Asus was known for its Zenfone series, which offered small premium phones with large batteries, headphone jacks, and extensive customization options. However, the company seems to have abandoned this formula.
A recent poll revealed that 30% of voters are interested in a potential Zenfone 11, while 41% believe the Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra may not live up to expectations. It’s possible that interest may increase if prices drop, but Asus devices rarely see significant discounts.
Who is the Zenfone 11 Ultra really designed for? Perhaps those who can’t justify spending more on an ROG Phone 8. However, this may be a small market segment, as most consumers either have the budget for the ROG Phone 8 or are far below that price point.
While the Zenfone 11 Ultra offers solid features, its pricing reflects that. Some competing devices offer better value for money and provide longer support for software updates compared to Asus.
There seems to be a demand for enthusiast phones – not necessarily gaming devices, but phones built for power users. Companies like Asus and Sony are in a good position to cater to this market, but they have yet to fully capitalize on it.
It’s disappointing that Asus has stopped allowing users to unlock the bootloader, limiting the potential for custom ROMs that offer more up-to-date software. On the other hand, there are reports that Sony may offer up to 5 years of software support, including 5 OS updates and security patches, and their Xperia devices can have unlocked bootloaders.
