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flashing ROM, is it that easy? (lemdro.id)

submitted 6 months ago by licoriceking@lemdro.id to c/askandroid@lemdro.id

9 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I'm considering getting a Xiaomi 14 Ultra and I can get it pretty cheap with Chinese rom. I heard it's not that hard to flash it and put in a Swedish/global rom. anyone with real experience? or do I keep the china rom and live with it?

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[–] deweydecibel@lemmy.world 17 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

If it allows you to unlock the bootloader, flashing isn't really that difficult anymore. What really matters is how well the device in question is supported by the custom ROM and the community. If you can find one that's officially supported by lineageOS, for example, they have good documentation and guides to walk you through it. If the ROM is less popular, you might end up in Telegram channels asking for assistance.

The most important thing you can do is research what you're planning to flash. Check XDA, find Telegram, Matrix, or Discord channels (which I know is extremely annoying), look for other people that have attempted to do this and note what issues they seem to have had.

[–] xep@kbin.social 12 points 6 months ago (1 children)

With Xiaomi, you're looking at a two week or more wait to unlock the bootloader. I wouldn't recommend it.

[–] Tippon@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 6 months ago

Plus, part of unlocking is setting up a Mi account, accepting third party cookies, and syncing your data to their servers. Xiaomi are a shitshow

[–] Fake4000@lemmy.world 9 points 6 months ago (2 children)

If you are going to spend this much money on a phone to flash, get yourself a pixel and add graphene to it.

[–] nudnyekscentryk@szmer.info 7 points 6 months ago

Yep. Honestly, Xiaomi is my go-to to recommend to people looking for a budget hackable device. But if you have $700 on hand then Pixel is a way more sensible choice

[–] iridium@piefed.social 1 points 5 months ago

That's the way to go

[–] nudnyekscentryk@szmer.info 6 points 6 months ago

If you're only interested in flashing the European version of MIUI/HyperOS then yes, it's very much straightforward and I can see this device is supported.

If you however want to install a custom rom (LineageOS based) then it's bit more complicated.

[–] DavidGarcia@feddit.nl 3 points 6 months ago

Xiaomi is one of the most annoying to unlock. you need to create an account with them and wait like two weeks or more.

[–] jacktherippah@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago

They changed their bootloader unlock policy. Avoid like the plague.