Outdoor Mode for Better Visibility
The ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra includes an Outdoor Mode setting designed specifically to enhance screen visibility under bright sunlight or harsh outdoor lighting conditions. When enabled, Outdoor Mode increases the screen brightness and adjusts the display characteristics to make the screen content more readable and clear in direct sunlight. This mode helps counteract the usual washout and glare experienced outdoors, making interactions with the phone easier without straining to see the display. Outdoor Mode can be toggled via Settings > Sound and Vibration > Outdoor Mode. Activating or deactivating this mode is quick and can be done as needed depending on the environment's lighting conditions.
Brightness and Automatic Brightness Sensitivity
The device has an automatic brightness adjustment feature that modulates screen brightness based on ambient light detected by sensors. However, some users have reported that the automatic brightness can sometimes default to a level that is too low for use outdoors unless direct bright light is hitting the sensor. This may require manually adjusting brightness when in various moderately bright environments until the sensor adjusts. Unfortunately, the phone's adjustment may have a slight delay of around 2â3 seconds in responding to changes in light intensity. For optimal outdoor use, it might be necessary to manually increase the brightness slider to near maximum when automatic brightness does not respond promptly, especially on sunny days.
Display Technology and Brightness Capabilities
The Zenfone 11 Ultra features a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a peak brightness up to 2500 nits. This extremely high brightness capacity is more than sufficient for visibility in even very bright outdoor environments. The LTPO technology also allows the refresh rate and brightness to be dynamically adjusted for power savings when full brightness is not necessary. The high peak brightness combined with an AMOLED panel provides deep contrast and vibrant colors, essential for ensuring that outdoor content remains crisp and legible.
Eye Protection and Anti-Flicker Features
For users sensitive to flicker and eye strain during outdoor or prolonged screen use, the Zenfone 11 Ultra offers Low Brightness Anti-Flicker and Eye Protection Mode settings. Eye Protection Mode combines features such as reduced blue light and low brightness anti-flicker to reduce eye fatigue. However, some users report that the anti-flicker effect is less effective at low brightness levels compared to earlier models with DC dimming, which can be more comfortable in low-light conditions but is not fully implemented throughout all brightness ranges on this model.
Color Calibration and Display Modes
The phone offers multiple display color profiles under the Splendid setting (found in Display settings), including Optimal, Natural, Cinematic, Standard, and Custom. These profiles adjust color temperature and saturation, allowing users to choose a more vibrant or color-accurate display according to preference. For outdoor use, selecting a profile that enhances contrast and saturation can help increase legibility under sunlight, though differences between profiles may be subtle. Users who want the best visibility outdoors can experiment with these profiles to find a setting that provides the best balance between readability and true-to-life color representation.
Refresh Rate Settings
The Zenfone 11 Ultra supports adaptive refresh rates, including 60Hz and 120Hz options. Higher refresh rates provide smoother visuals but can consume more power. The adaptive mode automatically switches refresh rates based on usage to optimize battery life. While this feature does not directly impact outdoor visibility, smoother animations and scrolling can improve overall usability of the device outdoors. Users focusing on maximum battery life during extended outdoor use might opt for a fixed 60Hz setting while still maintaining good screen quality.
General Tips for Outdoor Screen Optimization
- Manually increase screen brightness close to maximum before heading outdoors to bypass delays with automatic brightness adjustments.
- Enable Outdoor Mode to boost overall screen brightness and improve clarity.
- Try different display color profiles (Splendid settings) to find one that enhances contrast under bright light.
- Use a matte or anti-glare screen protector if glare remains an issue.
- Avoid using any dark or night mode themes that reduce screen brightness or contrast.
- Disable Eye Protection Mode if it reduces brightness or color vibrancy too much for outdoor use.
- Keep the screen clean from fingerprints and smudges which can worsen reflections and reduce visibility.