Samsung Galaxy A52 4G (samsung-a52q)

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Samsung Galaxy A52 4G
The Samsung Galaxy A52 4G running Plasma Mobile on postmarketOS with a mainline Kernel, showing the result of running neofetch
The Samsung Galaxy A52 4G running Plasma Mobile on postmarketOS with a mainline Kernel, showing the result of running neofetch
Manufacturer Samsung
Name Galaxy A52 4G
Codename samsung-a52q
Released 2021
Type handset
Hardware
Chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (SM7125)
CPU Octa-Core; 2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver
GPU Adreno 618
Display 1080 x 2400 Super AMOLED
Storage 128 / 256GB
Memory 4 / 6 / 8GB
Architecture aarch64
Software
Original software Android
Original version 11
postmarketOS
Category testing
Pre-built images no
Mainline yes
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.
Status: dropped in pma!5177
Features
Flashing
Works
USB Networking
Works
Internal storage
SD card
Battery
Partial
Screen
Partial
Touchscreen
Works
Multimedia
3D Acceleration
Works
Audio
Partial
Camera
Broken
Camera Flash
Connectivity
WiFi
Works
Bluetooth
Works
GPS
Broken
NFC
Broken
Modem
Calls
SMS
Works
Mobile data
Works
Miscellaneous
FDE
USB OTG
Broken
HDMI/DP
Sensors
Accelerometer
Broken
Magnetometer
Ambient Light
Proximity
Hall Effect
Haptics
Barometer
This device is based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (SM7125).
See the SoC page for common tips, guides and troubleshooting steps

Contributors

Users owning this device

  • Chaosleo07 (Notes: ITS BACK AGAIN! found a cheap replacement mainboard, work shall continue)
  • Hilledkinged (Notes: Recently gotten and looking to play around with it)


How to enter flash mode

Press and hold Volume Up + Volume Down while plugging it in the Computer. Then click Volume Up to confirm.

Unlocking the Bootloader

!!!WARNING!!!

This will reset your device to Factory settings and blow the Knox E-Fuse! You have been warned.

Samsung made this easy (thankfully): Reboot into Download mode (hold down Vol+ and Vol- while plugging it into a computer) and hold down Vol+.

This way, you can also relock the bootloader (with the only benefit being that the message at the Beginning is gone, no more Knox)

Installation

First, install pmbootstrap.

After that, set up the device to be used:

$ pmbootstrap init
Channel [edge]:
Vendor [samsung]: samsung       <- enter this
Device codename [i9100]: a52q   <- enter this
Enable this package? (y/n) [y]  <- you probably want non-free firmware
User interface [plasma-mobile]: <- choose any UI by your preference. Plasma Mobile works without issues :)
...

Then, create the rootfs image (and install it on sd card if you want)

$ pmbootstrap install (--sdcard=/dev/whatever_your_sdcard_is if you want to install to sd card)

After that, flash the kernel by doing

$ pmbootstrap flasher flash_kernel

and if you didn't install to an SDCard, flash the rootfs by running

$ pmbootstrap flasher flash_rootfs

After installation download emptyDTBO.img and flash using heimdall or TWRP.

Status table explanation

This table explains more in detail why some features are marked as partial (P) or Broken (N). Generally it's because feature works with some limitations, or is a "work-in-progress":

Component Status Notes
Screen P Changing brightness causes graphical artifacts(It's recommended to disable automatic brightness control)
Audio P Only audio from built in stereo speakers works.
Calls N Can recieve and make calls but call audio missing.

Notes

Issues with DEs etc.:

  • framebufferphone: has issues with Touch
  • xorg: doesn't work/crashes on adreno 618 (wayland/xwayland works fine)


See also