Okay, let's dive deep into a head-to-head comparison of the Nokia G60 and the Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra. I've got my tech hat on and will break it down for you like we're discussing it over coffee. Let's get started!
1. Specifications Breakdown
Here’s a breakdown of the key specifications of the Nokia G60 and the Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra, along with the real-world implications:
| Feature | Nokia G60 | Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra | Real-World Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 166 x 75.9 x 8.6 mm | 163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm | The Nokia is a bit taller, while the Asus is a tad wider and thicker. This means the Nokia might feel a little more elongated in hand, and the Asus slightly bulkier. |
| Weight | 190g | 224g | The Nokia is noticeably lighter, which will make it more comfortable for longer periods of use. The Asus is heavier, likely due to its larger battery and more premium build. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.58" | 6.78" | The Asus offers a slightly larger display which is better for content consumption like videos and games. |
| Resolution | 1080x2408 | 1080x2400 | Both phones have very similar Full HD+ resolution, so you won’t see a huge difference in sharpness. |
| PPI | 401 | 388 | The Nokia's slightly higher pixel density means that it will have a marginally sharper picture than the Asus, but the difference is negligible in real life. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | Big Difference: AMOLED on the Asus provides superior blacks, contrast, and power efficiency (especially with dark modes). Colors will also be more vibrant. The Nokia's IPS LCD is still good, but not as premium. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | The Asus has a slightly smoother display, making animations and scrolling appear even more fluid. It’s a nice-to-have for a premium feel. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 2500 nits | The Asus display will be dramatically more readable outdoors, especially under bright sunlight. The Nokia's lack of brightness info might suggest lower peak brightness overall. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Massive Difference: The Asus’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is a high-performance chip, meaning significantly faster app loading, multitasking, and gaming. The Nokia's Snapdragon 695 is a mid-range chip, adequate for daily tasks. |
| AnTuTu Score | 410,072 | 1,532,000 | This score speaks volumes: The Asus will blow the Nokia out of the water in terms of raw speed. It's a 274% difference, which translates to a much more responsive and capable phone overall. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 750 | The Adreno 750 in the Asus ensures smoother, higher-quality graphics for gaming and graphics-intensive apps compared to the Adreno 619 in the Nokia. |
| Battery Life | |||
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 5500mAh | The Asus has a larger battery, potentially meaning more hours of use between charges. However, actual battery life will vary based on usage patterns. |
| Charging | 20W fast charging | 65W fast charging | The Asus will charge significantly faster, a real convenience for a busy person, allowing for quick top-ups. The Nokia, on the other hand, will take longer to fully charge. |
| Charging Features | Non-removable | Non-removable, 15W Wireless, 10W Reverse Wired | The Asus offers wireless charging, a more convenient method, and reverse charging, a cool feature to charge other devices on-the-go, while the Nokia lacks these. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 50MP f/1.8, 0.70µm | 50MP f/1.9, 1.00µm, 1/1.56" Sony IMX890 | Although both have 50MP sensors, the Asus's larger sensor size and larger pixel size is superior in low light, and the IMX890 is an excellent sensor, while the Nokia doesn't specify the sensor. |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP f/2.0, 0.64µm | 32MP f/2.5, 0.70µm, 1/3.2" Omnivision OV32C | The Asus will deliver much sharper selfies thanks to its higher resolution and better sensor, although the Nokia has a wider aperture which is slightly better in low light. |
| Telephoto Lens | N/A | 32MP f/2.4, 0.70µm | Key Advantage: The Asus has a dedicated telephoto lens, enabling optical zoom, which the Nokia lacks entirely. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 5MP f/2.0, | 13MP f/2.2, 1.12µm | The Asus offers higher resolution with bigger pixel size for a wider perspective. The Nokia's has a wider aperture that allows more light in low light. |
| Portrait Mode | 2MP f/2.4 | N/A | The Nokia has a dedicated depth sensor to assist in portrait photography, while the Asus relies solely on software. This doesn't mean the Nokia will take better portrait, just that it has a dedicated sensor for it. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | Up to 8K@24fps | The Asus can shoot professional-grade 8K video and is loaded with stabilization features; the Nokia is limited to 1080p which is ok but not on the same level. |
| DXOMark | N/A | 125 (Mobile) | The Asus has been officially tested which is good to have. The Nokia hasn't been tested at all. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 12 | Android 14 | The Asus comes with the latest Android OS, plus two more planned upgrades, providing a more modern software experience, while the Nokia is using two generations older Android. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi 6E | The Asus supports the latest Wi-Fi standards, offering faster and more stable connections. The Nokia's older standard is still sufficient, but not on the same level. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.1 LE | Bluetooth 5.4 LE | The Asus has a more recent Bluetooth version with additional capabilities and better power efficiency for audio devices, and generally has more features. |
| GPS | Standard GPS | Advanced GPS | The Asus supports more satellite systems for better location accuracy and it can be used in more places. |
| SIM | Nano SIM + eSIM | Nano SIM + Nano SIM | The Nokia offers the flexibility of using an eSIM, while the Asus is only compatible with two physical SIM cards. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 64/128GB | 256/512GB | The Asus has significantly more storage, crucial for storing more high-quality photos, videos, and games. |
| RAM | 4/6GB | 12/16GB | The Asus offers significantly more RAM, ensuring smoother multitasking and better performance with demanding apps. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports microSD card expansion. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | Basic | Hi-Res, Stereo Speakers | The Asus will have a much better audio experience for media consumption, thanks to hi-res audio, stereo speakers, and noise cancellation, while the Nokia only has basic audio features. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint | Basic fingerprint | The Nokia has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor which is known to be a little faster than a standard fingerprint sensor. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Gorilla Glass 5 | Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | The Asus offers much better scratch and impact protection for its display with the Gorilla Glass Victus 2. |
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity, Hall | The Asus has a more complete set of sensors for a more comprehensive experience. |
2. Key Insights
Nokia G60 Strengths: The Nokia G60 stands out with its lighter weight and a slightly more advanced fingerprint sensor. It is a very solid option for daily tasks and comes with the flexibility of an eSIM. It is designed for those seeking a budget-friendly option with good performance for everyday use.
Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra Strengths: The Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra dominates in almost every other area. It boasts a superior AMOLED display with higher brightness and refresh rates, a significantly more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, a larger battery with much faster charging, a more advanced camera system with an actual telephoto lens, and far better audio with stereo speakers and noise-canceling microphones. It's the clear winner for power users, content creators, and anyone demanding top-tier performance.
User Experience: The Zenfone 11 Ultra provides a much more fluid, responsive, and visually impressive experience. The difference in performance between the two devices is substantial, impacting everything from app loading and multitasking to gaming and multimedia. The Nokia G60, while competent, cannot match the premium feel and capability of the Asus.
Trade-offs and Limitations:
- The Nokia G60 sacrifices performance, camera capabilities, display quality, and battery features for a lower price point. It’s for those who prioritize basic functionality and portability over top-tier performance.
- The Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra is heavier and significantly more expensive. Its bulkier size might not be ideal for everyone and price could be a problem for many users.
3. User Profiles and Recommendations
Nokia G60 User Profile:
- Budget-conscious consumers
- Users who prioritize ease of use and a lightweight design.
- Individuals looking for a reliable device for everyday tasks like calls, texts, browsing, and some social media.
- Users who value the flexibility of eSIM.
Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra User Profile:
- Tech enthusiasts seeking top-tier performance.
- Gamers and multimedia lovers who need powerful processors and stunning displays.
- Content creators who will benefit from the advanced camera and video features.
- Power users who appreciate fast charging, long battery life, and wireless charging.
- Users that value a premium experience.
Specific Use Cases:
- Nokia G60: Ideal for seniors, students, or anyone who needs a reliable smartphone for basic communication and light use.
- Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra: Excellent for mobile gaming, professional photography and videography, demanding productivity tasks, and immersive entertainment.
4. Buying Decision Framework
Here are three practical questions to help users decide:
- What's your budget? The Nokia G60 is a budget-friendly option. If you are price-sensitive, the Nokia may be the better option.
- What do you prioritize most in a phone? If it's performance, display, battery, and camera, the Asus is the clear winner. If it's just for basic tasks and needs to be reliable, the Nokia is more than enough.
- How important is the screen quality and photography to you? If a top-tier display and a fantastic camera system are essential, the Asus is the way to go.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: A casual user wants a basic phone for communication and browsing.
- Recommendation: The Nokia G60 will likely be sufficient. Its focus on daily tasks and lightness will do the job at a lower price point.
- Scenario 2: A gamer wants to play high-end mobile games.
- Recommendation: The Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra is the only logical option for its high processing power, high refresh rate screen, and excellent speakers.
- Scenario 3: A content creator needs a reliable smartphone for photography and videography.
- Recommendation: The Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra is the superior choice with its advanced camera and video capabilities and its additional features.
- Scenario 4: A traveler looking for a reliable and flexible device.
- Recommendation: The Nokia G60, with it's eSIM capabilities, is a great choice.
Final Thoughts
The Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra is the clear performance leader and will offer a far more advanced and seamless user experience. It has more features in almost every aspect of a smartphone. The Nokia G60, while less capable, presents a decent option for budget-conscious consumers who value portability and simplicity.
My Choice and Why
If I had to choose between these two, I'd go with the Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra, without a second thought. Here's why:
As a tech journalist and analyst, I value performance and a premium experience. The Zenfone 11 Ultra's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset is a powerhouse, meaning no lag or stutter even with heavy use. I'm constantly testing apps, games, and video, so the superior performance, display, and camera are not a luxury—they're a necessity for my work. The 144Hz AMOLED display is a real treat. I appreciate the larger battery with faster charging and the high-resolution camera is essential for capturing high-quality images.
While the Nokia G60 is a fine device, and even more suitable to some, it just doesn't come close to the level of performance and features offered by the Zenfone 11 Ultra. As someone who wants the best that technology can offer, the Zenfone is the one I'd choose.
