Development Paranoid Android Topaz Release 1 - ASUS Zenfone 9

[Androbots]

We are very excited to announce the release of Paranoid Android Topaz, based on Android 13.

On the first launch, you’ll notice a clean setup with beautiful wallpapers from Hampus Olsson, who teamed up with us again to create several beautiful pieces of artwork. Hampus is a multi-disciplinary artist whose design stands for itself and we’re glad to have him onboard. We also added further UI touches that we believe enhance the overall user experience. You can find all of the Paranoid Android wallpapers and many more in the Abstruct app from the PlayStore.

Our builds are based on the Code Linaro Organization Android base, which is optimized for Qualcomm platforms and has a higher degree of performance, battery life, and functionality compared to the Android Open Source Project platform. The Paranoid Android team and contributors are focusing on squashing existing bugs, and implementing and improving features, performance, and stability. We are dedicated to providing a user experience with the stability that you can expect from stock ROMs with best-in-class performance and features to help you get the most out of your device.

Notice

We kindly ask all of you that are in a position to donate anything, to help and support us so we can provide better and faster build releases, as well as increase the download speed of our servers, all looking for your enjoyment.

You can donate on the link below:

Donate

Device-specific issues

* No issues were found upon testing, feel free to report if you encounter any.

Requirements

Make sure you've latest platform tools for Android.

Download

You can always get our builds from our website Paranoid Android website
GCam that I found was great: Link

Note: Custom kernels are NOT supported the kernel says it supports PA and GMS is included!

Changelogs

Keep an eye on our Twitter account, @paranoidaospa, as we will be posting about new features getting included in the release builds, as well as links to betas for those devices that will get them. For more detailed information please have a look at the second post of this thread of each build changelog on the website.

Instructions

1. Make sure your data is backed up (via Google or other services)
2. Unlock your bootloader, and in fastbootd mode follow the next command
3. fastboot -w (Wipes the entire device as well as userdata)
4. Extract recovery from the downloaded aospa-topaz-alpha-*-image.zip
5. fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
6. fastboot reboot fastboot
7. fastboot update aospa-topaz-alpha-*-image.zip
8. Reboot and you should set!

Important / Useful links
Paranoid Android Twitter
Paranoid Android Channel (Telegram)
Paranoid Android Download Channel (Telegram)
Paranoid Android Community (Telegram)

Source code
Kernel

Also, thanks to:
@ggpew2
@xboxfanj

Cheers and #StayParanoid!

 

[Androbots]

Reserved

 

[tbalden]

Noiceee

 

[Freak07]

Let the party begin

 

[seilent]

Ohhh finally！
Though considering I have Japan model, I guess I will lose the access to felica. But I can cope with that I guess. Thanks!

 

[DankDeuxez]

Are special functions like "zentouch" working on this rom?

 

[DankDeuxez]

unable to install this on my Zf9. Bootloader is unlocked. I can get into Fastbootd, but the device itself isnt recognized unless i update the drivers in device manager. I have to update it EVERY time the phone goes into fastbootd. Just backing out and back in again makes it unrecognizable by the PC.

Updating it allows "Fastboot devices" to see it. However typing Fastboot -w just gives me "Erase successful, but not automatically formatting. Cant determine partition type" and then also "FAILED (remote:Invalid partition)" for both userdata and cache. Flashing the recovery after this just gives me:
"Writing "recovery""
"FAILED (remote: no such file or directory)"

What the hell is going on? Tried on 2 different PCs and still the same.

 

[BMHater12]

A first right there! The first ever custom ROM running on the 8+ Gen 1!

 

[timo_capa]

What the hell is going on? Tried on 2 different PCs and still the same.

Do you use a USB-C to USB-C cable? If yes, try USB-A to USB-C

 

[ikramahmed]

Anyone tried this? Wondering if Google Wallet works as I had issues with root.

 

[Veiranx]

I have it installed, though the ROM seems to have difficulties connecting to Google services. At the moment, I still have no connection.

Really smooth, though! Loving how fluid it all is.

 

[Scholeggo]

Has anyone tried using a Bluetooth LE Audio device with this ROM? I hear on Reddit that the Zenfone 9 does not support LC3 on its stock ROM, and that concerns me.
If that's the case, does Aptx Adaptive (not to be confused with Aptx or Aptx HD) work on this ROM?
https://www.reddit.com/r/zenfone/comments/10guooa

 

[Veiranx]

UPDATE: While I was not able to get the Setup to connect to Google services, I was able to connect to Google services after the fact and download apps. A minor inconvenience for me, but I think it's worth addressing for others.

