Head to head

ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Max

ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra leads 10 to 5 on the 15 rankable specs and costs $300 less, which makes it the straightforward pick.

Catalog as of September 1, 2026

Why, in numbers

Weight: ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra lists 224 g (ASUS sheet, 2026-09-02); iPhone 16 Pro Max lists 227 g (8.0 oz) (Apple sheet, 2026-09-02).
Size: ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra lists 6.78 inches (ASUS sheet, 2026-09-02); iPhone 16 Pro Max lists 6.9 inches (Apple sheet, 2026-09-02).
Chipset: ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra lists Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) (ASUS sheet, 2026-09-02); iPhone 16 Pro Max lists Apple A18 Pro (3 nm) (Apple sheet, 2026-09-02).
RAM: ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra lists 16 GB LPDDR5X (ASUS sheet, 2026-09-02); iPhone 16 Pro Max lists 8GB (Apple sheet, 2026-09-02).
Max optical zoom: ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra lists 3x optical (30x digital HyperClarity zoom) (ASUS sheet, 2026-09-02); iPhone 16 Pro Max lists 5x optical (25x digital) (Apple sheet, 2026-09-02).

Manufacturer list price, not a live offer. Confirm current pricing before you buy.

Buying for

Every rankable spec counts once. Pick a lens to score only what matters for your phone.

Your devices

Select your ecosystem to flag non-functional features or platform lock-in.

Straight answer

Overall: 10 to 5

Buy the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra.

Leads 10 of 15 rankable overall specs; iPhone 16 Pro Max takes 5.
Weight: 224 g vs 227 g
RAM: 16 GB LPDDR5X vs 8GB
It is also $300 cheaper.

Check first: the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra has under 5 years of OS updates. Tick them under deal-breakers if that rules it out.

10 ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra15 rankable of 48 specsiPhone 16 Pro Max 5

Deal-breakers

tick what would make you walk away

No stylusrow
No pen input for handwritten notes or markup.
Trips:ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra · NoTrips:iPhone 16 Pro Max · No
No headphone jackrow
Wired headphones need a USB-C dongle.
Clear:ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra · Yes (3.5 mm Hi-Res audio output)Trips:iPhone 16 Pro Max · No
No charger in the boxrow
Budget another $20 to $40 for a fast charger.
Trips:ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra · NoTrips:iPhone 16 Pro Max · No
Under 5 years of OS updatesrow
Security patches stop sooner and resale value falls faster.
Trips:ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra · 2 major OS updates + 4 years security p…Clear:iPhone 16 Pro Max · 7 years
No microSD slotrow
Storage is fixed at what you buy.
Trips:ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra · NoTrips:iPhone 16 Pro Max · No

At a glance

The handful of numbers that decide most purchases in this category.

6 of 6 differ

Weight

ASUS

224 g

Apple

227 g (8.0 oz)

Size

ASUS

6.78 inches

Apple

6.9 inches

Chipset≠

ASUS

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)

Apple

Apple A18 Pro (3 nm)

RAM

ASUS

16 GB LPDDR5X

Apple

8GB

Max optical zoom

ASUS

3x optical (30x digital HyperClarity zoom)

Apple

5x optical (25x digital)

Capacity

ASUS

5,500 mAh

Apple

4,685 mAh (typical)

True 3-Year Cost of Ownership (TCO)

Upfront price + 3 years of consumables, fees & essential add-ons

ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra

Upfront list price$899

3-Year Estimated Total$899

iPhone 16 Pro Max

Upfront list price$1,199

Essential add-ons (30W USB-C fast charging brick (no charger in box))+$29

3-Year Estimated Total$1,228

Pocket, Palm & Desk Usability Check

One-handed reachability, pocket weight, and table wobble when typing without a case.

Ergonomic & Spatial Check

One-Handed Palm Reach

Widths under 72mm allow thumb access to opposite screen edges without shifting grip.

ASUS

Standard smartphone width

Apple

6.9" display with 77.6mm width (strictly 2-handed for most hands)

Desk Typing Table Wobble

Horizontal visor cameras sit flat on desks without annoying rocking while typing.

ASUS

Corner camera bump causes minor wobble

Apple

Prominent corner camera plateau rocks when typing on desk

Pocket Weight & Heft

ASUS

Standard phone weight

Apple

227g (heavy pocket presence)

The 90-Day Owner Regret Check

Documented ergonomic quirks, hardware annoyances, and maintenance realities reported by real owners.

