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Samsung Galaxy A72 (samsung-a72q)

From postmarketOS Wiki
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
Samsung Galaxy A72
Samsung Galaxy A72 (samsung-a72q)
Samsung Galaxy A72 (samsung-a72q)
Manufacturer Samsung
Name Galaxy A72
Codename samsung-a72q
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 1080x2400 (AMOLED, 6.7")
Storage 128/256 GB
Memory 6/8 GB
Architecture aarch64
Software
Original software Android (One UI)
Original version
The version the device was shipped with.
11 (OneUI 3.1)
postmarketOS
Category testing
Pre-built images
Whether pre-built images are available here.
no
Mainline
Instead of a Linux kernel fork, it is possible to run (Close to) Mainline.
yes
Unixbench score
Unixbench Whetstone/Dhrystone score. See Unixbench.
5657.7
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
Works
Screen
Display works. Ideally with sleep mode and brightness control.
Partial
Touchscreen
Works
Multimedia
3D Acceleration
Works
Audio
Audio playback, microphone, headset and buttons.
Partial
Camera
Untested
Connectivity
WiFi
Works
Bluetooth
Works
GPS
Untested
NFC
Near Field Communication
Untested
Modem
Calls
Broken
SMS
Works
Mobile data
Works
Miscellaneous
FDE
Full disk encryption and unlocking with unl0kr.
Untested
USB OTG
USB On-The-Go or USB-C Role switching
Untested
Sensors
Accelerometer
Auto screen rotation works in desktops e.g. Phosh or Plasma Mobile
Untested

Contributors

Users owning this device


How to enter flash mode

To enter one of these modes phone must be connected to PC (usb-c headphones and phones might also work)

  • Odin Mode: Power on the device with both Volume Up and Volume Down buttons. Then click Volume Up to confirm.
  • Recovery: Power on the device with both Power and Volume Up buttons.

Unlocking the Bootloader

Warning 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]: a72q   <- 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