 

[Darkmasterhk]

First big thanks to @Androbots and the whole team
Tested it for a couple of days now, rom really has daily driver potential, when the devs keep working on it.

Pros:
- Super smooth
- feels pretty pixel like
- colors in camera look better (especially night mode feels better to me)
- Bluetooth works with all my devices
- no crashes or other big issues so far

Cons/issues:
- (most annoying) when selecting text, the copy, search,... Menu doesn't always (actually basically never) appear
- after being in landscape (game), after turning screen off/on touch controls seem to be in portrait (90 degree flipped)
- couldn't find double tab 2 wake (maybe I missed it?)
- runs into thermal throttling way earlier then stock, even with performance mode enabled
- sound is a bit worth, but that was to be expected
- no slow motion in camera, no idea about the other modi, I rarely use the cam

 

[DankDeuxez]

Do you use a USB-C to USB-C cable? If yes, try USB-A to USB-C

My pc nor laptop doesnt have any type C ports. Been using a usb A to C cable. I know it works because ADB finds my phone AND fastboot if i install the fastboot drivers.

 

[Veiranx]

UPDATE: While I was not able to get the Setup to connect to Google services, I was able to connect to Google services after the fact and download apps. A minor inconvenience for me, but I think it's worth addressing for others.

UPDATE2: After having it installed for around five days, the active usage of the phone seems to have improved versus the stock OS (according to Accubattery): Screen on Rate is 9-10% per hour vs >10% per hour on stock. However, during sleep mode there seems to be something draining it; Screen off rate is 1-2% per hour. This is much higher than it is for stock, which is routinely at the 0.6-1% range.

While it may depend on what apps are installed, services active, etc., I'm comparing most of the same apps between stock and Topaz Alpha 1. Topaz, due to having to manually install everything, has fewer apps due to me just not having gotten around to getting them all yet.

 

[People11]

1. Always show time and info seems not working
2. No tap2wake
3. Built-in Chrome browser crash (fix after update)
4. Cannot install 32-bit only APPs (I know but still have to use some)
5. Cannot remove Google account after login (shows not allowed by admin)
6. Built-in camera APP too minimal (I know there is no GCam for it yet, so I suggest switching to Asus stock camera APP)
7. The vibrations feel awful, it has a Linear Resonant Actuator, but now feels like a Rotating Mass.
8. Wrong device requirement when flashing (require taro)
9. Flashing fastboot option failed (can't switch to slot B, odm_b partition not exist, etc.)
10. Battery drained 1.3% per hour when screen off (I personally think this is much)

 

[aaa.bbb111222]

Are there any build instructions?

 

[Androbots]

First big thanks to @Androbots and the whole team
Tested it for a couple of days now, rom really has daily driver potential, when the devs keep working on it.

Pros:
- Super smooth
- feels pretty pixel like
- colors in camera look better (especially night mode feels better to me)
- Bluetooth works with all my devices
- no crashes or other big issues so far

Cons/issues:
- (most annoying) when selecting text, the copy, search,... Menu doesn't always (actually basically never) appear
- after being in landscape (game), after turning screen off/on touch controls seem to be in portrait (90 degree flipped)
- couldn't find double tab 2 wake (maybe I missed it?)
- runs into thermal throttling way earlier then stock, even with performance mode enabled
- sound is a bit worth, but that was to be expected
- no slow motion in camera, no idea about the other modi, I rarely use the cam

Thank you for the feedback. Coming to your issues:
- Haven't faced this one
- Intended AOSP behavior
- Yet to be implemented
- That's due to the differences between thermal implementations in stock vs. pa
- Speakers same as above ^
- GCam Go is supposed to be minimal, I'll pin the GCam I use in OP

UPDATE2: After having it installed for around five days, the active usage of the phone seems to have improved versus the stock OS (according to Accubattery): Screen on Rate is 9-10% per hour vs >10% per hour on stock. However, during sleep mode there seems to be something draining it; Screen off rate is 1-2% per hour. This is much higher than it is for stock, which is routinely at the 0.6-1% range.

While it may depend on what apps are installed, services active, etc., I'm comparing most of the same apps between stock and Topaz Alpha 1. Topaz, due to having to manually install everything, has fewer apps due to me just not having gotten around to getting them all yet.

I am still trying to figure out what's causing the idle drain. Better active drain should be expected since the kernel is free of thousands of lines/second worth of debug prints that were enabled for some reason on stock and is also mostly free of debug drivers that tend to regress both performance and battery life.

New update will be seeded once qpr2 (March Feature Drop) is merged into source.

 

[Androbots]

I have a build ready with April patches and lots of updates! Anyone willing to test? I can DM them a build, although more than likely you will have to clean flash it. Thanks!