Load US Firmware on Chinese Pixel 5?

[Da Hai Zhu]

It is possible to replace the Pixel 5 Chinese Firmware with Google's US version?
How?
Any drawbacks to this?
Thanks!

 

[B. Diddy]

Are Pixel phones actually sold in China? I would've thought they weren't, since Google services are blocked in China.

 

[Mooncatt]

Are Pixel phones actually sold in China? I would've thought they weren't, since Google services are blocked in China.

Good question. Assuming this isn't a knockoff clone from some place like Wish, you would have to check the hardware. If they used a different processor or radio tuning (as sometimes happens), you could run into compatibility issues getting it to run or connect to your network.

 

[mustang7757]

There's a Chinese firmware of Google pixel? This a fake?

 

[Da Hai Zhu]

Yes. Sold in China with Chinese Firmware and without the Google App store or any google services. It's a lot like Samsung phones, Asus phones (current have the Tencent Version of ASUS ROG 2 Phone - which is falling apart), etc.
Its not fake, or fake firmware, its just doing what all the other phone manufacturers are doing: selling one version for China and another for everyone else.

 

[J Dubbs]

Yes. Sold in China with Chinese Firmware and without the Google App store or any google services. It's a lot like Samsung phones, Asus phones (current have the Tencent Version of ASUS ROG 2 Phone - which is falling apart), etc.
Its not fake, or fake firmware, its just doing what all the other phone manufacturers are doing: selling one version for China and another for everyone else.

Thanks for explaining that to us... very interesting. I had no idea that's how imported phones were modified and sold in China.

 

[B. Diddy]

Something seems odd here, because China certainly isn't listed on Google's official site: https://support.google.com/store/answer/2462844?hl=en

Where did you buy the phone? I'm thinking someone flashed a custom de-Googled ROM on the phone and sold it as if new in China.

 

[fuzzylumpkin]

Something seems odd here, because China certainly isn't listed on Google's official site: https://support.google.com/store/answer/2462844?hl=en

Where did you buy the phone? I'm thinking someone flashed a custom de-Googled ROM on the phone and sold it as if new in China.

Yeah, I sincerely doubt Google are actually selling a pixel in China. There's nothing in it for them if they can't include their services.

The good news is if that is the case it should be pretty trivial to flash it back to the stock software.

 

[belodion]

I believe that you asked the same question on XDA Forums. Tell us if you get any helpful replies.

 

[mustang7757]

Maybe it was rooted and some type of custom firmware is the only thing I can think of

 

[Mr Bojangles1]

Yeah, I sincerely doubt Google are actually selling a pixel in China. There's nothing in it for them if they can't include their services.

The good news is if that is the case it should be pretty trivial to flash it back to the stock software.

Don't know the validity of this site, but says they were made there. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.gi...-in-china-due-to-covid-19-restrictions/?amp=1

 

[fuzzylumpkin]

Don't know the validity of this site, but says they were made there. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.gi...-in-china-due-to-covid-19-restrictions/?amp=1

And? It's not a huge surprise that they are being manufactured in China, but that doesn't mean they're being officially sold there.

 

[Mr Bojangles1]

And? It's not a huge surprise that they are being manufactured in China, but that doesn't mean they're being officially sold there.

Haha so true, you're right lol