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Huawei P8 Lite (huawei-alice)

From postmarketOS Wiki
Huawei P8 Lite
P8 Lite with XFCE4
P8 Lite with XFCE4
Manufacturer Huawei
Name P8 Lite
Codename huawei-alice
Released 2015
Type handset
Hardware
Chipset HiSilicon Kirin 620 (Hi6220)
CPU Octa-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53
GPU Mali-450 MP4
Display 720x1280 IPS LCD
Storage 16 GB
Memory 2 GB
Architecture aarch64
Software
Original software Android
Original version 5.0.2
Extended version 6.0
postmarketOS
Category testing
Pre-built images no
Mainline no
postmarketOS kernel 3.10.108
Unixbench Whet/Dhry score 2193.0
Features
Flashing
Partial
USB Networking
Works
Internal storage
SD card
Battery
Screen
Works
Touchscreen
Works
Multimedia
3D Acceleration
Audio
Camera
Camera Flash
Connectivity
WiFi
Works
Bluetooth
GPS
NFC
Modem
Calls
SMS
Mobile data
Miscellaneous
FDE
USB OTG
HDMI/DP
Sensors
Accelerometer
Magnetometer
Ambient Light
Proximity
Hall Effect
Haptics
Barometer


Users owning this device


How to enter flash mode

Fastboot - hold Power + Volume Down

Recovery - hold Power + Volume Up

Bootloader

The bootloader can be unlocked using PotatoNV. To unlock the bootloader, you will need to disassemble the device.

The back cover is attached with clips, and can be taken off with some fiddling. There's a bit of glue around the battery, but you can remove it by wedging in a plastic card. See the iFixit teardown guide for this device for more detailed instructions.

The test point for the device is located under the bottom metal shield and speaker. You will need to remove them to get to it - the shield (and the top speaker screws) are standard Philips-heads, the bottom ones are torx. See the photo at the bottom of the page. Short down the two points marked in red with a pair of tweezers to activate it.

Follow the guide in the PotatoNV README to unlock the bootloader. Select the Kirin 620 bootloader. Note that you need a Windows PC to run the PotatoNV software. Make sure you install the testpoint drivers.

It's also possible to unlock the bootloader without opening the device by following this bootloader unlock guide on XDA developers. Effectively, the process is just downgrading to Android 5 then rooting the device then getting the OEM unlock key that way. PotatoNV should work better, though.

Installation

Note You will need an SD Card to install Postmarket OS to this device

Init the device trough pmbootstrap (Manifacturer: Huawei, Device: alice)

Insert your SD Card into your computer

Execute lsblk to find your SD Card's device name (usually mmcblkX)

Warning WARNING: The following command will delete all data on the device you have selected! Plese back up your data, if any and double check that you have selected the correct device.

Execute pmbootstrap install --sdcard="/dev/mmcblkX" Select the device and not a partiton. This will delete all the data on the device you have selected, repartiton it and install the system to it.

Plug the SD Card into the device.

Boot the device into Fastboot mode by pressing Power+Volume Down

Execute pmbootstrap export and navigate to /tmp/postmarketOS-export

Execute fastboot flash boot boot.img

Execute fastboot reboot or hold down Power to exit Fastboot mode.

Serial console

According to schematics, UART should be available on the test points:

The schematics also mention some JTAG pins, however they appear to be hidden behind the shielding, and are on the other side of the motherboard (not the one that's immediately accessible after taking off the back cover). TODO.

Mainline status and components

It may be possible to mainline this device, as its SoC is supported in the mainline kernel.

Element type Element Works? Notes
Chipset HiSilicon Kirin 620 (Hi6220) DTS in mainline
Graphics Mali-450MP4 Seems to have a node in the DTS?
Charger HI6521/BQ2419X BQ24190 is supported in mainline
PMIC HI6552 Appears to be supported in mainline
Touchscreen CYTTSP5 Supported in mainline.
USB switch FSA9685 Not supported in mainline
NFC NXP PN547 Supported in mainline
Audio codec MAX98925, TFA9895 Supported in mainline
WiFi, Bluetooth BCM4343/HI1101
Accelerometer ST_LIS3XH/ROHM_KX023 Both supported in mainline (first one not exactly, but should be the same as other ST accelerometers in mainline). Second one is confirmed to be used.
Proximity/light sensor TAOS_TMD27723 Variant of the TMD2772 which is supported in mainline
Compass/magnetic AKM09911 Not supported in mainline
Hall effect sensor AK8789 Not supported in mainline
Primary camera OV13850 Mainline has support for an OV13858
Secondary camera OV5648 (foxconn) Supported in mainline
Display BOE NT35521 Mainline has a driver for a similar panel in a Sony device

There are many cameras (OV5648, IMX134, S5K4E1GA, OV13850, IMX328, OV8856, IMX219, HI843S) and displays (OTM1902B, OTM1282B, NT35521, LPM070W425C) listed in the defconfig; these were present on my device.

Getting the camera/display used on your device

$ cat /sys/k3_camera/pri_sensor && echo ""
$ cat /sys/k3_camera/sec_sensor && echo ""
$ cat /sys/class/graphics/fb0/lcd_model

Gallery

See also