ASUS issues fatal software update for some ZenFone 6 units; offers motherboard replacement as a resolution

Unquestionably, ASUS did a great job with the ZenFone 6, with the device scoring an impressive 88% overall in our review last month. The device has plenty of positives, whether that be its almost bezel-less display, its flip camera or its 5,000 mAh battery. YouTubers like Dave Lee (Dave2D) extolled its software too, with ASUS moving towards a more stock Android experience with ZenUI 6.0.

While the ZenFone 6 may have a clean-looking OS, a recent firmware update has caused the motherboards in some units to malfunction. Specifically, this is v16.1220.1906.167, which ASUS released on July 22. The release notes detail a slew of fixes and improvements that improve the overall experience of the device.

The .167 update can cause some units to start crashing or randomly rebooting, with some getting stuck in a bootloop. Unfortunately, there currently appears to be no way of identifying whether your ZenFone is one of the affected units. Moreover, the only resolution is to send the device in for repair where ASUS technicians will replace the motherboard.

However, this does not necessarily seem a smooth experience, with some people on an accompanying Reddit thread complaining of waiting up to a month for a motherboard replacement. We cannot currently confirm the authenticity of this claim, but it is good to see ASUS owning up to an issue quickly, rather than letting spiral as some OEMs do.