Lenovo Z5s (no PRO) TWRP 3.3.1 + Pixel GSI + MIUI + FlyMe + H2OS

[vickdu31]

Hello guys,
I don't see a dedicated section for lenovo Z5s but I managed to download the TWRP 3.3.1 from baidu (only chinese and english but chinese default).
I then looked for rom authors, it seems they all are using chinese custom roms, anyway they are mirrored and MIUI has been tested by me.

I decided to mirror all downloads I found (they were quite hard to get):

TWRP :
TWRP-3.3.1-LENOVO_Z5S-CN-wzsx150-fastboot.7z (with fastboot instructions and files)
TWRP-3.3.1-0529-LENOVO_Z5S-CN-wzsx150.zip (can be flashed with TWRP)
recovery-TWRP-3.3.1-0529-LENOVO_Z5S-CN-wzsx150.img (only .img file)

Chinese Roms :
Z5s_miui_19.5.20(9.5.16)_Pie_Public_by Art_Chen(TWRP_FASBOOT_2in1).zip
Z5S_H2OS_190722
Z5s_Flyme7.3.1.0A_YouLinw_V1.5_19.07.25

GSI Roms : (Seems to be AB, because A-Only are not working)
According to 4PDA, only Pixel Experience have been tested for now, they provide screenshot and video.
Pixel Experience GSI Tested working!
Ressurection Remix Tested working!
Arrow OS Tested Working!
All other public GSI images (tested many, none of them working, no idea why)

Official ROM backup (QPST format):
https://mirrors.lolinet.com/firmware/lenovo/l78071/

I added permissiver v4 I got from Telegram on Android Q GSI channel

Instructions for GSI Images (thanks to 4PDA):
Using TWRP recovery:

0. Download the firmware files to your smartphone.
1. Enter the recovery menu. To do this, turn off the smartphone and simultaneously hold down the power button and volume +.
2. In the recovery menu, select the item Cleaning -> Selective cleaning. Check the boxes on Dalvik / ART Cache , System , Data and Cache . Swipe the slider to the right. Return to the main recovery menu.
3. In the main recovery menu, select Installation -> Install Img. Select firmware file XX.img. For system section firmware, select System Image, and for boot - Boot. Swipe the slider to the right. Go to the main recovery menu. Select Reboot -> System.

This procedure is new for all smartphones, so don't be afraid to ask questions if something went wrong.

Using adb:

0. Install the USB, ADB and Qualcomm drivers on the PC. Reboot the computer and connect the smartphone to the PC. Download files for firmware on PC.
1. In the folder where the files (.img) were saved, press SHIFT and the right mouse button from scratch. In the context menu, select PowerShell or CMD (activate command console).
2. Enter the commands one by one
fastboot flash system XX.img
fastboot erase userdata
fastboot -w
fastboot reboot

PS In some cases, it will be necessary to flash vendor and / or boot:
fastboot flash vendor XX.img
fastboot flash boot XX.img

Source for TWRP: https://club.lenovo.com.cn/thread-5442053-1-1.html
Source/author for H2OS & Flyme : Weibo
Source/author for MIUI : Weibo
4PDA page : https://4pda.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=960895

Please move topic to another section if wrong.

 

[TASON42]

First, thanks for the Thread. Very informative.
let me report that H2OS showes black screen after boot logo,
Flyme seems working but with some minor problems (bad english translation, no google apps on built-in chinese app store, upper notification bar not aligned, etc).

 

[vickdu31]

First, thanks for the Thread. Very informative.
let me report that H2OS showes black screen after boot logo,
Flyme seems working but with some minor problems (bad english translation, no google apps on built-in chinese app store, upper notification bar not aligned, etc).

Hi, thanks. H2OS is the only one i have not tested, i will remove the link. If you live outside Cina I would recommend GSI rom since chinese roms might have issues with notifications.

I now recommend AEX (arm64 AB)

 

[TASON42]

Hi, thanks. H2OS is the only one i have not tested, i will remove the link. If you live outside Cina I would recommend GSI rom since chinese roms might have issues with notifications.

