Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra Global / Custom Rom Development

[datapush3r]

I know this device is currently only available in China and not planned for a global release. I had one imported and I have been getting my feet wet with development. How hard is it to extract the kernel and driver blobs from the Chinese Rom and create a Global Rom or Custom Rom? I know I'm asking a bit of a "how long is a piece of string" question here. It's because I don't know what I don't know. I figured I just get the conversation started here in-case anyone else has more input / experience on this subject. As this device isn't too much different than the Mi 10 / 10 Pro models, I've been trying to retrace the footsteps of the development on these devices.

The latest Chinese MIUI 12 Rom for Mi 10 Ultra:
http://bigota.d.miui.com/V12.0.7.0....JCNXM_20200813.0000.00_10.0_cn_2513f349af.tgz
I can see the boot.img and recover.img files within. I know you can extract the kernel from the boot.img file but I'm not great with a hex editor / binary splitter.

There is a thread over on xiaomi.eu discussing the possibility of a Mi 10 Ultra Global Rom from them:
https://xiaomi.eu/community/threads/xiaomi-mi-10-ultra-xiaomi-eu-rom-support.56988/

Xiaomi Mi 10 / 10 Pro unlock bootloader / root:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/xiaomi-mi-10/how-to/guide-mi-10-10-pro-root-guide-t4071553

Unofficial TWRP for Mi 10 / 10 Pro:
https://www.xda-developers.com/unofficial-twrp-is-now-available-for-the-xiaomi-mi-10-and-mi-10-pro/
https://forum.xda-developers.com/xi...xperimental-unofficial-twrp-mi-10-10-t4106385
https://github.com/simonsmh/android_device_xiaomi_umi
https://mega.nz/folder/hk0giYJZ#jj3pKafnkhxph5DdWjce1g

 

[Sathelp]

I'm with you on this, looking for alternative English rom and the possibility of being able to enable band 20 in the radio chip. I'm sure this has been software disabled, you just wouldn't make a separate chip with no Band 20, it's much cheaper to use a stock chip.
Going to apply for bootloader unlock today, as it looks like there is a waiting period. Done my back ups yesterday, so hopefully bootloader unlocked soon, then wait for twrp and root. I'm no coder but happy to help if I can be of any help.

 

[ToneLa]

Developer Options has OEM unlock and the method to use the Mi Unlock Tool to start the waiting period. So the process seems the same as for any other Mi phone I guess I will be starting that off too this weekend!

I'm with you on this, looking for alternative English rom and the possibility of being able to enable band 20 in the radio chip. I'm sure this has been software disabled, you just wouldn't make a separate chip with no Band 20, it's much cheaper to use a stock chip.

This makes sense... I don't "know" if it's true but I've definitely seen before this attempted in custom ROMS: stuff like changing the modem config, software solutions. And it is the sister phone to the main Mi 10 line, which does come in Global. So... Here's hoping!

 

[NewtScamander]

This is pretty interesting. Here in Spain the Band 20 is the only one we're missing, and it would be wonderful if it can be activated.
It would be the perfect phone if it wasn't for this and for the red tint on some 4K videos.

 

[davie9x]

There's a thread on xda about unlocking the band frequencies on qualcomm devices. If anyone could try it would appreciate a lot. :fingers-crossed:

 

[ToneLa]

The waiting game begins!

I ran into a little trouble with the unlock process. Nothing too big, but my sincere advice is log in with your MIUI number, and make sure you can "find your device" on https://i.mi.com/ to get this far

 

[Appelsap]

I'm with you on this, looking for alternative English rom and the possibility of being able to enable band 20 in the radio chip. I'm sure this has been software disabled, you just wouldn't make a separate chip with no Band 20, it's much cheaper to use a stock chip.
Going to apply for bootloader unlock today, as it looks like there is a waiting period. Done my back ups yesterday, so hopefully bootloader unlocked soon, then wait for twrp and root. I'm no coder but happy to help if I can be of any help.

I too am very interested in seeing if it's possible to get band 20 enabled, that would be awesome. I've looked for threads on this subject, there is one in particular that has a lot of information on it, right here. It seems that a lot of people active different bands in the LTE config file, check with an app that looks at the config file but don't actually check to see if the modem installed in the phone supports those bands and lets the phone connect to them. So I'm cautious, looks to me some people here report false-positives.

Please keep us posted, a combined effort here might shed more light on the possibilities and ways to get there.

EDIT: The phone has the Qualcomm X55 5G modem (source), which does just about every band on 2G, 3G and 4G according to several sites (example). So hardware-wise we might be good.

 

[Sathelp]

Defo. I'm keeping a cross several forums but as it's so new, there's not too much happening yet. Shame it's only China that it's released in or there would much quicker work. edit, after having a good read of the articles and posts, flashing or changing modem settings looks promising to open up the closed bands. As others have done this, at least there is some hope. First thing is to get this rooted. Another few days to get this done but I am looking for root, twrp and magisk info for this one.

 

[sirTAVARES]

There's a Telegram Group for Mi 10 that will be used also for Ultra
Maybe there will be more infos there, maybe a unified build

 

[datapush3r]

I too am very interested in seeing if it's possible to get band 20 enabled, that would be awesome. I've looked for threads on this subject, there is one in particular that has a lot of information on it, right here. It seems that a lot of people active different bands in the LTE config file, check with an app that looks at the config file but don't actually check to see if the modem installed in the phone supports those bands and lets the phone connect to them. So I'm cautious, looks to me some people here report false-positives.

