[General Topics] a_testi:
So, as a warning (really this should be in the first post)

The "NVT" ROM seems to be a Vietnamese hack, or whatever the default language with lots of accents on each letter of the alphabet is supposed to be. The boot screen (fake and extremely ugly linux boot screen), security patch level January 2022, lots of preinstalled junk apps like Samsung Music or social networks, PIN limit to 4 digits, etc. doesn't really create a lot of confidence.

Not sure if root works properly. If it does, everything except the PIN limit can be fixed with dedication.

But the pure Google ROM was much better in that regard.

Still compared to the pure Google ROM it appears better because it supports the physical hardware layout.

4 digit pin limit really is such a shame. Thank Xi Jinping for that. Police need to be able to crack the PIN quickly if you say Tiananmen Square.

It's the downside of Chinese phones: software is always bad, no matter what you do. Chinese can make really good hardware, but never any good software.

Edit: Even the charging screen (when powered off) was molested by the guy who created the ROM. *sigh*

Edit2:

Magisk appeared after second reboot. To restore the factory's branding:

- logo.bin restores the boot loader and charge screens: https://anonfiles.com/GeX605M2yd/logo_bin (for use with mtkclient: mtk w logo)

- bootanimation.zip, goes into /system/media: https://anonfiles.com/84ob1aMeyc/bootanimation_zip

Also be aware that "NVT" is in charge of the software updater and can push whatever they want to your phone using this firmware. Best to disable the updater completely.

Edit3:

The guy even had to piss his name into /system :cautious:

rmdir /mnt2/Mod\ Bởi\ Nguyễn\ Văn\ Thản/

You'd think the build version, software update, charge animation, and boot logo would be enough.

Edit4:

Linux commands that worked for me to replace the boot animation without making a Magisk module:

Extract partitions from super.bin backup made using mtktool, then:

# mount product_a.ext /mnt/
# rmdir /mnt/Mod\ Bởi\ Nguyễn\ Văn\ Thản/
# umount /mnt
# mount system_a.ext /mnt
# cp bootanimation.zip /mnt/system/media/
# e2fsck -yf system_a.ext
# e2fsck -yf product_a.ext
# lpmake --metadata-size 65536 --device-size=4294967296 --metadata-slots=3 --group=google_system_dynamic_partitions_a:2466766848 --partition=product_a:none:196341760:google_system_dynamic_partitions_a --partition=system_a:none:1812168704:google_system_dynamic_partitions_a --partition=vendor_a:none:458256384:google_system_dynamic_partitions_a --image=product_a=./product_a.ext --image=system_a=./system_a.ext --image=vendor_a=./vendor_a.img --group=google_system_dynamic_partitions_b:2466766848 --partition=product_b:none:196341760:google_system_dynamic_partitions_b --partition=system_b:none:88780800:google_system_dynamic_partitions_b --partition=vendor_b:none:458256384:google_system_dynamic_partitions_b --image=product_b=./product_b --image=system_b=./system_b.img --image=vendor_b=./vendor_b --sparse --output ./super.new.img

Then flash super.new.img using fastboot (not mtktool; it won't work!)

If only the factory would release the official international image. But given that the year is almost over, it will likely never happen. So, to anyone out here, the NVT ROM is currently your best bet and will probably be the only firmware easily available for a long time.