I now recommend AEX (arm64 AB)

Don't you lost WIFI after flashing just GSI img file? I need to flash MIUI before flashing any GSI to keep WIFI working.

and this maybe is a lil bit off topic but have you ever had problems with fastboot?
my fastboot is not working properly since I bought this smartphone, 'fastboot devices' works but
can't flash anything, saying random error like 'maxium download size not reported', 'too many links', and even 'error: no error'...
tried changing usb port, cable, driver, everything I can think of.
I can still flash boot.img, recovery.img, vbmeta.img via QFIL but I want to use fastboot which is less hassle..

 

[TASON42]

Report:
MSM Xtended is working too.

problems I hav till now.
1. WIFI not working if you flash directly from ZUI, or wipe cache/dalvic.
2. loud speaker sound problems at various ROMs, with or without equalizer app.
3. notch size is not matching with status bar at every ROMs
4. double tap to wake is not working for every ROMs.

 

[vickdu31]

I actually did flash miui first.
I contacted art_chen to get international MIUI, he told me he dont have phone anymore but we can download his miui zip and replace system.img with the one official from MI9 (taking the system.img full global fastboot firmware and it should work).

The vendor image and boot.img included in the miui rom have been customised by art_chen so he probably fixed wifi !

Since i also dont have the phone i cannot test so well.

 

[TASON42]

I actually did flash miui first.
I contacted art_chen to get international MIUI, he told me he dont have phone anymore but we can download his miui zip and replace system.img with the one official from MI9 (taking the system.img full global fastboot firmware and it should work).

The vendor image and boot.img included in the miui rom have been customised by art_chen so he probably fixed wifi !

Since i also dont have the phone i cannot test so well.

1. did you had loud speaker problem after flashing treble GSI files? Mine distorts heavily with every .img file i tried.
2. I'm testing swapping .img file with other xiaomi devices but none of them is working. Sounds like you don't own the device anymore so this will be lonely fight.

---------- Post added at 03:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:36 AM ----------

I need FM radio which is not included in Art_chen's ROM so I tried swapping system.img with Redmi note 7 (closest spec), and failed.
TWRP log is saying "Failed to mount '/system_root'" so i guess the reason is partition chart problem or pre-installed magisk, I'm not sure I can fix this but I'll keep trying.
since FM radio is not even on the hardware list so i decided to give up FM radio, but updating android security patch with
Mi 9 (since OP mentioned), Mi 9 SE (quite close spec) and Mi CC9 (not international but even closer than redmi note 7) firmware files,
I don't think any of them would work, but I'll keep trying(2).

 

[vickdu31]

You could also try with Flyme blobs (boot, vendor etc) they are from different dev

If you messed up partition i recomment flash wjole miui or flyme with adb

 

[teketake]

Looking for Global Rom

I purchased the Chinese version of this model.
I tried various GSIROMs, but there were a lot of things that didn't work.
I want to use ZUIOS obediently. Does anyone have a Global Rom?

Also, you should be careful about overwriting GSIROM.
The lighting adjustment has gone wrong.
(No problem with genuine ROM)

 

[TASON42]

I purchased the Chinese version of this model.
I tried various GSIROMs, but there were a lot of things that didn't work.
I want to use ZUIOS obediently. Does anyone have a Global Rom?

Also, you should be careful about overwriting GSIROM.
The lighting adjustment has gone wrong.
(No problem with genuine ROM)

there is no Official Global Firmware since this phone is only for china mainland. You can enable google service/calendar/GPS by downloading play store .apk from lenovo app store.
there is faulty firmware chimera with chinese rom + google service preinstalled, but trust me, it is unusable. It has every unfamiliar chinese-specific settings + bunch of 'google service force closed' alarms, bad battery drain by google service, crashing app downloading, etc.

 

[TASON42]

Yes, I'm still using this mediocre device, found some useful articles about GSI, will throw links here.
https://www.dospy.wang/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1626&extra=page=1
https://www.htcmania.com/showthread.php?t=1504540
it's not in English but google translate will help you guys.

here's the essence.
Flash MIUI first, its mandatory. Without it you will lost WiFi.
But, you will lost DT2W and FM radio at kernel level if you flash MIUI.
Now you can flash any GSI, but I recommend Pixel Experience from the link I uploaded,
because fixes of common GSI issues like statusbar height (use magisk+rirucore+riruedxposed+gravitybox), sound distortion (use magisk+audio compability), headphone not detecting (random) are integrated to the GSI.

