Qin F21 Pro - general questions around unlocked versions, OTA and latest updates.

[blackbeltjones]

Hello XDA folks,

Having web searched myself into a bit of a confused state, just reaching out with a few questions. Many years ago I used to flash phones, however these days a combination of parenthood, a fear of squandering money spent on a device by bricking it, and avoiding the anxiety of the unknown when modifying my device has led me down the 'factory phone' path in recent years. With this mindset I recently (very excitedly!) purchased an AliExpress unlocked Qin F21 Pro, hoping to 'take the easy way out' and be able to install APK's and have a google free device, without having to worry about working out how to flash, root, etc. Here is a snap of the description:

Text version:
(1. The product is the Unlocked version,can install software in apk format,but you can’t install Google series software such as Google services,Google play store.
The languages of some countries are not fully translated, and some functions or APP display are in English
2. The operating system is Android 11,Multi-language,Can't OTA update)


I just had a few questions that I was unable to form a definitive answer about with my web searching, while I wait on delivery of the phone:

1) I've now come across some posts online that mention that with later updates, APK's can now be installed, when they couldn't in the past. I might be having some buyers remorse as I might have purchased the unlocked model unnecessarily. What part of the unlocking process blocks OTA updates? From what I can tell, there probably isn't a straightforward method to bring the phone back to a state where it can receive OTA updates or manually apply updates such as these?

2) Can anybody (with the latest OTA update) confirm whether the 'keypad backlight not working' issue had been resolved?

3) For unlocked models like these, what would the result of a factory reset be?

Thanks very much for reading, kind regards, Joe.

 

[Droidriven]

Hello XDA folks,

Having web searched myself into a bit of a confused state, just reaching out with a few questions. Many years ago I used to flash phones, however these days a combination of parenthood, a fear of squandering money spent on a device by bricking it, and avoiding the anxiety of the unknown when modifying my device has led me down the 'factory phone' path in recent years. With this mindset I recently (very excitedly!) purchased an AliExpress unlocked Qin F21 Pro, hoping to 'take the easy way out' and be able to install APK's and have a google free device, without having to worry about working out how to flash, root, etc. Here is a snap of the description:

View attachment 5723375

Text version:
(1. The product is the Unlocked version,can install software in apk format,but you can’t install Google series software such as Google services,Google play store.
The languages of some countries are not fully translated, and some functions or APP display are in English
2. The operating system is Android 11,Multi-language,Can't OTA update)


I just had a few questions that I was unable to form a definitive answer about with my web searching, while I wait on delivery of the phone:

1) I've now come across some posts online that mention that with later updates, APK's can now be installed, when they couldn't in the past. I might be having some buyers remorse as I might have purchased the unlocked model unnecessarily. What part of the unlocking process blocks OTA updates? From what I can tell, there probably isn't a straightforward method to bring the phone back to a state where it can receive OTA updates or manually apply updates such as these?

2) Can anybody (with the latest OTA update) confirm whether the 'keypad backlight not working' issue had been resolved?

3) For unlocked models like these, what would the result of a factory reset be?

Thanks very much for reading, kind regards, Joe.

Question 1) OTA updates are regulated and distributed by each individual carrier, SIM/carrier unlocking a device puts the device onto a state of not being dedicated to any specific network so that it can be activated on any compatible network. It is no longer committed to any network, carriers only push OTA updates to their own supported devices that are offered and sold by them, not devices from other networks or devices they didn't offere/sell.

But, you can still update the device, it just won't be via OTA, it's as simple as downloading the newest update for your specific model number and flashing it via your device's specific flashing tool. In your case, it is probably SPflashtool or MTK droidtools.

Question 2) I don't know, I don't have this device.

Question 3) The results of a factory reset would be the same as it would be on any other device, it would remove all data that was not factory installed or flashed in a firmware package.

 

[blackbeltjones]

Question 1) OTA updates are regulated and distributed by each individual carrier, SIM/carrier unlocking a device puts the device onto a state of not being dedicated to any specific network so that it can be activated on any compatible network. It is no longer committed to any network, carriers only push OTA updates to their own supported devices that are offered and sold by them, not devices from other networks or devices they didn't offere/sell.

But, you can still update the device, it just won't be via OTA, it's as simple as downloading the newest update for your specific model number and flashing it via your device's specific flashing tool. In your case, it is probably SPflashtool or MTK droidtools.

Thanks @Droidriven appreciate the answers. My current phone is a Redmi Note 4X which was receiving updates, although it was an Aliexpress purchase. Would that mean that Xiaomi were distributing updates outside of the proper OTA framework that you described, sidestepping the carrier and just going direct to their devices?

I hadn't thought about SIM/carrier unlocking in years, had originally assumed that the 'unlocking' that the seller is referring to might have meant the boot loader.

Question 2) I don't know, I don't have this device.

Thanks all the same.

Question 3) The results of a factory reset would be the same as it would be on any other device, it would remove all data that was not factory installed or flashed in a firmware package.

Ok, I was quietly hoping that it would do something like revert the phone back to a locked state where it can receive updates. But like you said earlier, it sounds like a simple process to apply an OTA update manually. I'll do some digging and see if a repository for these OTA updates exists somewhere, with guide and tool. That is - if the bug fixes and/or new features in the updates are actually worth pursuing. Was mainly concerned about the apparent 'no keypad backlight' issue from Question 2.

Much appreciated mate, thanks again

 

[Droidriven]

Thanks @Droidriven appreciate the answers. My current phone is a Redmi Note 4X which was receiving updates, although it was an Aliexpress purchase. Would that mean that Xiaomi were distributing updates outside of the proper OTA framework that you described, sidestepping the carrier and just going direct to their devices?

I hadn't thought about SIM/carrier unlocking in years, had originally assumed that the 'unlocking' that the seller is referring to might have meant the boot loader.



Thanks all the same.



Ok, I was quietly hoping that it would do something like revert the phone back to a locked state where it can receive updates. But like you said earlier, it sounds like a simple process to apply an OTA update manually. I'll do some digging and see if a repository for these OTA updates exists somewhere, with guide and tool. That is - if the bug fixes and/or new features in the updates are actually worth pursuing. Was mainly concerned about the apparent 'no keypad backlight' issue from Question 2.

Much appreciated mate, thanks again

Redmi could be pushing OTA updates to their international models that are not dedicated to a specific carrier from the factory.

 

[blackbeltjones]

I've had the phone for a about a week and been breaking it in, getting everything set up. Just a quick update to close this thread. After some discussion with the seller on Aliexpress, there was a bit of a language barrier - however they explained that in the case of this particular sale, 'unlocked' meant the ability to install apk's.

Here is a shot of some info from the handset:

An answer to question 2: The keypad backlight is working, and there is a setting to choose how long it stays on for, which is working - If you wake the phone with the middle navigation button, or the top left (Q) or right (back) keys, I have it set to 10 minutes so it's always on when unlocked:

Question 3: According to the seller, apk's can still be isntalled when factory reset, so it looks like the phone won't revert to any unusual states if reset:

 

[21182]

my qin f21 pro brick ofter flash please help
my phone 64g