Post-Purchase Truths

ASUS: What to watch for

Hidden Cost
No wall charging adapter included in the retail box.
Packaging contains only a Type-C cable; high-speed wall charging bricks must be purchased separately if you do not already own one.

Apple: What to watch for

Hidden Cost
No wall charging adapter included in the retail box.
Packaging contains only a Type-C cable; high-speed wall charging bricks must be purchased separately if you do not already own one.

ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra$89910 wins

iPhone 16 Pro Max$1,1995 wins

Body Display Platform Memory Rear camera Front camera Battery & charging Audio Connectivity Features

43 of 48 attributes differ. Identical rows are dimmed.

Body

leads 1-0

Body specifications. Middle column is ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Dimensions	163.8 × 76.8 × 8.9 mm	163 × 77.6 × 8.25 mm
Weight	224 g (wins this row: lower)	227 g (8.0 oz)
Build	Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front, matte glass back, aluminum frame	Grade 5 titanium frame, Ceramic Shield front, textured matte glass back
Water / dust rating	IP68 (1.5 m / 30 min)	IP68 (6 m up to 30 min)
Colors	Skyline Blue, Eternal Black, Misty Grey, Desert Sand	Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium
Stylus	No	No

Display

leads 3-1

Display specifications. Middle column is ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Type	LTPO AMOLED, 144Hz for gaming	LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
Size	6.78 inches	6.9 inches (wins this row: higher)
Resolution	1080 × 2400 (FHD+)	2868 × 1320 (wins this row: higher)
Pixel density	~388 ppi	460 ppi (wins this row: higher)
Refresh rate	1–120 Hz LTPO (up to 144 Hz in Game Genie)	120 Hz ProMotion
Peak brightness	2,500 nits peak / 1,600 nits HBM (wins this row: higher)	2,000 nits peak (outdoor)
HDR	HDR10	HDR10, Dolby Vision
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2	Latest-generation Ceramic Shield
Always-on display	Yes	Yes

Platform

5 differences

Platform specifications. Middle column is ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Operating system	Android 14 with ZenUI	iOS 18
Software support	2 major OS updates + 4 years security patches	7 years (estimated based on Apple track record)
Chipset	Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)	Apple A18 Pro (3 nm)
CPU	8-core (1× Cortex-X4 + 5× A720 + 2× A520)	6-core CPU (2 performance + 4 efficiency)
GPU	Adreno 750	6-core Apple GPU with ray tracing

Memory

leads 2-0

Memory specifications. Middle column is ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Pro Max.
RAM	16 GB LPDDR5X (wins this row: higher)	8GB
Storage	512 GB UFS 4.0 (wins this row: higher)	256 GB
Storage options	256 GB / 512 GB	256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB
microSD	No	No

Rear camera

6 differences

Rear camera specifications. Middle column is ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Main	50 MP Sony IMX890, f/1.9, 24 mm, 6-Axis Gimbal OIS 3.0 (wins this row: higher)	48 MP Fusion, f/1.78, 24 mm, sensor-shift OIS
Ultrawide	13 MP, f/2.2, 120° free-form lens	48 MP, f/2.2, 13 mm, 120° FOV, autofocus macro (wins this row: higher)
Telephoto	32 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS (wins this row: higher)	12 MP, f/2.8, 120 mm, 5x optical zoom, 3D sensor-shift OIS
Max optical zoom	3x optical (30x digital HyperClarity zoom)	5x optical (25x digital) (wins this row: higher)
Stabilization	6-Axis Gimbal OIS on main + OIS on telephoto	3D Sensor-shift OIS on main and telephoto
Video	8K 24 fps, 4K 30/60 fps with Gimbal Stabilization	4K at 24/25/30/60/120 fps Dolby Vision, ProRes, Log, spatial video

Front camera

leads 1-0

Front camera specifications. Middle column is ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Selfie camera	32 MP RGBW sensor, f/2.5 (wins this row: higher)	12 MP TrueDepth, f/1.9, autofocus
Selfie video	1080p 30 fps	4K 60 fps, Cinematic mode 4K 30 fps

Battery & charging

leads 2-0

Battery & charging specifications. Middle column is ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Capacity	5,500 mAh (wins this row: higher)	4,685 mAh (typical)
Wired chargingNot on the official sheet	65 W HyperCharge (100% in 39 min) (wins this row: higher)	~25 W USB-C (no charger in box)
Wireless charging	15 W Qi wireless	MagSafe up to 25 W, Qi2 up to 15 W
Reverse wireless	10 W reverse wired	4.5 W wired reverse charging
Charger in box	No	No

