Head to head

Google Pixel 9 vs ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra

ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra leads 8 to 4 on the 12 rankable specs, but Google Pixel 9 costs $100 less.

Catalog as of September 1, 2026

Why, in numbers

Weight: Google Pixel 9 lists 198 g (Google sheet, 2026-09-02); ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra lists 224 g (ASUS sheet, 2026-09-02).
Size: Google Pixel 9 lists 6.3 inches (Google sheet, 2026-09-02); ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra lists 6.78 inches (ASUS sheet, 2026-09-02).
Chipset: Google Pixel 9 lists Google Tensor G4 (4 nm) (Google sheet, 2026-09-02); ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra lists Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) (ASUS sheet, 2026-09-02).
RAM: Google Pixel 9 lists 12 GB (Google sheet, 2026-09-02); ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra lists 16 GB LPDDR5X (ASUS sheet, 2026-09-02).
Max optical zoom: Google Pixel 9 lists 2x optical quality crop (8x digital) (Google sheet, 2026-09-02); ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra lists 3x optical (30x digital HyperClarity zoom) (ASUS 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: 4 to 8

Buy the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra.

Leads 8 of 12 rankable overall specs; Google Pixel 9 takes 4.
Size: 6.78 inches vs 6.3 inches
RAM: 16 GB LPDDR5X vs 12 GB
Google Pixel 9 is $100 cheaper. Pay the difference only if size matters to you.

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

4 Google Pixel 912 rankable of 48 specsASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra 8

Deal-breakers

tick what would make you walk away

No stylusrow
No pen input for handwritten notes or markup.
Trips:Google Pixel 9 · NoTrips:ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra · No
No headphone jackrow
Wired headphones need a USB-C dongle.
Trips:Google Pixel 9 · NoClear:ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra · Yes (3.5 mm Hi-Res audio output)
No charger in the boxrow
Budget another $20 to $40 for a fast charger.
Trips:Google Pixel 9 · NoTrips:ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra · No
Under 5 years of OS updatesrow
Security patches stop sooner and resale value falls faster.
Clear:Google Pixel 9 · 7 years of OS, security, and Feature Dr…Trips:ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra · 2 major OS updates + 4 years security p…
No microSD slotrow
Storage is fixed at what you buy.
Trips:Google Pixel 9 · NoTrips:ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra · No

At a glance

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

6 of 6 differ

Weight

Google

198 g

ASUS

224 g

Size

Google

6.3 inches

ASUS

6.78 inches

Chipset≠

Google

Google Tensor G4 (4 nm)

ASUS

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)

RAM

Google

12 GB

ASUS

16 GB LPDDR5X

Max optical zoom

Google

2x optical quality crop (8x digital)

ASUS

3x optical (30x digital HyperClarity zoom)

Capacity

Google

4,700 mAh

ASUS

5,500 mAh

True 3-Year Cost of Ownership (TCO)

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

Google Pixel 9

Upfront list price$799

Essential add-ons (45W USB-C PPS charging brick (no charger in box))+$30

3-Year Estimated Total$829

ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra

Upfront list price$899

3-Year Estimated Total$899

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.

Google

6.3" display with 72.0mm width (comfortable one-hand hold)

ASUS

Standard smartphone width

Desk Typing Table Wobble

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

Google

Horizontal camera bar spans across back: zero desk wobble!

ASUS

Corner camera bump causes minor wobble

Pocket Weight & Heft

Google

198g (completely stable when typing on flat desks)

ASUS

Standard phone weight

The 90-Day Owner Regret Check

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

Post-Purchase Truths

Google: 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: 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.

Google Pixel 9$7994 wins

ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra$8998 wins

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

40 of 48 attributes differ. Identical rows are dimmed.

Body

leads 1-0

Body specifications. Middle column is Google Pixel 9, right column is ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra.
Dimensions	152.8 × 72.0 × 8.5 mm	163.8 × 76.8 × 8.9 mm
Weight	198 g (wins this row: lower)	224 g
Build	Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front and back, satin metal frame	Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front, matte glass back, aluminum frame
Water / dust rating	IP68 (1.5 m / 30 min)	IP68 (1.5 m / 30 min)
Colors	Obsidian, Porcelain, Wintergreen, Peony	Skyline Blue, Eternal Black, Misty Grey, Desert Sand
Stylus	No	No

Display

leads 2-1

Display specifications. Middle column is Google Pixel 9, right column is ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra.
Type	Actua OLED	LTPO AMOLED, 144Hz for gaming
Size	6.3 inches	6.78 inches (wins this row: higher)
Resolution	1080 × 2424	1080 × 2400 (FHD+)
Pixel density	~422 ppi (wins this row: higher)	~388 ppi
Refresh rate	60–120 Hz Smooth Display	1–120 Hz LTPO (up to 144 Hz in Game Genie)
Peak brightness	2,700 nits peak / 1,800 nits HBM (wins this row: higher)	2,500 nits peak / 1,600 nits HBM
HDR	HDR10, HDR10+, Ultra HDR	HDR10
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Always-on display	Yes	Yes

Platform

5 differences

Platform specifications. Middle column is Google Pixel 9, right column is ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra.
Operating system	Android 14 (upgradable)	Android 14 with ZenUI
Software support	7 years of OS, security, and Feature Drops	2 major OS updates + 4 years security patches
Chipset	Google Tensor G4 (4 nm)	Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
CPU	8-core (1× Cortex-X4 + 3× A720 + 4× A520)	8-core (1× Cortex-X4 + 5× A720 + 2× A520)
GPU	Mali-G715 MC7	Adreno 750

