It was a faff getting it to install any random apk I found of off the Internet, but it was possible. Did involve holding down a graphic for 10 seconds as part of the unlock procedure.

But for now at least, you can still install any unsigned apk without going through a store.

[–] Bongles@lemmy.zip 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I have a Xiaomi 14 pro, I just have to tap the correct button to install an outside app. (It's in Chinese, even though the phone is set to English, so i have no idea what it says but it gets me there).

[–] viking@infosec.pub 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

If you bought it outside of China that might be a thing, for Chinese phones it shows a cancel button only. There is a confirm button, but it's greyed out and not clickable.

[–] Bongles@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 day ago

So I bought it from giztop, they take the Chinese version of the phone, get the Google play store on there and get it set to English, plus a couple other things, so that it's easier for you to get started with. I bought this because I had thought they'd make a global version and I could flash that rom when that happened, and only deal with some Chinese sections of the phone for a short while, but for some reason they didn't with this specific phone, they did for the 14 ultra.

I busted the phone out again to see the popup I was talking about, but actually one of the (semi) recent updates made it so the buttons are english. I am allowed to just install things with a few pop-up warnings and the phone does some kind of check. I wonder if it's because it's an "unlocked" phone (I don't know if it's the same in China where a carrier locks the phone to their network and has their own shit installed if you buy it from them) or what.

Either way, interesting.

[–] fishy@lemmy.today 4 points 2 days ago

So many people don't understand this at all. China is still the same as when the tanks were rolling over college students.

[–] Eyck_of_denesle@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Way easier to install a custom rom

[–] viking@infosec.pub 9 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Apart from Xiaomi and OnePlus, which are released for international audiences, I'm not aware of a single Chinese phone with active rom development.

[–] Balldowern@lemmy.zip 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Honor, Huawei, Poco, Oppo, ...the list goes on.

[–] viking@infosec.pub 1 points 1 day ago

Oppo = OnePlus

Huawei bootlaoders can't be unlocked, so absolutely no custom ROM there.

Honor bootlaoders can't be unlocked, so absolutely no custom ROM there.

Poco seems possible for now, never used one of their phones, but well good that there's something possible.

[–] Alcoholicorn@mander.xyz 1 points 2 days ago

If you dont want to put a custom rom on it (which is becoming increasingly difficult), you're can buy a HK version off taobao.