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Samsung Galaxy A6+ 2018 (samsung-a6plte)

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Samsung Galaxy A6+ (2018)
Samsung Galaxy A6+ (2018) with Plasma Mobile
Samsung Galaxy A6+ (2018) with Plasma Mobile
Manufacturer Samsung
Name Galaxy A6+ (2018)
Codename samsung-a6plte
Released 2018
Type handset
Hardware
Chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 (MSM8953)
CPU Octa-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53
GPU Adreno 506
Display 1080 x 2220 (6.0", AMOLED)
Storage 32/64 GB
Memory 3/4 GB
Architecture aarch64
Software
Original software
The software and version the device was shipped with.
Android (Samsung Experience) 8.0.0 (Samsung Experience 9.0)
Extended version
The most recent supported version from the manufacturer.
Android (Samsung Experience) 10 (One UI 2)
postmarketOS
Category testing
Mainline
Instead of a Linux kernel fork, it is possible to run (Close to) Mainline.
yes
Unixbench score
Unixbench Whetstone/Dhrystone score. See Unixbench.
3754.4
Device package device-samsung-a6plte
Kernel package linux-postmarketos-qcom-msm8953
Features
Flashing
It is possible to flash the device with pmbootstrap flasher.
Works
USB Networking
After connecting the device with USB to your PC, you can connect to it via telnet (initramfs) or SSH (booted system).
Works
Battery
Charging and battery level reporting works
Broken
Screen
Display works. Ideally with sleep mode and brightness control.
Works
Touchscreen
Works
Multimedia
3D Acceleration
Partial
Audio
Audio playback, microphone, headset and buttons.
Works
Camera
Partial
Connectivity
WiFi
Works
Bluetooth
Works
GPS
Works
NFC
Near Field Communication
Broken
Modem
Calls
Partial
SMS
Works
Mobile data
Works
Miscellaneous
FDE
Full disk encryption and unlocking with unl0kr.
Works
USB OTG
USB On-The-Go or USB-C Role switching
Works
Sensors
Accelerometer
Auto screen rotation works in desktops e.g. Phosh or Plasma Mobile
Works
Magnetometer
Sensor to measure magnetism
Broken
Ambient Light
Broken
Proximity
Broken
Hall Effect
Also known as flip cover sensor
Works


Users owning this device

How to enter flash mode

  • Recovery: Power on the device by holding Volume Up and Power.
  • Download: Hold Volume Up and Volume Down while plugging the device to a computer with a USB cable.
  • lk2nd: Power on the device by holding Volume Down and Power.

Unlocking the bootloader

  1. Enable developer mode by tapping on the build number seven times in Settings → About phone → Software information
  2. Return to the main settings page and go to the developer options
  3. In developer options, enable OEM unlocking. Make sure you have an internet connection if it doesn't show up.

FRP Lock

Warning WARNING: Logout / delete all of the accounts (especially Google ones) in Android first, before you wiping out or flashing pmOS to partition userdata.

Installation

  1. Unlock the bootloader if not done.
  2. Select the edge branch, then a6plte and your favorite UI with pmbootstrap init
  3. Generate the rootfs with pmbootstrap install to install postmarketOS to the phone or pmbootstrap install --sdcard /dev/sdX to install it on an SD card.
  4. Reboot into download mode
  5. Flash lk2nd (alternative bootloader that provides a standard fastboot interface) with pmbootstrap flasher --method=heimdall-bootimg flash_lk2nd. The device should automatically boot into lk2nd afterwards.
  6. Flash postmarketOS with pmbootstrap flasher flash_rootfs or pmbootstrap flasher flash_rootfs --partition userdata to flash it to the bigger userdata partition. Skip this step if you have installed postmarketOS to an SD card.
  7. Reboot the phone with fastboot reboot or by selecting START in lk2nd with the power button.

Gallery

Modem

Modem has been tested successfully (with phosh) after installing msm-modem. Cellular network works. SMS send/receive works. Calling works, but there is no sound

For GPS please see Enabling GPS manually in ModemManager

Camera

The front cameras partially work. The wide angle camera outputs a reasonable image, the main camera outputs a pink stained image. The inner camera does not work.

GPU

With the latest edge (as of may 2025) OpenGL works out of the box, Vulkan does not.

Battery

The battery IC (Samsung sm5708) is missing from the DTB. Battery percentage is not displayed. Charges only in recovery.


Hardware details (hwtest) for A6PLTE

Category Model Path Status Value
framebuffer msmdrmfb /sys/class/graphics/fb0 working
drm /sys/class/drm/card0-DSI-1 working 1080x2220
camera sr556 20-0028 /dev/v4l-subdev17 broken
camera s5k2x7sp 20-0010 /dev/v4l-subdev18 broken
camera s5k2p6sx 21-002d /dev/v4l-subdev19 broken
accelerometer lsm6dsl_accel /sys/bus/iio/devices/iio:device2 working
gyroscope lsm6dsl_gyro /sys/bus/iio/devices/iio:device1 working 0.01, -0.03, -0.0 rad/s
vibrator gpio-vibrator /dev/input/event4 working
input gpio-keys /dev/input/event0 working
input s6sy761 /dev/input/event1 working
input pm8941_pwrkey /dev/input/event2 working
input pm8941_resin /dev/input/event3 working
input samsung-a2015 Headset Jack /dev/input/event5 working

Audio works with speakers, and with jack or bluetooth headset.

See also