Asus Zenfone 4 Android 9.0 Pie new beta build available (Download link inside)

One of iOS’ strong suits is regular updates to its devices. However, that is no longer an Apple-exclusive. Even obscure Android phone makers are striving to push out regular security patches and even major operating system updates. This is a far cry from Android a few years ago.

One such relatively obscure phonemaker is Asus. The company whose primary business really is computers, still manages to run a vibrant Android ecosystem with its Zenfone line of smartphones.

Asus’ Zenfone 4 was first unveiled back in August 2017. This makes the device a little over two years old at this point. At the time, it was launched with Android 7.1 Nougat.

Later on, the device got updated to Android 8 Oreo. With that, Asus promised at least one more system upgrade. This means that according to Asus, the device was capable of handling Android 9 Pie comfortably. And why wouldn’t it? The device was powered by the Snapdragon 630 chipset; a very capable mid-range chip at the time.

Back in June 2019, Asus rolled out a Pie update for the Zenfone 4, and that was the last we heard until recently. Asus said that in order to “preserve the system performance and stability,” it won’t update the Zenfone 4 to Android 9 Pie.

However, in a complete 180-move, the company has released a Beta for Android 9 Pie for the Asus Zenfone 4. The update can be identified by its ZE554KL software version. The whole system weighs in at a hefty 1.75GB and below is the download link.

• Device: Asus Zenfone 4
• Channel: Global Beta
• Version: ZE554KL
• Android: 9
  • Type: Recovery
    • Download: Link

Asus notes that this is a beta and as such, is unfinished software. It also advises users to be careful as this beta is only for the worldwide version of the Zenfone 4. Users are, therefore, adviced to make sure their SKU is compatible before they flash this or risk bricking their device.

Despite this being a welcome move from the phone maker, users aren’t amused. A quick scroll through the device’s forum pages and you will meet irritated users who are frustrated by the pace of development, the back-and-forth and indecisiveness from the company.

All this comes at a time when other devices are waiting for the Android 10 update.

Whether Asus steps up and embacks on actively developing this phone, or going back to their earlier word of abandoning development remains to be seen.

Do you own a Zenfone 4? Are you excited about this new development? Tell us in the comment section below.

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