In the past few years, Asus has gained a reputation for making some of thebest Android gaming phones, includingZenfone 10andROG Phone 7. People who root and flash custom ROMs also loved the company for letting them use its bootloader unlock tools. Meanwhile, Asus recently took a U-turn by removing the tool from its devices, forcing users to stick to the phone’s original form.
Google Pixel 8 Pro vs. Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra: Can’t beat the classics
Is the new big-screen Asus a contender, or just a pretender?
However, that was not acceptable to an Asus Zenfone buyer in the UK. As we know, Brits will fighton the beaches, landing grounds, fields, and streets, but never surrender. A report byAndroid Authoritygoes deep into how a Zenfone buyer in the UK took Asus to court and reached a settlement (viaMishaal Rahman).
As the user noted on theXDA Forums, they filed a lawsuit against Asus after the company broke its promise and removed the bootloader unlock tool for Zenfone devices. The user argues that Asus tried to ignore them for half a year and then suppressed free speech by banning users who demanded bootloader unlock tools for their devices.
Asus originally pledged to keep the bootloader unlock tool on its devices
Asus was finally brought to court and has reportedly reached a settlement with the unhappy customer. In a victory for consumer rights, Asus has agreed to refund £700 ($885) and pay £70 ($88) in court filing fees. The user is now encouraging other Zenfone buyers to assert their rights by emailing Asus with the court order and asking for a refund if they don’t want a phone without the bootloader unlock tool.
In August last year,an Asus support staff member initiated the controversyby revealing that the company plans to remove the bootloader unlock tool from its phones. At the time, Asus assured users that the tool wasn’t going anywhere, and the support staff had misunderstood the original question.
Meanwhile, eight months later, customers who trusted Asus were left without a bootloader unlock tool, and their anger was justified. The phone maker’s credibility is now at stake, with the potential of having to refund even more Zenfone buyers, posing a significant threat to the brand’s reputation.
