Mi 5s firmware installed on Mi 5s PLUS hardware

[DR2010]

Dear Developers,

I have quite outstanding problem, I think the only at the forum. I have purchased "Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus" 6/128Gb phone, but I have received "Mi 5s Plus" hardware with "Mi 5s" firmware installed (and fake chineese version in addition (Global Stable 8.0.10.0.0 MAGCNDH). Model number is shown like "Mi 5s", memory volume and CPU speed is as expected, but the battery shows 3100mAh instead of 3800mAh, and the most disappointing thing is that the camera is not working at all (when starting says "Camera Error: can't connect to camera. Try restarting your device" (of course, it doesn't help...). The Seller does not respond (purchased in China via AliExpress).
I think all the above mentioned issues are coming because the firmware does not correspond to the hardware.

So, finally after reading the local forums I have understood that I have to reinstall the firmware to official Global Stable version (8.0.1.0) or to chineese stable (???). There are 2 ways: unlocking the bootloader (it is locked unfortunately) and install via fastboot with MiFlash utility or with locked bootloader using the EDL mode using the same MiFlash. But there are a lot of cases on local forum (but nearly 2 month ago) that after reflash in EDL mode the device become a brick (boot-loop).

So, my questions are the following. What are your sugestions in which way to proceed faster and more safe? Which firmware is more safe to try first in my case: global or chineese? Because on local forum it is written that to use EDL mode I need official english-chineese version to be preinstalled. What do you think about it? For me is not fully clear what will happen in EDL mode? Will bootloader also be overwritten or not? If everything is overwritten then why there are so many bricks/bootloops happened after using this mode with fake chineese firmware?

I have already requested permission to unlock bootloader, but there is no respond from xiaomi since 3 days already... hopefully because of New Year holidays (but in China?... strange...).
Also I have prepared an engineering cable to have possibility to enter EDL mode in case of bricking/bootloop. But I need your suggestion how to get rid of possible problems in my special case.

Many thanks in advance!

 

[faldo]

Heya,
The easiest way would be to download the global ROM from http://en.miui.com/download-315.html and flash it in the phone settings (about phone, firmrware upgrade, menu, choose ROM). I had the exact same "fake" ROM and had no problems flashing the official one.
Cheers!
*Edit* also, if you use the the MIUI-suite program and download the "fastboot image", bootloader, recovery, system and sdcard will be wiped (just tried)... flashing from the phone settings chould wipe aswell but never checked.

 

[DR2010]

Heya,
The easiest way would be to download the global ROM and flash it in the phone settings (about phone, firmrware upgrade, menu, choose ROM). I had the exact same "fake" ROM and had no problems flashing the official one.
Cheers!
*Edit* also, if you use the the MIUI-suite program and download the "fastboot image", bootloader, recovery, system and sdcard will be wiped (just tried)... flashing from the phone settings chould wipe aswell but never checked.

I have already tried to flash via about the phone with downloaded ROMs (recovery image), it says "cannot verify the package" and does not proceed... Looks like because bootloader is locked.
Mi PC Suite program cannot connect to phone at all. Tried different version, also chineese one.
And I tried different ROMs (stable global, stable chineese) - no result...

 

[faldo]

You are able to flash an official ROM with locked bootloader so it seems your phone actually thinks it's a Mi 5s, wich complicates things. Could you try downloading a Mi 5s official ROM and see if it still complains about verification?
The chineese version of Mi PC suit should work with Mi 5s plus but you have to put phone in fastbootmode for it to connect, volume down + power when whone is off.
If your phone has the wrong bootloader you might have to wait for BL unlock to force flash your the Mi 5s plus ROM.... or just flash twrp and flash whatever ROM you want

 

[DR2010]

You are able to flash an official ROM with locked bootloader so it seems your phone actually thinks it's a Mi 5s, wich complicates things. Could you try downloading a Mi 5s official ROM and see if it still complains about verification?
The chineese version of Mi PC suit should work with Mi 5s plus but you have to put phone in fastbootmode for it to connect, volume down + power when whone is off.
If your phone has the wrong bootloader you might have to wait for BL unlock to force flash your the Mi 5s plus ROM.... or just flash twrp and flash whatever ROM you want

Good idea about "Mi 5s" global stable, thanks, will be interesting to try (a little bit later).
And I didn't know that Mi PC Suite should be connected in fastboot - another thank you!
By the moment I've got the unlocking approval, so I'm going to proceed in a way with unlocking of bootloader as more safe way by my opinion.
Many thanks for your help!