The ZTE Axon 7 finally gets its Android Oreo update, but it's not that simple

Thanks to previously-imposed sanctions finally being lifted, ZTE finally pushed out the Android Oreo update to the Axon 7. The release might have severely overlapped with Android Pie’s general availability, but who cares! Android Oreo is here! Unfortunately, you might want to think twice about installing the Oreo update if you own the Axon 7.

According to the announcement thread on ZTE’s forums, the only way to install the Axon 7’s Oreo update is to download the update to your microSD card. Making matters worse, you have to delete your Google account from the phone before you install the update.

Reportedly, the blame lies in the encryption issues found in the last closed beta version. Folks who directly upgraded from Android Nougat found that the Axon 7’s data partition would not decrypt, regardless of which PIN they entered.

According to comments on Reddit, the Oreo update also did not fix the Daydream issue that prevents Axon 7 owners from using Daydream in the first place. This leads people to believe that the update is the same as the last closed beta version, save for the updated July 2018 security patch level.

That means the Oreo update might still feature issues with overheating and data connections. A reboot should fix the data connection issues, though there are no similar fixes for the other problems.

Considering that the Axon 7’s Oreo update might be the same as the most recent closed beta, we would not blame device owners if they held off on the update until ZTE irons out the issues. If you want to take the risk or do not care too much about the issues, you can download Oreo at the link below.