The $199 ZenFone 2 placed Asus in the top of the best value-for-money smartphones of 2015.
Two models came out, a cheaper version sporting 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage for $199, and a more powerful version that doubled in specs, but not in price. It cost $299 and was featuring 4 GB of RAM and a larger storage space, of 64 GB. The combination of specs and price guaranteed that the handset becomes very friendly to buyers who aimed at performance on a budget. In this particular market niche, it made little difference that ASUS is poorly represented on the American market or that only a few carriers welcome the device.
Some of these users like to exploit their gadgets to maximum potential and for them, good news is in store. Owners of ASUS ZenFone 2 can now unlock their phone bootloader, which permits the installation of custom ROMs. There are some things to keep in mind, however, and a list that technology enthusiasts should peruse before they start to unlock the bootloader.
ASUS provides the tools necessary for the unlocking, but the first red flag is that by doing so you will lose your warranty. The manufacturer is following the general trend: most producers give their clients the option to unlock the bootloader of the handset but they will make clear that this is done in full conscience by the user. Once the custom ROM is loaded, the warranty is declared null.
The reason for this is that once you unlock your device, the manufacturer has zero control over the software on your smartphone. What is more, ASUS claims that once unlocked, the handset can no longer get back into the default locked state.
Firstly, before using the ASUS provided unlocking tool, the ZenFone 2 should be updated to run software version 2.20.40.59 or newer. Some technical expertise is strongly recommended, as you don't want to transform your ASUS handset into a paperweight. The manufacturer made clear that together with the warranty, ZenFone 2 loses its software updates.
"It is strongly advised that you avoid activating this App unless you fully understand and accept the risks that may arise," Asus said.
If you think you can navigate safely through the process, proceed to download the tool here.
