Asus launches an Android 12 preview program for the ZenFone 8

Asus' ZenFone 8 is practically a unicorn in 2021, as it is a 5.9-inch display smartphone powered by the top-end Snapdragon 888 SoC - not to mention a headphone jack. Now, this 'mini' flagship offers access to the latest version of Android ahead of this new UI's official launch date.

Its maker is now in a position to provide this advance preview in the form of its beta-test of ZenUI 8 for the 8. It has announced that those who own this phone and are interested in getting involved in this stage of its software's development can apply for the program in question via the phone's Settings.

Asus does advise potential candidates that this pre-release firmware is still quite a way away from stable status; therefore, running this initial ZenUI 8 build might be a less than "trouble free experience". In addition, successful beta-testers are required to keep their impressions of its use to themselves: the OEM would prefer all bug reports and issues to go directly to its dev-team at this point.

Nevertheless, the new program does mean ZenFone 8 users can get to Android 12 prior to its official unveiling. On the other hand, its OEM is still well behind others in terms of preview builds, some of which are involved in much lower tiers of the smartphone market.

Meanwhile, there is no mention of an identical program for the ZenFone 8 Flip, the 8's larger sibling that has retained their series' usual signature mechanical main cameras. Those with the smaller variant now have until October 13, 2021 to enrol in the new beta program available to them.

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