Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra Appears on Geekbench with Snapdragon 8 Elite Chipset Ahead of Launch

Asus is gearing up to launch the Zenfone 12 Ultra in select global markets on February 6, a date recently confirmed by the company. Ahead of its official debut, the smartphone has reportedly surfaced on the Geekbench benchmarking platform, revealing key specifications and fueling anticipation. As the successor to the 2024 Zenfone 11 Ultra, this new device is expected to boast cutting-edge hardware, positioning itself among the top flagship smartphones of 2025. According to the listing, the handset is powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, built on the 3nm process, which also drives premium models like the OnePlus 13.

The Geekbench listing, first reported by 91Mobiles, allegedly identifies the Zenfone 12 Ultra under the model number ASUSAI2501H. The listing showcases an octa-core chipset with an ARMv8 architecture, featuring two high-performance cores clocked at 4.32GHz and six efficiency cores running at 3.53GHz. This configuration aligns closely with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, emphasizing its performance-focused design. Paired with this powerful chipset is 14.74GB of RAM, which likely corresponds to a rounded 16GB RAM option, ensuring smooth multitasking and enhanced user experience.

Further details from the benchmark listing reveal the motherboard identifier as “sun,” although specific implications of this codename remain unknown. Geekbench scores for the device suggest top-tier performance, setting expectations high for the Zenfone 12 Ultra’s capabilities in both productivity and gaming scenarios. The combination of the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and substantial RAM is poised to offer significant upgrades over its predecessor, making the device a compelling choice for tech enthusiasts.

Asus has a reputation for blending powerful specifications with compact designs in its Zenfone series, and the Zenfone 12 Ultra seems to continue this trend. While official details about other features, such as camera capabilities, battery capacity, and display technology, remain under wraps, the benchmark revelations point to a flagship that could rival industry leaders. With its imminent launch, the Zenfone 12 Ultra is likely to draw attention as a premium contender in the competitive smartphone market of 2025.

WhatsApp for Android Allegedly Developing New Widget for Meta AI Integration

WhatsApp for Android is reportedly working on a new widget designed to provide users with quick access to Meta AI, the company’s in-house artificial intelligence chatbot. According to a feature tracker, this new widget will allow users to interact with Meta AI directly from their home screen, offering a more convenient and seamless way to access the chatbot. Meta AI was first introduced to WhatsApp in 2024, initially rolled out in select regions, and provides a native method for users to engage with Meta’s AI technology. The widget, which is still under development, is not yet available for beta testers to try out.

A screenshot shared in the report reveals that the new widget will be a 4 x 1-sized element, similar to the Google Search widget commonly found on Android devices. It features a light grey background with a white text field, accompanied by a camera icon. This minimalist design makes it easy for users to interact with Meta AI while keeping their home screens uncluttered. The text box includes the ring-shaped Meta AI logo, along with the prompt “Ask Meta AI,” prompting users to engage with the chatbot right from the home screen.

Upon tapping the text field, users will be able to type in a question or prompt, and once sent, WhatsApp’s full-screen interface will open to the Meta AI chat, where users can read the chatbot’s response. However, according to the feature tracker, the widget will not display the chatbot’s replies directly within the widget itself. Instead, users will need to open the full interface to read the response, allowing them to maintain a streamlined experience while still accessing the chatbot’s capabilities.

The addition of this new widget would further integrate Meta AI into WhatsApp, making it more accessible to users who wish to leverage artificial intelligence for everyday tasks and inquiries. This move also highlights Meta’s ongoing efforts to enhance its messaging platform with AI-powered features, positioning WhatsApp as a more versatile tool in the world of instant messaging. As the widget continues to be developed, it could represent an exciting new feature for WhatsApp users, offering them an innovative way to interact with AI technology.

Scientists Investigate Dark Matter Conversion Signals in Earth’s Ionosphere

The search for dark matter, a mysterious substance believed to make up most of the universe’s mass, has long eluded scientists due to its undetectable nature. However, new research is exploring an innovative approach to uncover dark matter by studying its potential conversion into detectable signals within Earth’s ionosphere. This study proposes that dark matter particles, such as axions or dark photons, could transform into low-frequency radio waves when interacting with the ionosphere, providing a novel and cost-effective method for detecting dark matter through ground-based experiments.

The research, published in Physical Review Letters, builds upon the resonant conversion principle, which suggests that under specific conditions, dark matter particles might resonate with the ionosphere, producing detectable signals. While similar conversion processes have been theorized in astrophysical environments like neutron stars and planetary systems, the ionosphere—a plasma layer surrounding Earth—has not been extensively explored for this purpose until now. According to Carl Beadle, a researcher at the University of Geneva and lead author of the study, the ionosphere presents a unique and promising environment for testing these theories.

One of the key elements of this model is the alignment of dark matter particle mass with the plasma frequency, a property linked to the electron density in the ionosphere. When this resonance occurs, it could generate photons that are detectable using small dipole antennas. This approach provides a feasible means for researchers to test the theory of dark matter conversions on Earth, potentially making significant strides in the long-standing search for dark matter.

The study’s calculations also took into account the attenuation of signals as they travel through the ionosphere, further proving the feasibility of this method. By using these small antennas to capture the resulting signals, scientists may soon be able to detect dark matter particles, opening up new avenues for understanding this elusive and fundamental component of the universe. This innovative approach to dark matter detection could pave the way for ground-based experiments that complement current methods, advancing our knowledge of the cosmos.