Please keep us posted, a combined effort here might shed more light on the possibilities and ways to get there.

EDIT: The phone has the Qualcomm X55 5G modem (source), which does just about every band on 2G, 3G and 4G according to several sites (example). So hardware-wise we might be good.

It looks to me like the Mi 10 / Pro / Ultra all share most of the same chips:
https://www.techinsights.com/blog/xiaomi-mi-10-teardown-analysis
Makes me wonder if it isn't as easy as adapting one of the existing roms for those devices to run on the Ultra....

There's a Telegram Group for Mi 10 that will be used also for Ultra
Maybe there will be more infos there, maybe a unified build

Do you have a link to the Telegram Group?

 

[datapush3r]

Just saw this:
https://xiaomi.eu/community/threads/guide-how-to-install-xiaomi-eu-rom-for-xiaomi-mi10-ultra.57259/
https://forum.xda-developers.com/xiaomi-mi-10-ultra/how-to/tried-xiaomi-eu-rom-ultra-t4158149

 

[Burginthorn]

The waiting game begins!

I ran into a little trouble with the unlock process. Nothing too big, but my sincere advice is log in with your MIUI number, and make sure you can "find your device" on https://i.mi.com/ to get this far

Whats this about? Is this the only option to unlock the phone? I am new to Xiaomi having been a Samsung Note user from day 1, and don't understand this process ....

Is there another option for those who are willing to wait? or is this the only way to unlock the phone? I have tried to stay clear of signing up for anything on this device. I get pop-ups often on this phone. An example is in Settings -> VPN. I have my own paid VPN service, yet there is no way to set anything. Press VPN in Settings and I get "Set Lock Screen Password - Set a lock screen password to save your VPN settings" why? I've never had to do this for any device in the past. I don't do passwords, thumb scan, face reco or any of those things. Yet this is the only option? Its terribly intrusive that MY password MUST be stored on the device for MY VPN service, with no other option.

Is this the case with unlocking? No other option?

Thx.

 

[ToneLa]

Whats this about? Is this the only option to unlock the phone? I am new to Xiaomi having been a Samsung Note user from day 1, and don't understand this process ....

Is there another option for those who are willing to wait? or is this the only way to unlock the phone? I have tried to stay clear of signing up for anything on this device. I get pop-ups often on this phone. An example is in Settings -> VPN. I have my own paid VPN service, yet there is no way to set anything. Press VPN in Settings and I get "Set Lock Screen Password - Set a lock screen password to save your VPN settings" why? I've never had to do this for any device in the past. I don't do passwords, thumb scan, face reco or any of those things. Yet this is the only option? Its terribly intrusive that MY password MUST be stored on the device for MY VPN service, with no other option.

Is this the case with unlocking? No other option?

Thx.

You REALLY should have worked out some of your scenarios before you got the phone. For me and a lot of other people here I guess, the obvious thing to do is see the phone itself now as a temporary project which you will eventually customise to your liking.

Example now, this morning, I've flashed Xiaomi.eu's ROM instead of the stock Chinese image. And you've not even started the unlock countdown yet and had it as long as me? Trust me, nobody posts things "the hard way", if there was another method I'd have mentioned it.

Please take this as friendly advice: you really don't seem like you like your phone. That's OK, anything positive I've said about the Mi 10 Ultra has been with one eye on the future. MIUI is... I can work with it, but I'm looking to wave it goodbye, yknow?

IMO What you WANT to be doing with this is yes, doing the Mi Unlock service TODAY - and next week, several of us will already have had a week in a xiaomi.eu rom. Plenty of us want as close to stock android as possible!

So, with respect, I see you're having issues now, but get on the boat already - start that unlock countdown, and start dreaming of what can be changed about your phone. Much of what you're unhappy about here is strictly software.

 

[Burginthorn]

You REALLY should have worked out some of your scenarios before you got the phone. For me and a lot of other people here I guess, the obvious thing to do is see the phone itself now as a temporary project which you will eventually customise to your liking.

Example now, this morning, I've flashed Xiaomi.eu's ROM instead of the stock Chinese image. And you've not even started the unlock countdown yet and had it as long as me? Trust me, nobody posts things "the hard way", if there was another method I'd have mentioned it.

Please take this as friendly advice: you really don't seem like you like your phone. That's OK, anything positive I've said about the Mi 10 Ultra has been with one eye on the future. MIUI is... I can work with it, but I'm looking to wave it goodbye, yknow?

IMO What you WANT to be doing with this is yes, doing the Mi Unlock service TODAY - and next week, several of us will already have had a week in a xiaomi.eu rom. Plenty of us want as close to stock android as possible!

So, with respect, I see you're having issues now, but get on the boat already - start that unlock countdown, and start dreaming of what can be changed about your phone. Much of what you're unhappy about here is strictly software.

Or you could choose not to reply to my posts if that's not too difficult.

 

[ToneLa]

Or you could choose not to reply to my posts if that's not too difficult.

You mean like you quoted mine with everything but custom ROM development?

A custom ROM would solve all your problems. But yeah, if I'm the bad guy for saying "the best thing you can do for your phone today is start the unlock process" then I can live with who I am.

But if you have a ton of complaints, list them in a reply to me I get a notification about, then you can't wonder why I respond. I thought you relied on notification features yourself?

 

[离心-]

Similarly, I am also looking forward to custom ROMs (for example, rehabilitation Remix / PE / havoc). I am a Chinese user, and I hope that God can make native ROMs as soon as possible