Design
8
7.8
Wireless Charging
8.5
7.1
Biometrics
7
7.7
Audio
8
7.8
Software
4
8.3
Why the score?
This device scores 1.3% worse than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
The Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro is a continuation of the new and understated philosophy the company started with the previous model. It's a stylish take on the gaming phone with less flashy LED light and more "mainstream" look, for a lack of a better word.
Don't get fooled by the looks, though. The performance is there, and it's one of the fastest Snapdragon 8 Elite phones we've tested so far. The ROG Phone 9 Pro also supports 185Hz refresh rate when gaming, which is absolutely insane. Factor in the 24GB of RAM and you have a futureproof phone.
The battery life is solid (The phone ranks #6 for phones tested in the past 2 years), and the 65W fast charging fills up the battery from 0 to 100% in less than an hour. All things considered, this gaming phone could be your daily driver thanks to its understated design, but there's no way around the price tag, which is eye-watering at $1,499.
The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is the previous flagship gaming phone from the Taiwanese company. It tried to do things a little differently, with a much more subtle approach. The phone hasn't forfeited its gaming pedigree. It tried to appeal to a wider audience instead.
The design of the phone is understated for a gaming phone, with a stealthy LED matrix on the back, rounded corners, and a modern-looking camera bump. Under the hood, things have remained top-notch, with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, up to 24GB of RAM, a hefty 6,000mAh battery, and a very bright (as is the latest trend) 165Hz display.
The only sacrifice you will need to make is one involving your wallet. The phone now starts at $1,200, which is pretty expensive, but if you want the top 24/1TB model, you will need to cough up $1,500.
So there you have it! We believe that any of these phones can be worthy of your attention and hard-earned money. Asus may not be as popular as Samsung or Apple in the smartphone space, but this doesn't mean that the company can't make phones. On the contrary - just take a look at a ROG phone of any generation. And you don't need to be an avid gamer to enjoy such device - a good phone is a good phone, period.
Of course, this best Asus phones list is a work-in-progress, and with the pace of today's tech, it'll always be. The Zenfone 11 Ultra surprised us all, adding some variety to the otherwise compact Zenfone lineup, and it seems Asus is keen on continuing in that direction, the Zenfone 12 Ultra being the proof.
So, the days of the compact Asus flagship are over, but there's more to come. Asus thinks it can challenge the big guys with big phones. Time will tell if the company will be able to mount a serious challenge to Apple and Samsung.
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Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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