Memory

leads 2-0

Memory specifications. Middle column is Google Pixel 9, right column is ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra.
RAM	12 GB	16 GB LPDDR5X (wins this row: higher)
Storage	128 GB UFS 3.1	512 GB UFS 4.0 (wins this row: higher)
Storage options	128 GB / 256 GB	256 GB / 512 GB
microSD	No	No

Rear camera

6 differences

Rear camera specifications. Middle column is Google Pixel 9, right column is ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra.
Main	50 MP Octa PD, f/1.68, 25 mm, 1/1.31", OIS	50 MP Sony IMX890, f/1.9, 24 mm, 6-Axis Gimbal OIS 3.0
Ultrawide	48 MP Quad PD with Macro Focus, f/1.7, 123° (wins this row: higher)	13 MP, f/2.2, 120° free-form lens
Telephoto	None (Super Res Zoom up to 8x)	32 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS
Max optical zoom	2x optical quality crop (8x digital)	3x optical (30x digital HyperClarity zoom) (wins this row: higher)
Stabilization	OIS on main wide lens	6-Axis Gimbal OIS on main + OIS on telephoto
Video	4K 24/30/60 fps, 10-bit HDR	8K 24 fps, 4K 30/60 fps with Gimbal Stabilization

Front camera

leads 1-0

Front camera specifications. Middle column is Google Pixel 9, right column is ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra.
Selfie camera	10.5 MP Dual PD with autofocus, f/2.2	32 MP RGBW sensor, f/2.5 (wins this row: higher)
Selfie video	4K 60 fps	1080p 30 fps

Battery & charging

leads 2-0

Battery & charging specifications. Middle column is Google Pixel 9, right column is ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra.
Capacity	4,700 mAh	5,500 mAh (wins this row: higher)
Wired chargingNot on the official sheet	27 W fast charging	65 W HyperCharge (100% in 39 min) (wins this row: higher)
Wireless charging	15 W wireless with Pixel Stand / Qi	15 W Qi wireless
Reverse wireless	Yes (Battery Share)	10 W reverse wired
Charger in box	No	No

Audio

leads 1-0

Audio specifications. Middle column is Google Pixel 9, right column is ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra.
Speakers	Stereo speakers	Dual stereo speakers with Dirac Virtuo audio
Headphone jack	No	Yes (3.5 mm Hi-Res audio output) (wins this row: has it)

Connectivity

4 differences

Connectivity specifications. Middle column is Google Pixel 9, right column is ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra.
Cellular	5G (sub-6 + mmWave)	5G (sub-6)
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 7	Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Lossless
NFC	Yes	Yes
USB	USB-C 3.2	USB-C 2.0 (side display/charging)
SIM	Single Nano-SIM + eSIM	Dual nano-SIM

Features

3 differences

Features specifications. Middle column is Google Pixel 9, right column is ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra.
Biometrics	Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint + Face Unlock	In-display fingerprint sensor + Face unlock
Extra controls	Power and Volume keys	Game Genie gaming overlay toolbar
Standout features	Gemini Live AI, Pixel Screenshots app, Add Me, Clear Calling	6-Axis Hybrid Gimbal 3.0, 3.5mm jack, AI Call Translator, AI Transcript

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

Google Pixel 9 source ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra source

Which one should you buy

Pick this one if

Google Pixel 9

Standard Pixel with 120Hz Actua OLED display, Tensor G4 processor, and 12GB of RAM.

Smooth 120Hz Actua display with 2,700 nits peak brightness
Generous 12GB RAM for snappy on-device Gemini AI
Industry-leading 7 years of full software support

What you give up

No telephoto zoom lens
Slower charging compared to Chinese brand rivals

Full Google Pixel 9 specs →

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 →

Best for each use

Photos

Camera first: zoom reach, sensors, stabilisation and video

For photos, buy the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra.

Leads 2 of 3 rankable photos specs; Google Pixel 9 takes 1.
Max optical zoom: 3x optical vs 2x optical quality crop
Selfie camera: 32 MP RGBW sensor, f/2.5 vs 10.5 MP Dual PD with autofocus, f/2.2
Google Pixel 9 is $100 cheaper. Pay the difference only if max optical zoom matters to you.

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 4,700 mAh
Wired charging: 65 W HyperCharge vs 27 W fast charging
Google Pixel 9 is $100 cheaper. Pay the difference only if capacity matters to you.

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; Google Pixel 9 takes 1.
RAM: 16 GB LPDDR5X vs 12 GB
Size: 6.78 inches vs 6.3 inches
Google Pixel 9 is $100 cheaper. Pay the difference only if ram matters to you.

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.

Google Pixel 9 spec sheet ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra spec sheet

Manufacturer pages: Google Pixel 9 ↗ · ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra ↗

Common questions

Which is cheaper, the Google Pixel 9 or the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra?

Google Pixel 9 costs $100 less at list price.

What is the biggest catch with the Google Pixel 9 or ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra?

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

Which is better for photos, the Google Pixel 9 or the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra?

For photos, buy the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra. Leads 2 of 3 rankable photos specs; Google Pixel 9 takes 1. Max optical zoom: 3x optical vs 2x optical quality crop

What cannot be compared from spec sheets?

Of the 48 specs tracked here, 36 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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