Android Marshmallow update Asus ZenFone 2 Laser release confirmed; bloatware apps to be deleted

Asus India

Tech manufacturers are still in the process of updating their device lineups to Android Marshmallow. The latest to join the current-gen platform is Asus, rolling out Android 6.0 to the ZenFone 2 Laser.

According to the release notes posted on the Asus forums, although the update will be automatic via an OTA notification, the platform does not support the App2SD feature for Asus. This means that there is no automatic backup once the update installs. Asus instructs users to move first all SD-installed apps to internal storage before proceeding with the update.

The release notes also mentioned that the Android Marshmallow update supersedes the firmware build currently installed on the ZenFone 2 Laser, so apps and features in Android 6.0 will overwrite similar ones introduced by Asus. As per the announcement, almost 20 apps installed by Asus – which can be considered as bloatware by some – are removed from the system once the Android Marshmallow update installs. The deleted bloatware include Omlet, PC Link, Puffin browser, and Google+.

Meanwhile, Asus connectivity services like Email, Calendar, and Messaging will also be deleted. Android Marshmallow platform will preload stock connectivity options like Google mail, Google Calendar, and Google Messenger.

As with other major updates, the Android Marshmallow notification will be released on a staggered basis. This means that it will take at least a week for all ZenFone 2 Laser units to get an OTA notification from Asus. However, as with previous platform versions, users can manually check if the update is already available to install in their devices by refreshing the System Update option in the Settings > About tabs.

The ZenFone 2 Laser is just one of a number of devices that Asus plans to update to Android Marshmallow. It is already confirmed that some of the devices will get their updates before mid-year, with most of the planned updates focused on recent ZenFone releases.