While we’ve all come to loveAndroid flagshipswith large screens, there’s a special place in our hearts for compact phones. There aren’t a lot of these to choose from these days, although Asus has tried to fill that gap through its pocket-sized Zenfone series, with theZenfone 10being the most recent addition to this list. The company is now announcing the rollout of Android 14 to the Zenfone 10 just as we approach the end of the year.
The update bears the version number34.1004.0204.65, with Asusaskingusers to ensure they’re upgrading their Zenfone 10 from version33.0220.0220.101. You can head over to Settings > System > System updates to check if Android 14 is available on your Zenfone 10. Here are the release notes for this particular release:
Please back up your data before upgrading to Android 14; Some 3rd party apps are not compatible with Android 14 yet.
Revamped Mobile Manager, Contacts, Phone, Emergency Dialer, File Manager, Calculator, Clock, Gallery, Weather, Sound recorder, Settings, Phone Clone, Local backup, Launcher, and so on.
Support the color and brightness customization of the clock widget on the lock screen.
Support new “Photos and Videos” permission, and system photo picker to further control apps to access relevant information.
Adjusted the display method of battery usage to view app usage in segments.
Improved speakerphone call echo issues
Optimized occasional Bluetooth headset disconnection and noise problems
Fixed the ASUS customized power menu lacking restart and shutdown options
This relatively quick rollout of the latest Android release isn’t new to the manufacturer, with the company also updating 2022’sZenfone 9to Android 13by December last year. However, considering the relatively low number of smartphones Asus produces every year, the process is a little easier than it is for a brand likeSamsung.
As Android Authoritypoints out, this Android 14 update for the Zenfone 10 would serve as the first of two major OS updates promised by Asus at launch. So next year’sAndroid 15release could be the last update the Zenfone 10 would ever see unless Asus has a change of heart in 2025.
While there was some uncertainty about the future of the Zenfone series initially, Asus wasquick to clear those doubtsearlier this year. We appreciate the company continuing to serve this segment, especially as most major brands appear to have given up on it. The manufacturer’s immediate focus is on theROG Phone 8, which is expected to follow in the footsteps of theROG Phone 7and maintain Asus' position on top of thegaming phone of the yearcharts in 2024.
Asus Zenfone 10
The Asus Zenfone 10 is the latest flagship from the company, sporting a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 16GB RAM, and a 4300mAh battery. But what makes the Zenfone unique is its size. With a 5.9" screen, it’s practically tiny compared to modern phablet giants.
