Sony Xperia X Compact (F5321) | UT extremely slow, no WiFi, no SIM

drikk · 4 May 2021, 19:25

Hi everybody!
I'm new to Ubuntu Touch and got myself a used Xperia X Compact to install it on. I know it's not exactly the best supported device, but since I enthusiastically dislike any large smartphone I wanted to give it a try
As it turns out, I do need some help.

The device was running Android 8.0 and as it's secondhand I tested the fuctionality using the service menu. Everything worked!
I then followed Sonys guide to unlock the bootloader, enabled developer mode and plugged it into my PC running openSUSE Tumbleweed.
The UBports Installer (0.8.8-beta Appimage) detected it correctly, but during installation I ran into the bootloop, where the device always reboots after a few seconds in the "UBports Recovery" screen.
Following the old thread about the Xperia X, I fixed this by flashing TWRP, wiping system/data/cache and flashing these OEM binaries.

Now the installation runs through successfully without errors on all channels stable/rc/devel & edge. This is without a microSD card installed and both with/without a SIM card installed.

But:

Unfortunately the freshly installed Ubuntu Touch runs extremely slow and repetitively hangs to the point, where it is hard to even get through the set-up process and the gesture introduction. To give you an idea: The UT boot logo stays up for 5 min, then the lock screen takes 30 seconds to build up and unlocking to home screen with the Ubuntu bar on the left takes another minute.
Strangely though, on stable, rc and edge channel I've had it happen, that after some time and a lot of reboots this behavior vanishes and I'm then able to walk through the settings and launch/use/switch applications fluently!
Bootup often fails, resulting in another reboot or a black screen. I get around the latter by holding [Volume up] + [Power] to force reboot.
A lot does not work, most notably the cameras, WiFi and the cellular modem. My SIM card is not being detected. In System settings / About it says:
IMEI: None (this entry periodically appears/disappears)
Wi-Fi adress: FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF

Now, as the installation itself seems to work, is it safe to assume that my phone is correctly prepared Android-wise? Or could I have messed something up there?
Do you have any other idea or suggestion about what went wrong and how to fix it?
If I should report this as a bug somewhere, please let me know!

In any case, thank you!

unrealb2 · 16 May 2021, 18:54

@drikk have you figured out how to re-install stock android rom? i'm trying to get ut on my xcompact but it keeps getting stuck on sony screen.
I was going to reinstall stock rom and try again. but i can't figure out how to. There is no official stock rom, and the ones i tried on random websites i get a file to large error.

Lakotaubp · 17 May 2021, 12:44

@Flohack Can you create sub forum for the F5321 x Compact please or is that Dalton.

flohack · 17 May 2021, 15:02

@lakotaubp I can do that...

flohack · 17 May 2021, 15:05

https://forums.ubports.com/category/99/sony-xperia-x-compact-f5321

Lakotaubp · 17 May 2021, 15:21

@flohack Thank you

drikk · 18 May 2021, 18:28

@unrealb2 For Windows there is Sony's official Flash tool.

For Linux I found XperiFirm to download Sony firmware. But I didn't figure out how to flash it yet.

drikk · 19 May 2021, 14:26

UPDATE
I got it fixed!

It seems to be very critical which version of Sony's OEM binaries you use:

Software binaries for AOSP Nougat (Android 7.1) – Kernel 4.4 – Loire
SW_binaries_for_Xperia_AOSP_N_MR1_5.7_r1_v08_loire.img
→ Ubuntu Touch works as expected

Software binaries for AOSP Oreo (Android 8.1) – Kernel 4.4 – Loire (v16)
SW_binaries_for_Xperia_Android_8.1.6.4_r1_v16_loire.img
→ Stuck on Sony boot screen

Software binaries for AOSP Oreo (Android 8.0) – Kernel 4.4 – Loire
SW_binaries_for_Xperia_Android_8.0.5.7_r1_v10_loire.img
→ All these issues, that I had …

The device port post mentions the first two versions as functional.
Personally I chose the 8.0 version, because it matched the installed Android version beautifully and also the installer asked for Android 8.0 being installed. Obviously I did not know, what I was doing …

Is this also true for you, @unrealb2?

Lakotaubp · 19 May 2021, 15:33

@drikk Please mark as solved. Use the cog wheel (top right ) by your original post, Ask as question then mark as solved it will help other get answers quicker and well done on the fix. Enjoy.

unrealb2 · 20 May 2021, 03:38

@drikk Yes that is exactly what i fell into. But i figured it out as well, I had to install android 6 from sonys website.

unrealb2 · 21 May 2021, 01:15

@drikk Do you currently use ubuntu touch on your xperia or are you back on android? I was wondering if you fixed your slow or laggy UT because i have a nexus 7, and it also is slow. But the original android oem was also slow. So im afraid its just the hardware.

drikk · 21 May 2021, 13:07

@unrealb2 I use Ubuntu Touch now.
The extreme slowness was caused by the wrong OEM binaries I used. It really was unusable then.
Now it isn't completely smooth either, but it is unproblematic and fine by me.