In mid-May 2021, the source code for a handful of Android phones was published for anyone to read and reuse: ASUS's ZenFone 8, Xiaomi's POCO X3 Pro, Sony's niche Xperia PRO, and a run of Realme models. It is a quiet event, yet it touches an old promise at the heart of open software, that those who build on shared foundations return what they learn to the commons. For the people who want their phones to become more than the manufacturer intended, the release opens a door that had been closed.
Kernel Sources Drop for ASUS ZenFone 8, POCO X3 Pro, Sony Xperia PRO and Several Realme Devices
Owners aren't limited to what the manufacturer ships
Mark
So what actually happened here? Somebody leaked code?
Mimi
No, these are official releases. ASUS, POCO, Sony and Realme posted kernel sources for their phones, and XDA collected the news in one place.
Mark
Why does a kernel matter to someone who just uses a phone?
Mimi
It's the starting point for custom ROMs and kernel tweaks. Without the source for a specific device, developers have a much harder time modifying it.
Luke
Worth being clear, though: the article says the sources enable modification. It doesn't name any specific ROM or project that's coming from these releases.
Mark
And the companies are required to do this?
Mimi
The report says that under the GPL, manufacturers building on Android's Linux kernel are obliged to share their contributions. Most do it routinely.
Luke
Right, but "most" isn't "all," and the piece doesn't say how complete these particular drops are.
Mark
The Xperia PRO costs $2,499. Who's modding that?
Mimi
The article admits it's a niche device for photographers and videographers. The point is that owners aren't boxed in by what Sony ships.
Luke
And the Realme note is a forecast: the sources are Android 10 builds, and XDA only says to expect updates after Android 11. No date is given.
Il Polso
- Kernel sources for four phone lines have just been posted, and tinkerers are already reaching for them.
- The gap between what manufacturers offer and what owners want is being bridged by code that was only recently locked away.
- Developers can now build custom ROMs and kernel changes on the ZenFone 8, POCO X3 Pro, Xperia PRO and several Realme devices.
- The Realme sources rest on Android 10, and a fresh wave of code is expected once Android 11 reaches those phones.
In mid-May 2021, the source code for a handful of Android phones was published for anyone to read and reuse: ASUS's ZenFone 8, Xiaomi's POCO X3 Pro, Sony's niche Xperia PRO, and a run of Realme models. It is a quiet event, yet it touches an old promise at the heart of open software, that those who build on shared foundations return what they learn to the commons. For the people who want their phones to become more than the manufacturer intended, the release opens a door that had been closed.
Kernel source code for a batch of recently released Android phones has been posted publicly, covering the ASUS ZenFone 8, the POCO X3 Pro, the Sony Xperia PRO and a group of Realme models. XDA Developers reported the releases on May 18, 2021.
For users who want to go beyond what their manufacturer provides, the kernel is where customization begins. With it, developers can build custom ROMs and kernel modifications. The ZenFone 8, a compact flagship with a Snapdragon 888, arrives close to stock Android, and the community hopes to refine that experience. The POCO X3 Pro draws value-minded buyers with its pricing and its standing among developers. The Sony Xperia PRO, a costly tool for photographers and videographers, gains new freedom from the release, even though it serves a narrow audience.
The release is also an obligation. Android rests on the Linux kernel, and under the GPL, makers who build on it must share their changes. Download links and forum pages accompany the report. The Realme sources, built on Android 10, are likely to be revised once Android 11 arrives on those devices.
Kernel source code for a batch of recently released Android phones has been posted publicly. The devices are the ASUS ZenFone 8, the POCO X3 Pro, the Sony Xperia PRO, and a group of Realme models. XDA Developers reported the releases on May 18, 2021.
The reason this matters to a certain kind of Android user is practical. Customizing a phone beyond what its manufacturer offers generally starts with the kernel source for that specific device. Developers use it to build custom ROMs and kernel modifications. Many manufacturers update their sources routinely, and this round covers several handsets at once.
The ZenFone 8 is ASUS's latest flagship. It bucks the trend toward ever-larger phones with a smaller body and a 5.9-inch display. Inside it runs a Snapdragon 888 chip with up to 16GB of RAM, and its software is close to stock Android. XDA's report says the kernel release, along with support from the site's developer community, should help users improve on that experience.
The POCO X3 Pro comes from the Xiaomi spin-off brand and is described as one of its latest flagship killers. It is powered by the Snapdragon 860, and XDA points to its attractive pricing and to POCO's good standing with the developer community as reasons it draws interest from people who want value.
The Sony Xperia PRO sits at the other end of the market. It costs $2,499 and is aimed at photographers and videographers. It has a mini HDMI port and a 4K AMOLED display that can serve as a viewfinder for professional cameras. XDA notes the phone serves a niche, but the source release means owners are not limited to what Sony itself provides.
Realme, known for value-priced hardware, updated sources for a longer list: the C11, C12 and C15; the Realme 6; the C3 and 6i; the Narzo 10 and 10A; and the Narzo 20. These sources are based on recent Android 10 builds. XDA expects them to be updated once the Android 11 update arrives for those devices.
The releases reflect an obligation as much as a courtesy. Android is built on the Linux kernel, and under the GPL, manufacturers that build on it must share their contributions publicly. Most Android makers routinely publish their source code along with their customizations. Download links for each set of sources are provided in the XDA report, alongside forum pages for the ZenFone 8, POCO X3 Pro and Xperia PRO.
What to watch next is the Realme side: its current sources are Android 10-based, and updated code is expected after the Android 11 rollout.
Citazioni salienti
Under the GPL, manufacturers building on Android are obliged to share their contributions publicly.— XDA Developers report (paraphrased)
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