Zinwa Q25 (zinwa-q25)

This device is supported as part of a generic port. Refer to MediaTek MT6789 (mediatek-mt6789) for installation instructions and more information.

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: Work in progress

Zinwa Q25

Manufacturer	Zinwa
Name	Q25
Codename	zinwa-q25
Model	Q25
Released	2025
Type	keyboard handset
Hardware
Chipset	MediaTek Helio G99 (MT6789)
Display	720x720 (IPS LCD)
Storage	256 GB
Memory	12 GB
Architecture	aarch64
Software
Original software The software and version the device was shipped with.	Android 14
Extended version The most recent supported version from the manufacturer.	Android
FOSS bootloader	yes
postmarketOS
Category	testing
Mainline Instead of a Linux kernel fork, it is possible to run (Close to) Mainline.	yes
pmOS kernel The kernel version that runs on the device's port.	7.0
Generic port	MediaTek MT6789 (mediatek-mt6789)
Initial MR Initial merge request.	pmaports!8365

Features

Flashing Whether 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).	Untested
Internal storage eMMC, SD cards, UFS...	Works
SD card Also includes other external storage cards.	Untested
Battery Whether charging and battery level reporting work.	Partial
Screen Whether the display works; ideally with sleep mode and brightness control.	Partial
Touchscreen	Partial
Keyboard Whether the built-in physical keyboard works.	Partial
Multimedia
3D Acceleration	Untested
Audio Audio playback, microphone, headset and buttons.	Untested
Camera	Untested
Camera Flash	Untested
Connectivity
WiFi	Untested
Bluetooth	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 OTG USB On-The-Go or USB-C Role switching.	Untested

U-Boot

Primary Bootloader Whether it is possible to replace stock bootloader with U-Boot.	Works
Secondary Bootloader Whether it is possible to chainload U-Boot from stock bootloader.	Works
Mainline Whether latest upstream versions of U-Boot are not broken and it is possible to use them.	Partial
Internal Storage Whether it is possible to boot from internal storage (e.g. eMMC or UFS).	Works
SD card Whether it is possible to boot from SD card.	Broken
USB Host Whether it is possible to boot from a USB storage or connect a keyboard.	Partial
USB Peripheral Whether it is possible to use device as a peripheral in U-Boot, e.g. for fastboot mode.	Partial
Display	Works
Keyboard	Untested
Buttons Whether it is possible to navigate in boot menu or grub with volume and power buttons.	Untested

This device is a reworked BlackBerry_Classic with updated SoC, cameras and other hw.

Contributors

• Elyqw
• LongnoseRob

Users owning this device

• Ayakael
• DALEK 77 (Notes: MP full device, running LineageOS 23.2)
• Deathmist (Notes: Bright kb test & MP models)
• LongnoseRob (Notes: waiting for port, running droidian atm)
• Shymega (Notes: Two, one MP, one development unit.)

Installation

During this early stage of porting many manual steps are needed

U-Boot

This section assumes an aarch64 build system (real or VM) or installed cross-compiler-suite

WARNING: development ongoing, beneath might be dragons and trip-wires

1. Clone This U-boot repo
2. Adjust configs/mt6789_defconfig to match the requirements for use with pmOS:

  CONFIG_BLKMAP=y
  CONFIG_CMD_BLKMAP=y

$ make O=output mt6789_defconfig
$ make O=output -j$(nproc)

patching lk.img (like from the Android recovery image(s))

$ xxd -p "lk.img" | sed -E "s/05fd600100b4fd7bbfa9/05fd60008052c0035fd6/g" | xxd -p -r > "lk_patched.img"
// install liblk
$ pip3 install --upgrade git+https://github.com/R0rt1z2/liblk --break-system-packages
// create the image:
$ ./gimme-uboot.py lk_patched.img ./output/u-boot.bin u-boot-lk-q25.img

flashing U-Boot

Put the device in fastboot-mode (By pressing Power&Vol+ if powered off)

$ fastboot flash lk_b u-boot-lk-q25.img 
$ fastboot flash lk_a u-boot-lk-q25.img 
$ fastboot reboot

building images with pmbootstrap

In pmboostrap init select mediatek and device g99.

For the current state, early in the mainline phase, it might be recommended to select X11 based UI like XFCE4, mate.

$ pmbootstrap install
$ pmbootstrap export

At the moment its recommended to manually flash the image to userdata

$ ./antumbra --da DA_BR.bin --pl preloader_q20_v12_factory.bin dl userdata /tmp/postmarketOS-export/mediatek-g99.img

See also

U-boot fork

Manufacturer

Droidian on Zinwa Q25

Drodian wiki with flashing instructions and more