 

[teketake]

Global ROM was uploaded to 4PDA.

 

[TASON42]

K10 note is almost identical with Z5s and now it's Global released, you can get the QFIL files, I guess just swap system.img and userdata.img might work.
the difference between Z5s chinese ROM and K10 note global ROM must be something like that of Z6 pro chinese and global version...

edit: yes it is working, just swap system_xx.img and userdata_xx.img files will do the work, only camera.apk won't work properly (no optical zoom just digital, ramdom crash sometimes ) but we can stick with Gcam port.

 

[s94084sammy]

I flash pixel experience then i find out auto brightness isn't work well.i adjust it to the lowest , but it still so bright.how can i fix it?

 

[TASON42]

H2OS 9 : https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/45L1TZFa0g1MP3-jSYhMDg
Flyme 8 : https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/P8tL8eq9UhV8Hbq8-7nYBQ
MIUI 11 : https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/q-8qnFI1VP8upyz6quZZmw
it's all from YouLinw, the dev of Flyme 7 port in OP.
Flyme 8 is still in daily alpha, it boots but stuck in Terms&Conditions screen.

MIUI 11 and H2OS works great, (but don't use pre-installed Magisk, install official v19.3 from via TWRP. idk why but pre-installed one or lastest v20.1 won't work.)
Android Security Patch in MIUI11 is Sep 1st while H2OS is Aug 1st (same with PE I linked before)
so it's your choice to use MIUIsh MIUI with newer ASP, or H2/PE which is more stock android, but with older ASP.

Quack phh Android 10 is not working sadly,
neither vendor by Art_Chen (MIUI10) nor YouLinw booted,
with original vendor it boots but Wi-Fi won't work, like always.



---------- Post added at 04:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:21 AM ----------

I flash pixel experience then i find out auto brightness isn't work well.i adjust it to the lowest , but it still so bright.how can i fix it?

I have the same problem, I just bear it since it's not major one. you can use any third party apps from play store that dims your screen if you want to.

 

[bretzelpopo]

Hello, i think about buying this phone or xiaomi note 7 pro . Want to flash lineage or aosp base rom, someone has a point of view about best hardware and best dev support ? For me note 7 pro have better dev support but one week for unlock bootloader and lcd cheaper for repair . Can't find photo versus, z5s have three module but rn7p have 48mp , someone have an advice ?

 

[TASON42]

Hello, i think about buying this phone or xiaomi note 7 pro . Want to flash lineage or aosp base rom, someone has a point of view about best hardware and best dev support ? For me note 7 pro have better dev support but one week for unlock bootloader and lcd cheaper for repair . Can't find photo versus, z5s have three module but rn7p have 48mp , someone have an advice ?

I think Redmi Note 7 pro is the buy.

I chose Z5s because of its cheaper price, lighter weight, and more premium material (alu+glass).
And I also had nice Dev experience with ZUK Z2 so I expected the same with this phone (which was wrong guess )

Cam, I assume stock camera is better in Z5s, but You won't use stock ZUI/MIUI ROM anyway so that won't bother you.
GCam works great on both model, ported stock camera apk won't work as good as it's on stock ROM, both in Z5s/Note 7.

Sound, both mediocre.
Screen, both mediocre (HDR on Z5s is fake color boost only for chinese content apps),
and Z5s has unusual copper plate type connection not like normal ribon cable.

Dev, Z5s is for China mainland only so you won't get proper global/AOSP ROM developments,
but you can get bunch of MIUI/Flyme/H2OS ROMs...

Official Update is also better in MIUI over ZUI.

 

[sefyong]

Hi there. Was there any AOSP or LineageOS working on our Z5S?

 

[carlshark]

Hi @vickdu31 do you have a copy of recovery-TWRP-3.3.1-1015-LENOVO_Z5S-CN-wzsx150.img ? I tried as a guest in 4pda but I get a 404 error. Thanks for your help!

 

[Kotaro]

do you have a copy of recovery-TWRP-3.3.1-1015-LENOVO_Z5S-CN-wzsx150.img?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-JwD0Ie5xY2CQRDv8rvZMK6ICf0vmp4n/view?usp=drivesdk