Xiaomi Redmi 7 review and beginner questions?
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Hi @tchan
Can you confirm that before I follow the Github instrutions, I would need to unlock the bootloader first by using the guide set out on the LineageOS website here: https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/onclite/install ??
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@mdj
Hi,
I dindn't follow this page but it's the same till step 6.
You need to install TWRP with adb to flash the zip files after.
I followed this website it was clear https://krispitech.com/category/xiaomi/redmi-7/ but XDA should be the same but it's more messy for me.
Good luck and give your feedback! -
@tchan Thanks for that.
I finally managed to get it installed but only after flashing v9 of the GSI image, for some reason I get an error message when flashing v10.
The Suru Dark theme is looking very nice on this handset and I've been impressed with the performance, even on the 2 GB RAM handset I'm running on.
I'm noticing that a few of the Nextcloud apps don't want to load (Newsie, uMarks & Jotit Notes) as well as several webapps such as the newer version of Tweetdeck. Of course being webapps I can run them in the browser and they run fine there.
I can confirm that the bugs listed on the Github page are present i.e graphic glitches & WiFi randomly disconnecting but these aren't much of a distraction.
Bluetooth is working as well as can be expected, I was able to connect to a Raspberry Pi running Balena-Sound. The camera app can be a bit glitchy and freezes at times.
I'm now left wondering whether getting v10 of GSI installed would improve some of these app loading issues?
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@mdj
Nice if you manage to do it!
I think the device will be integrate to the installer (i don't now when ), cause someone is working on it if I understood correctly what I saw in the telegram group and on gitlab.
I can't tell you why you had a problem with the v10 but still it's a General System Image ( GSI ) so no OTA for us now.Enjoy UT.
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@tchan many Android phones cannot write to the external SD card. Does write to the external SD card work on Redmi 7 with Ubuntu Touch?
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@peter-gamma
Sorry, it's maybe my bad English( or my knowledge with computer ) , but I'm not sure to understand...
I can tranfert pictures to SD card and saw them on my laptop. The same in the other way, I didn't try something else. -
@tchan This sounds good. It is applications specific? On Android, it is possible to write to the external SD card with newer versions, but it is not possible for instance with a file explorer, as far as I know. On my beloved Samsung Galaxy s5 with Android 4.4. I can do whatever I want with my SD card, and not only what Google wants. Bring back those good old SD card times!
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@tchan to cut it short: which application did you use to copy pictures to the external SD card?
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@peter-gamma
Juste to be sure, you are speaking about the SD card "inside" your phone? Cause you call it "external" ...
To copy picture on the card, I go to the gallery and click on "share" I select folder and add it to the card. It's the only thing I'd tried. -
@tchan with external SD card I meant the removable SD card, which can be taken out of the device and can be but into an SD card reader which can be read from a PC. Can you copy pictures from your gallery with a Linux file explorer software and paste it onto your removable SD card?
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@peter-gamma
OK, it was what I understood sorry if it looks stupid.
I can move folder from graphique mode in the phone and when the card is in the laptop, i'am not sure if it was with windows or Ubuntu.
Not sure but it should be doable with the terminal if you know the path. -
@tchan Ok, this sounds good. I guess the graphics mode is a sort of a file linux file manager? Unfortnately, I cannot test it myself, since I don t have a Ubuntu Touch device yet. The Xiaomi Onclite which I bought on ebay in UK is still not here after the thirt attempt of the seller to send it to me, but it will arrive some day. So I bought a second Xiaomi Onclite on Ricardo Switzerland for 50 USD. It should arrive at my place soon.
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User reported problems that Xiaomi Poco F1 Ubuntu Touch often reboots. What about Xiaomi Redmi 7?
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@peter-gamma
Hi,
No problems like that on the Onclite.
I had some random black screen when trying to unlock few weeks ago but it magicaly fixed now...
It's my daily driver since three months now! -
Salut tchan,
I bought a Redmi 7 (not a Note 7) to install Ubuntu touch. You mentioned it is an Onclite, where did you get this information? There seem to be different versions. I'm not sure if mine is compatible.
I'm a total noob in flashing a smartphone. The instruction on github is for users who have experience. You wrote that you followed this website you mentioned but what to do from there? I don't know where to start.
The first step on the github page is to 'Full wipe and format data'. What is meant, personal data, format to some filesystem (how should this work) ? Oh yeah and the link to the second step is broken.
As you see, I have a lot of problems with the installation. I regret that I haven't bought a Note7 which has an installer. But hey, I didn't know how to handle Linux on a computer few years ago but I learned.
I hope you or someone else in this thread is able to help me. That would be awesome!
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Thank you Tchan for your answer, really convincing. Tchans Ubuntu Touch channel in the Ubports forum is really great, and I love it.
I bought my first Xiaomi Redmi 7 in UK on ebay. First, it was returned due to lacking invoice, then the seller sent it by UPS to the wrong adress in UK, third attempt, she sent it with incomplete invoice. So I sent the invoice from ebay to the custom service. The device arrived. Unfortunately, it was a Redmi Note 7, and not a Redmi 7, so I will return it. Five weeks are gone now since I bought it.
The PinePhone I sold on ebay also arrived in Bergamo, Northern Italy after 5 weeks, due to Corona, and Italian mentality. Swiss post told me that it would be there in 7 days maximum.
Now, I bought a Xiaomi Redmi 7 on Ricardo Switzerland for 50 USD. A second one I missed, since someone was faster than me, but I will go in bidding.
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@ velkala
I did not yet flash a Ubuntu Touch phone, but several Android custom ROMs. The fist one was really hard work, but then it became easier. There are some instructions on youtube for Xiaomi Redmi XX. To flash a Redmi 7 should be similar to flashing those:
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@velkala
Salut!
For the device's codename I'm not sure where you can check it, it was printed on the box, but if it's not a REDMI 7a or a Note 7 it should be a Onclite. better to check.For sure the Github instruction are not for beginner...
if I remember corectly, the first thing is to change to developper mode and unlock the bootloader. For that you have to create a MI account and MI flash tool from Xiaomi website. https://krispitech.com/redmi-7-unlock-bootloader/ many steps but very clear instructions.
Then you need the right TWRP recovery for the devices in order to " flash" your phone. https://twrp.me/xiaomi/xiaomiredmi7.html and
https://krispitech.com/redmi-7-install-twrp/Then you need ADB and fastboot tools for you computer.
https://krispitech.com/install-adb-fastboot/With all those web pages I think it should be OK. Feel free to ask question if you need .
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@tchan Thanks, Tchan. Which model it is can be seen under settings and device on your Xiaomi device. I explicitly asked the UK seller about the model, one has to be careful. Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 would have an installer, which makes things easier. But I think it is worth doing the work for the Onclite installation. There is much info available from Tchan, thank you again. I don t know how it is for the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7. It is lower down the Ubports maturity scale. But what does this say?
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@peter-gamma
What I can understand from the different Telegram channel it's the official port of the Note 7 have bug to be fixed, some people try to be back to the GSi port fort that but I think the bugs will be fixed soon.
The main problem is the cellular data but not in every country.