Audio

leads 1-0

Audio specifications. Middle column is ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Speakers	Dual stereo speakers with Dirac Virtuo audio	Stereo (bottom + earpiece)
Headphone jack	Yes (3.5 mm Hi-Res audio output) (wins this row: has it)	No

Connectivity

5 differences

Connectivity specifications. Middle column is ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Cellular	5G (sub-6)	5G (sub-6 + mmWave, region-dependent)
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 7	Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Lossless	Bluetooth 5.3
NFC	Yes	Yes (Apple Pay)
USB	USB-C 2.0 (side display/charging)	USB-C 3 (up to 10 Gbps)
SIM	Dual nano-SIM	eSIM (US) / dual nano + eSIM (many other regions)

Features

3 differences

Features specifications. Middle column is ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra, right column is iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Biometrics	In-display fingerprint sensor + Face unlock	Face ID
Extra controls	Game Genie gaming overlay toolbar	Action Button, Camera Control
Standout features	6-Axis Hybrid Gimbal 3.0, 3.5mm jack, AI Call Translator, AI Transcript	Dynamic Island, Apple Intelligence, MagSafe, Emergency SOS via satellite

Most rows are from the official spec sheet. Marked rows are other published figures or our summary, not lab tests we ran.

ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra source iPhone 16 Pro Max source

Which one should you buy

Pick this one if

ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra

Large-screen flagship with 6-Axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer 3.0, 3.5mm audio jack, and 5500mAh battery.

Built-in 3.5mm headphone jack with Hi-Res Audio certification
6-Axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer 3.0 for silky video recording
Massive 5,500 mAh battery with 65W HyperCharge

What you give up

Software support limited to 2 OS updates and 4 years security
Telephoto camera performance trails Samsung/Apple in low light

Full ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra specs →

Pick this one if

iPhone 16 Pro Max

Apple's top-tier 6.9-inch smartphone with A18 Pro chip, 5x optical telephoto camera, and Camera Control button.

Massive 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR display with ultra-thin borders
Longest battery life ever on an iPhone with up to 33 hours video
4K 120 fps ProRes video capture and dedicated Camera Control button

What you give up

Large and heavy in one-handed use
Wired fast charging capped around 25W

Full iPhone 16 Pro Max specs →

Best for each use

Photos

Camera first: zoom reach, sensors, stabilisation and video

For photos, buy the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra.

Leads 3 of 5 rankable photos specs; iPhone 16 Pro Max takes 2.
Main: 50 MP Sony IMX890, f/1.9, 24 mm, 6-Axis… vs 48 MP Fusion, f/1.78, 24 mm, sensor-shift OIS
Telephoto: 32 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS vs 12 MP, f/2.8, 120 mm, 5x optical zoom, 3D…
It is also $300 cheaper.

Battery & updates

All-day battery, fast top-ups and years of software support

For battery & updates, buy the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra.

Leads 2 of 2 rankable battery & updates specs.
Capacity: 5,500 mAh vs 4,685 mAh
Wired charging: 65 W HyperCharge vs ~25 W USB-C
It is also $300 cheaper.

Games & video

Games and streaming: chip, refresh rate, brightness, speakers

For games & video, buy the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra.

Leads 2 of 3 rankable games & video specs; iPhone 16 Pro Max takes 1.
RAM: 16 GB LPDDR5X vs 8GB
Peak brightness: 2,500 nits peak / 1,600 nits HBM vs 2,000 nits peak
It is also $300 cheaper.

Every answer above is scored from published figures. A lens uses only the rows that matter for that use, including marked rows that are not on the official sheet. Switch lenses interactively in the panel above.

Done deciding?

Open the full standalone spec sheet for either device.

ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra spec sheet iPhone 16 Pro Max spec sheet

Manufacturer pages: ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra ↗ · iPhone 16 Pro Max ↗

Common questions

Which is cheaper, the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra or the iPhone 16 Pro Max?

ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra costs $300 less at list price.

What is the biggest catch with the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra or iPhone 16 Pro Max?

Both has this deal-breaker: no stylus. No pen input for handwritten notes or markup.

Which is better for photos, the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra or the iPhone 16 Pro Max?

For photos, buy the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra. Leads 3 of 5 rankable photos specs; iPhone 16 Pro Max takes 2. Main: 50 MP Sony IMX890, f/1.9, 24 mm, 6-Axis… vs 48 MP Fusion, f/1.78, 24 mm, sensor-shift OIS

What cannot be compared from spec sheets?

Of the 48 specs tracked here, 33 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.

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