When it first reached shop shelves last year, the Asus ROG Phone 5 was a costly proposition, but depending on who you ask, it was more than worth it. Not only did AP's Matthew Sholtz proclaim it the finest gaming phone he'd ever played, but its I/O options — a 3.5mm jack and two USB-C connections — made it feel like a real heir to historical Samsung Note handsets. If you've been missing out on the excitement of the Android 12 release, your wait is now over.
Asus has updated both the ROG Phone 5 and its more powerful sibling, the ROG Phone 5s, to the newest version of Android. The changelog is, as you'd expect from such a large release, very huge. However, there are a few notable modifications worth mentioning, including an entirely new appearance for the ROG UI. Some of Android 12's basic design aspects, such as the fast settings menu, notification tray, and others, have been incorporated by Asus. With its "Classic" setting, the corporation has previously chosen a stock look and feel, and it's fantastic to see that trend continue for a light appearance and feel.
As with every big OS upgrade, there are a slew of new features, enhancements, and bug patches to go through. Asus ditched its own Safeguard software in favour of Android 12's Emergency SOS functionality, while also incorporating contemporary design trends into its one-handed mode. However, not every change is for the best. With this version, controversial Android 12 features, such as the redesigned power menu and the Internet option in quick settings, have found their way to ROG UI.
