Lenovo TAB 2 A8-50F (lenovo-a8-50f)
This device has been tested with postmarketOS, but its device package has not yet been added to the postmarketOS repositories. This means that it cannot be selected in pmbootstrap. |
![]() Lenovo TAB 2 A8-50F on the Xfce4 desktop, showing the About window | |
Manufacturer | Lenovo |
---|---|
Name | TAB 2 A8-50F |
Codename | lenovo-a8-50f |
Model | CHANGE_ME |
Released | 2015 |
Type | tablet |
Hardware | |
Chipset | MediaTek MT6735 |
CPU | CHANGE_ME |
GPU | CHANGE_ME |
Display | CHANGE_ME |
Storage | 16 GB |
Memory | 1 GB |
Architecture | aarch64 |
Software | |
Original software The software and version the device was shipped with. |
Android 5.0 |
Extended version The most recent supported version from the manufacturer. |
Android 5.1 |
postmarketOS | |
Pre-built images Whether pre-built images are available from the postmarketOS Installation page. |
no |
Mainline Instead of a Linux kernel fork, it is possible to run (Close to) Mainline. |
no |
pmOS kernel The kernel version that runs on the device's port. |
3.10.61 |
Unixbench score Unixbench Whetstone/Dhrystone score. See Unixbench. |
0.0 |
Flashing Whether it is possible to flash the device with pmbootstrap flasher . |
Partial
|
---|---|
USB Networking After connecting the device with USB to your PC, you can connect to it via telnet (initramfs) or SSH (booted system). |
Works
|
Internal storage eMMC, SD cards, UFS... |
Untested
|
SD card Also includes other external storage cards. |
Untested
|
Battery Whether charging and battery level reporting work. |
Untested
|
Screen Whether the display works; ideally with sleep mode and brightness control. |
Partial
|
Touchscreen |
Works
|
Multimedia | |
3D Acceleration |
Untested
|
Built-in DVB TV tuner/DVB device |
Untested
|
Audio Audio playback, microphone, headset and buttons. |
Broken
|
Camera |
Untested
|
Camera Flash |
Untested
|
IR TX |
Untested
|
IR RX |
Untested
|
Connectivity | |
WiFi |
Untested
|
Bluetooth |
Untested
|
Ethernet |
Untested
|
GPS |
Untested
|
NFC Near Field Communication |
Untested
|
Modem | |
Calls |
Untested
|
SMS |
Untested
|
Mobile data |
Untested
|
Miscellaneous | |
FDE Full disk encryption and unlocking with unl0kr. |
Untested
|
USB-A Whether the full-sized USB-A port works. |
Untested
|
SATA/eSATA |
Untested
|
USB OTG USB On-The-Go or USB-C Role switching. |
Works
|
HDMI/DP Video and audio output with HDMI or DisplayPort. |
Untested
|
Sensors | |
Accelerometer Handles automatic screen rotation in many interfaces. |
Untested
|
Magnetometer Sensor to measure the Earth's magnetism |
Untested
|
Ambient Light Measures the light level; used for automatic screen dimming in many interfaces. |
Untested
|
Proximity |
Untested
|
Hall Effect Measures magnetic fields; usually used as a flip cover sensor |
Untested
|
Haptics |
Untested
|
Barometer Sensor to measure air pressure |
Untested
|
Power Sensor Sensor to monitor current, voltage and power. Not fuel gauge! |
Untested
|
Contributors
Users owning this device
- Oreeeee (Notes: Damaged backlight in the corner)
Installation
- Use generic fastboot unlock procedure with the `fastboot oem unlock` command to unlock the bootloader. Use adb to reboot to bootloader. You might need to confirm the unlock by using the Vol Up button.
- Power off the device, unplug from PC.
- Open SP Flash Tool, select TWRP's scatter file.
- Click on the Download button while the device is unplugged.
- Plug in the tablet to the PC.
- After flashing TWRP in SP Flash Tool succeeds, unplug the tablet IMMEDIATELY!
- Boot into TWRP by holding Volume Up + Volume Down buttons and plugging in the tablet into a PC. Make sure to not let the tablet show the charging screen or boot into Android, and don't turn on the tablet using the power button, as that will trigger an integrity check that will restore the stock recovery. Flashing postmarketOS removes said integrity checks. This might require trying to reflash TWRP multiple times (repeat steps 4 to 7).
- (Optional) Make a stock system backup to an SD card.
- Once you're in TWRP, go to Advanced and enable ADB sideloading.
- Use `pmbootstrap install --android-recovery-zip` to flash postmarketOS.
Notes
Stock ROM will overwrite TWRP if it's flashed. In that case, an error message will appear and recovery will go back to stock. The cause is unknown, but it's either a signature check (/etc/recovery.sig in /system), or a CRC/filecount check (/data/recovery_rootcheck in /system). It does not happen when postmarketOS is flashed, and TWRP is loadable if you avoid loading the stock kernel, so it's likely something in the stock initramfs.
Graphics only work through framebuffer device. LightDM requires additional configuration. LightDM will not start if boot splash is enabled. Any interaction with audio devices causes a kernel panic.
A8-50F is the WiFi only model. There were also 2 similar models with 4G - A8-50L and A8-50LC. A8-50L had hardware support for 4G, but it was disabled at software level. A8-50LC only released in selected regions. It was possible to flash A8-50LC firmware onto A8-50L to bypass the artificial 4G block. A8-50L and A8-50LC were mostly compatible with eachother, A8-50F is distinct but to my knowledge, close enough together, so if A8-50F starts working, a port to A8-50L/LC could be viable.