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Asus Zenfone 7 Pro finally gets Android 12, and it's right on schedule
The Zenfone 7 series was set to get updated by the end of the first half of 2022
Last year saw many owners of eligible Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones enjoy all the best aspects of Android 12 alongside a constant stream of security updates. Unfortunately, many other brands in the Android landscape had not even updated a single phone at the time, leaving users out of the loop. Asus eventually started rolling out Android 12 to the ZenFone 8 and ZenFone 8 Flip just before the year ended. Now, the company’s flagship devices from 2020 — the ZenFone 7 and ZenFone 7 Pro — are getting the new software.
Asus is updating the ZenFone 7 and 7 Pro to Android 11 around the world
The update had been in closed beta testing for six months
The Zenfone 7 is a unique device, bucking the trend of hole punch cameras with a flip-up rear camera module. A lack of timely updates remains a sore spot for Asus hardware (something that is decidedly not unique), but the company's flagship is now getting Android 11 after a long beta process. The update should be ready for all ZenFone 7 and ZenFone 7 Pro models now, no matter what territory they're being used in.
Asus is bringing Android 11 to the Zenfone 7 and 7 Pro
Starting in Taiwan, with a global release to follow
If you're into selfies, the Asus Zenfone 7 series is hard to beat. Thanks to a unique flipping camera module, you can capture high-quality photos or videos from either side of the screen. They're pretty great phones in general, with long-lasting battery life and a massive 90Hz AMOLED display. Unfortunately, the devices launched just weeks before Android 11's official release, and despite ZenUI's stock-like appearance, both models have been stuck running on an older version of Google's OS. Thankfully, Android 11 is finally coming to the Zenfone 7 series, with updates starting today in Taiwan.
ASUS finally has a software fix for phones losing HD Netflix support
The company previously asked owners to send in their units to get the fix
Some folks using the new ASUS ROG Phone 3 are having issues playing back HD content in certain apps like Netflix. The cause, as some of our more savvy readers might expect, is an issue with Android's Widevine DRM system, with some phone owners reporting that their L1 Widevine state has been lost, relegating them to standard definition playback. ASUS has now fixed the problem with a software update after initially asking customers to send in their phones to get back HD playback.
TWRP v3.5 lands with more Android 10 enhancements, adds 16 devices to official roster
TWRP is splitting up development into two branches
TeamWin Recovery Project, or TWRP for short, is a custom recovery partition often used together with custom ROMs and/or rooting. It can help you create full device backups, install new ROMs, and troubleshoot broken software. TWRP v3.4 was released in June with limited Android 10 support, and now TWRP 3.5 is rolling out to all supported devices.
Android 11 has been available on Pixel phones for a while now, but most other devices are still on Android 10. Asus started accepting closed beta signups for the Zenfone 7 Pro last month, and now the first Android 11 build is rolling out to testers.
Asus Zenfone 7 Pro review, one month later: An excellent value, but no longer the best
Asus stays true to its reinvented self
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If it wasn't for the Pixel 3a, the Asus Zenfone 6 probably could've been a surprise hit in 2019. It packed an almost stock-like Android experience, the best processor on the market (back then), and a unique flip camera. We worried that Asus' creation could turn out to be a flash in the pan, but after spending two weeks with the Zenfone 7 Pro, I can confirm that it is an improvement over that already great phone. It comes with a higher price, though.
Asus is now accepting sign-ups for its ZenFone 7 Android 11 closed beta program
A late bloomer in the ZenFone family
Asus released its first Android 11 beta build last week — not for the latest ZenFone 7 line but yesteryear’s ZenFone 6. It’s not typical for companies to treat their older models with latest Android updates before their current flagships, but nothing seems to be going straight in 2020, so what the heck. The ZenFone 7 and 7 Pro are at last catching up with their predecessor as they’re now getting their own Android 11 beta program, which you can sign up for right away.
Asus revealed the Zenfone 7 and 7 Pro last month, following months of rumors and speculation. If you don't plan on sticking with the stock ROM, Asus has now released the bootloader unlock tool for both phones, as well as kernel source code packages for developers to try out.
The Asus Zenfone 7 comes with a 3-lens flip camera and a 5,000mAh battery
Asus's latest iteration of the Zenfone looks very promising
Asus landed a surprise hit with the Zenfone 6 last year, combining a clean build of Android with an affordable price tag and a unique flip camera. This year, the company wanted to build on the momentum it gained with its special device and went all-in on its custom camera arrangement with two new Zenfone 7 devices, both now housing three lenses. The upgrade to a 90Hz AMOLED panel is also more than welcome.