Asus Zenfone 8 android 12 TIP necessary?

/e/OS Devices Asus
1

Hi in the instructions I read:
Tip: Before installing /e/OS on the ASUS ZenFone 8 sake for the first time, install the latest stock OS version 11 build on the device

Is this necessary ?
it looks like I have an A12 Version WW-31.1010.0410.72 that I can’t downgrade in any case it doesn’t work according to the official instructions of Asus

I’m scared doing something wrong

Regain your privacy! Adopt /e/ the unGoogled mobile OS and online servicesphone

2

Android is very inclined to include #anti-rollback which tries to prevent us from “going back”. All /e/ instructions are based on only installing on the latest manufacture’s ROM at the same Android version. (Older phones, the advice is the very latest ROM available, when only older Android versions were supported.)

It would be unwise to install /e/ version 11 on an Android 12 device.

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3

This means that my phone will wait quite long :joy: as it is updated to Android 13 :joy:

4

/e/OS for ZenFone 8 ‘sake’ is now at Android 12 ( =S) and the brave might search out a downgrade solution from Asus, for instance https://zentalk.asus.com/t5/zenfone-8/downgrade-android-13-to-android-12/m-p/360421#M9466. (If following this path I suggest reading carefully first and researching further as it may be that Asus allow a downgrade of their firmware “under certain conditions”; I don’t own the device.)

5

Ok. Thank you for link. I will observe it :wink: :smiley:

6

I would have few more questions, in fact :sweat_smile: I am not sure if AZ8 will receive Android 14 in the future, but if will and I will manage to install on it /e/ on base of Android 13 will I have to go back to stock OS for this update?
And could I close bootloader on AZ8 after /e/ installation?

7

You might check out [List] Devices where bootloader can be relocked, few /e/OS ROMs are built to relock; if locking the bootloader is not mentioned in https://doc.e.foundation/devices/sake/install it will not be possible.

I cannot see ahead to the possibility of upgrade Android 13 to 14, but without expert intervention (for example the magnificent /e/OS OTA Android version upgrades) most users have to upgrade via manufacturer’s stock ROM in order to collect necessary updated vendor blobs. (The situation changes for a device where the Vendor no longer makes software revisions which result in changed vendor partitions)

8

Ok. I was afraid of coming back and forward between stock and custom rom until stock is at the highest level :thinking:
According to the links Sake does not have possibility to lock the bootloader accordingly to 7th Apr 2023 checks. Nice to know :smiley:

9

I think this article might form part of your further reading https://www.asus.com/content/android-13-beta/ … scroll down to How to opt-out and revert back to Android 12

10

Plus this is info from Asus website. This is interensting. Worth considering :thinking:

11

I am thinking about future steps after using https://www.asus.com/content/android-13-beta/ After downgrading my Asus Zenfone 8 to Android 12 I will be aple to install /e/ os on it, what sounds great :heart: But the issue is what to do when /e/ will be available on level of Android 13? Will the stock rom from the link allow me to upgrade stock rom back to Android 13 to be able to upgrade /e/ than as well?
I’ve found on the Internet that Asus usually allows updgrade to +2 Androids what lets me think that Android 14 will not come to this phone :thinking:

12

While not really wanting to speculate about the future … let me draw your attention to another device / conundrum (OnePlus8) Oneplus 8 - upgrade to S.

Reading https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/instantnoodlep/upgrade (LineageOS 20, Android 13, T) we see

Note: Following these instructions will not wipe your data.

Perhaps this technology will come to sake – LineageOS sake today is at 19.1, idk.

Maybe you are still conflicted about degoogling your valuable phone from (arguably) the world’s biggest advertising agency … in which case having two phones does add a lot to privacy in itself and you can experiment more in “real time” with whether /e/ can meet all your needs on an older, less valuable phone ?

  • (My two cents would include keeping your Google-phone mostly in a lead lined drawer.)
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13

Thank you for the idea :heart: So far I’ve practiced a bit of /e/ on my old Moto G7 Power (ocean) :wink: and I like it.
Regarding Asus Zenfone 8 you are right, it is valuable to me due to it reasonable size, which suggets a phone not a shovel like most of the phones. Due to this fact I am bit of worried of possible brick phone :thinking: