If there are sources to get a build to go, I know a few people who can put together an unofficial cm. But heck, I'd be okay with the factory firmware if we had a way to add some options in...
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Root ZTE ZMAX Pro (Z981) "off topic" root discussion
- Thread starter xyourxhighnessx
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- zte zmax pro
That would be nice but it all comes back to root and bootloader. Modified stock ROM? New bootloader, not unlocked then could be done as root I think. We don't have a stock fw yet. Maybe will happen, maybe can be done in nandroid or twrp, all resting on root. Kernel for oc? Cool if you can compile from sources, its easy. Don't think the sources area up yet are they? Either way how do you apply the kernel but root or rom. Most if not all wings hang on that elusive root
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I'd actually prefer to underclock, turn off cores, and use the intellidemand governor. I know we need root, recovery, kernel source, ect... I'm just daydreaming like everyone else.
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Last edited by a moderator:
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I decided to bother the folks at ZTE Live Support to ask about unlocking our bootloader:
Cicely A.: I'm not sure if they will support it in the future.
Cicely A.: However, within Z-Community, on our website, if you were to voice your opinion it is always taken into consideration.
Ziggy: Thank you. I'm sure a lot of other customers are requesting an unlock too. I know this device should be getting Android 7 sometime in early 2017, do you know a more specific release date?
Cicely A.: Unfortunately, we have not received any additional information as to when it will be released.
I didn't expect anything more then that but maybe if we all ask and bug T-Mobile.... lol.
Cicely A.: I'm not sure if they will support it in the future.
Cicely A.: However, within Z-Community, on our website, if you were to voice your opinion it is always taken into consideration.
Ziggy: Thank you. I'm sure a lot of other customers are requesting an unlock too. I know this device should be getting Android 7 sometime in early 2017, do you know a more specific release date?
Cicely A.: Unfortunately, we have not received any additional information as to when it will be released.
I didn't expect anything more then that but maybe if we all ask and bug T-Mobile.... lol.
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I'm gonna sit back and observe again...
On the plus side, no one has bricked yet!
I'm really beginning to wish I had went ahead and sprung for the axon 7. However, who could pass up the specs of this phone at $49 with a ported number, $99 without. Guess from now on I'll be looking into the phone a lot more before making a decision. I originally thought this phone didn't have root just because it was so new... Again, should done more research before reaching a decision.
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I was looking at this also. I'm not the best at this stuff, so I didn't want to get into this yet... Have been trying other things I know have worked before. But nothing seems to get into this phone...
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I sincerely think I'm going to switch to a device with root/flash capabilities.... I mean, even the cheap ass on5 has cf-auto root and debloated Roms...
Really sucks that ZTE would lock up such a potentially awesome device, so tight...
Really sucks that ZTE would lock up such a potentially awesome device, so tight...
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Maybe it's just been that long for me without it , but why is root so important on this device?
You can use a VPN to block ads and manually disable most Metro and Google stuff... :/
You can use a VPN to block ads and manually disable most Metro and Google stuff... :/
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I'll be the first to admit, I'm a flashaholic. I like Roms, recoveries, themes, and Xposed mods...
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Me as well, I have a core prime but gravity box sucks on anything TouchWiz based and since their bootloader is also locked all roms are touchwiz based. I need some resurrection remix in my life
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An app called NetGuard. You have to get it from GitHub since Play didn't allow ad blocking apps. you must also download the hosts file within the app and set it to filter traffic.
https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/ADBLOCKING.md
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ZTE will say it's T-Mobile. T-Mobile will say ZTE has to release it.. and back and forth. It's really both of them but I'm guessing since this device is T-Mobile/Metro only they don't want us to have it.Looks like we might have to begg zte
Also. The ZTE Grand X Max 2 (Cricket) and ZTE Imperial MAX (US Cellular) are nearly identical but instead of fingerprint they have a 2nd camera. I'm not sure how much dev work is going on with them but maybe we could help each other...
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I'm thinking ZTE releases the phones to carriers, then the carriers lockdown functions, such as bootloader access, and overlays their own system touches to the device, then release to public. I may be wrong, but you can bet that if it is carrier locking devices down like this, that we'll likely NEVER get a way to unlock so we can modify and actually delete, not just disable apps from /system.
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Exactly. Carrier gives the vendor, bloat files, and software locks requested to ZTE and the ZTE Devs incorporate all that in build. But ZTE can't give the info due to losing the Carrier.. and the Carrier can't unlock it because they didn't write the source.
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Not exactly true. Vendor gives updates to carrier, carrier bloats them up, then releases. I'm assuming that in that case either could be responsible for locked down devices. I only know the carrier gets updates for bloating and stuff because I used to work as a sales rep for T-Mobile. We had all the updates as soon as the vendor released them, but they were always labeled dev or beta builds, then when T-Mobile was done doing their worst to the updates, our phones were among the first to receive the OTA.
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Well I m assuming that cuz metro bloats the phone up with apps we can't remove they know what we need to know just as much as zte does. Their has to be a way....maybe we just need help from someone higher than the average Joe? No offence to anyone I know u all have pulled your hair out over this as have i
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Problem is, not many people are willing to go the extra mile like that for a mid/low end device such as this. Give it time, Messi or someone will get in eventually... Just takes persistence on their end, patience on ours.
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This phone is a literal fking bitch pain in the rear. Lacking native OTG support without root, need root to even access/use my 32 GB USB-C OTG I purchased from Fry's today. Fricking Heck..!! I despise and remorse this phone/purchase sometimes because of this and also that bootloader's not offered as unlockable nor rootable by/from oem. Get it together ZTE...
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Well the lack of native USB OTG/OTG support on stock is reason enough for me, also to de-bloat this bloated heap of crap.
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So then my theory would be to order a ZTE ZMAX Pro straight from ZTEUSA.com.
That would be the only logical route at this point if the carriers are locking down the devices bootloader, etc. I'm sure it's possible if you contact them; They are probably in contract with some companies like metro/T-Mobile to sell them their phones but ZTE would never turn down taking your money for their products. Then we could truly test out the phone to see if we can get a CROM on this phone and unlock it's full potential.
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