Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra: A Deep Dive into Flagship Android
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing all-day battery life and seamless Google integration, the Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra emerges as the stronger contender. Its significantly superior battery endurance (61:00h vs 49:30h) and faster charging (39 min to 100% vs 30 min to 70%) outweigh the Pixel's software advantages.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Google Pixel 9 Pro XL | Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71 - GGX8B | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - GGX8B | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, August 13 | 2025, February 06 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, August 22 | Available. Released 2025, February 28 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame, glass back |
| Dimensions | 162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm (6.41 x 3.02 x 0.33 in) | 163.8 x 77 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 3.03 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | 221 g (7.80 oz) | 220 g (7.76 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Mohs level 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Mohs level 6 |
| Resolution | 1344 x 2992 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~486 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 109.7 cm2 (~88.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~88.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2000 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak) | LTPO AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10, 1600 nits (HBM), 2500 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.1 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4x1.92 GHz Cortex-A520) | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) |
| Chipset | Google Tensor G4 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G715 MC7 | Adreno 830 |
| OS | Android 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades | Android 15, upgradable to Android 16, up to 2 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 16GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Multi-zone Laser AF, LED flash, Pixel Shift, Ultra-HDR, panorama, Best Take, Zoom Enhance | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/2.8, 113mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.55", dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 48 MP, f/1.7, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", dual pixel PDAF, | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, gimbal OIS 32 MP, f/2.4, 65mm (telephoto), 1/3.2", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 8K@30fps (via cloud-based upscaling), 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+ |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | Panorama, HDR |
| Single | 42 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide), PDAF | 32 MP, f/2.5, 22mm (wide), 1/3.2", 0.7µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC, GLONASS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 | USB Type-C |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, thermometer (skin temperature) | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 37W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 70% in 30 min 23W wireless (w/ Pixel Stand) 12W wireless (w/ Qi compatible charger) Reverse wireless Bypass charging | 65W wired, PD3.0, PPS, QC5, 100% in 39 min 15W wireless (Qi) 10W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 5060 mAh | 5500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Porcelain, Rose Quartz, Hazel, Obsidian | Ebony Black, Sakura White, Sage Green |
| Models | GGX8B, GZC4K, GQ57S | AI2501, AI2501H, I2501C, AI2501B |
| Price | $ 474.43 / C$ 909.98 / £ 599.95 / € 495.04 / ₹ 99,990 | € 955.55 |
| SAR EU | 0.99 W/kg (head) 1.40 W/kg (body) | - |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 49:30h endurance, 1000 cycles | 61:00h endurance, 1200 cycles |
| Energy | Class B | Class A |
| Free fall | Class A (270 falls) | Class D (45 falls) |
| Repairability | Class C | Class C |
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
- Superior software integration with Google services
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- AI-powered camera features
- Shorter battery life
- Slower charging speeds
- Less powerful chipset
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra
- Exceptional battery endurance
- Fastest charging speeds (65W)
- More powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite processor
- Less refined software experience (compared to Pixel)
- Potentially less consistent camera processing
- Slightly dimmer display
Display Comparison
The Pixel 9 Pro XL boasts a brighter display at 2365 nits, offering superior visibility in direct sunlight compared to the Zenfone 12 Ultra’s 1965 nits. While both likely employ LTPO technology for variable refresh rates (based on flagship positioning), the Pixel’s higher peak brightness is a tangible advantage for outdoor use. The impact of this difference is most noticeable when viewing HDR content or using the phone under bright conditions.
Camera Comparison
While detailed camera specs are absent, the focus should be on image processing. Google’s Pixel line is renowned for its computational photography prowess, leveraging AI to enhance image quality. The Zenfone 12 Ultra, with its Snapdragon 8 Elite ISP, will likely offer excellent image processing as well, but may lean towards a more natural look. The absence of sensor details makes a direct comparison difficult, but the Snapdragon’s ISP is capable of handling high-resolution sensors and advanced features.
Performance
The Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra leverages the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite, fabricated on a 3nm process, giving it a clear architectural advantage over the Google Tensor G4’s 4nm node. The Snapdragon 8 Elite’s Oryon V2 Phoenix CPU cores (2x4.32 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz) promise significantly higher peak performance than the Pixel’s Cortex-X4 (3.1 GHz) and A720/A520 configuration. This translates to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming performance, particularly in graphically intensive titles. The 3nm process also contributes to improved thermal efficiency, potentially mitigating throttling during sustained workloads.
Battery Life
The Zenfone 12 Ultra dominates in battery performance, offering a remarkable 61:00h endurance compared to the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s 49:30h. This translates to nearly a full day of additional usage. Furthermore, the Zenfone 12 Ultra’s 65W wired charging (100% in 39 minutes) is significantly faster than the Pixel’s 37W charging (70% in 30 minutes). The Zenfone also supports QC5, adding to its charging versatility. While the Pixel offers 23W wireless charging with its proprietary stand and 12W with Qi, the Zenfone’s 15W wireless charging is still competitive, and its 10W reverse wired charging provides a unique utility.
Buying Guide
Buy the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL if you need a phone deeply integrated with Google's AI services, prioritize software updates, and value a consistently smooth user experience. Buy the Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra if you prioritize maximum battery life, fastest possible charging speeds, and raw processing power for demanding tasks like gaming or video editing.