Samsung Galaxy A6 2018 (samsung-a6lte)

From postmarketOS
Samsung Galaxy A6 (2018)
File:A6lte.jpg
Samsung Galaxy A6 2018 with Xfce4
Manufacturer Samsung
Name Galaxy A6 (2018)
Codename samsung-a6lte
Released 2018
Category testing
Pre-built images no
Original software Android
Original version 8
Extended version 10
Hardware
Chipset Samsung Exynos 7870 Octa
CPU Octa-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53
GPU Mali-T830 MP1
Display 720/1480 OLED
Storage 32/64 GB, microSD
Memory 3/4 GB
Architecture AArch64
Features
USB Networking
Works
Flashing
Touchscreen
Works
Display
Works
WiFi
Works
FDE
Mainline
Partial
Battery
Works
3D Acceleration
Broken
Audio
Partial
Bluetooth
Works
Camera
Broken
GPS
Mobile data
Works
Internal storage
SMS
Works
Calls
Partial
USB OTG
NFC
Sensors
Accelerometer
Broken
Magnetometer
Broken
Ambient Light
Broken
Proximity
Broken
Hall Effect
Broken
Barometer
Power Sensor
Misc
Built-in DVB
Camera Flash
Ir RX
Stylus
Memory Card
Haptics
Ethernet
FOSS bootloader
Broken


Note This is the exynos device.

Contributors

  • sleirsgoevy

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 an USB cable.
  • Hard reboot: Press and hold Volume Down and Power for 7 seconds.

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.

Installation

  1. Unlock the bootloader if not done.
  2. Select a6lte and Xfce4 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. Generate the flashable images with pmbootstrap export. They will be stored in /tmp/postmarketOS-export, or you can specify another location like this: pmbootstrap export /home/user/Downloads/pmos
  5. Reboot into download mode
  6. Flash postmarketOS with heimdall flash --BOOT /tmp/postmarketOS-export/boot.img --SYSTEM /tmp/postmarketOS-export/samsung-a6lte.img (replace the paths if necessary). If you installed to an SD card, specify only the BOOT argument. Also you may choose the bigger USERDATA partition for the system image.
  7. The phone should reboot straight into postmarketOS.

Note: installation with pmbootstrap flasher flash_kernel and pmbootstrap flasher flash_rootfs will probably work, but this is untested.

Alternative Installation

If installation with heimdall/pmbootstrap flasher fails you could use the recovery-zip method, see Installation_from_recovery_mode.

Note: if you desire to use the bigger partition, use pmbootstrap install --android-recovery-zip --recovery-install-partition=USERDATA

Mainline status

  • Pinctrl works, clock controller missing drivers
  • Display, touchscreen, eMMC and external sdcard full work
  • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth work
  • Fuelgauge works (thanks @Tooniis), but is not enabled in the current .config

Notes

  • Putting calls on hold and having several calls active simultaneously is not supported
  • Mobile data currently connects on IPv4 only
  • Wi-Fi does not connect out of the box. To connect to a network, after adding the network normally, open nm-connection-editor, edit the connection you're trying to activate, and set the "Cloned MAC address" setting to "Do not change".

See also