Hisense A5

[Question Mark]

I wonder if doing a complete factory reset might help? Of course, you would lose any data currently on the phone, but it might get you back to a state of the firmware more easy to flash the original firmware from.

Here's a site which offers directions on how to do a factory reset for the A5:

https://www.hardreset.info/devices/hisense/hisense-a5/

[dennisdd]

Originally Posted by Question Mark

I wonder if doing a complete factory reset might help? Of course, you would lose any data currently on the phone, but it might get you back to a state of the firmware more easy to flash the original firmware from.

Here's a site which offers directions on how to do a factory reset for the A5:

https://www.hardreset.info/devices/hisense/hisense-a5/

Thanks, I tried to do that but it only brings up some Chinese buttons, which I tried to translate. I might have wiped all user data but it didn’t help...

[dennisdd]

Okay, retried because of your suggestion and now, when translating the buttons, it came up that I should push volume-up. Did this and now I have the international rom again, that I had before, but user data is wiped.

For the ones of you in need of doing the same:
1) Push Power and volume down at the same time
then this comes up:

(I have added a translation overlay for the button)
2) Select the second/middle Chinese language button with volume keys - then hit power
this brings up:

(I have added a translation overlay for the headline)
3) Push volume up and wait. After some minutes, it should bring up the regular lock screen and you can reconfigure your phone.
The third step is where I always tried to hit the Chinese language button because I couldnt translate it. Now that I managed to translate full headline, I realized that this is probably only the escape button and you need to push volume up.

Thanks for all your support!

[Question Mark]

Originally Posted by dennisdd

(I have added a translation overlay for the headline)
3) Push volume up and wait. After some minutes, it should bring up the regular lock screen and you can reconfigure your phone.
The third step is where I always tried to hit the Chinese language button because I couldnt translate it. Now that I managed to translate full headline, I realized that this is probably only the escape button and you need to push volume up.

Thanks for all your support!

Ah, that explains it. Those characters mean "cancel" as you already figured out.

Glad that you were able to get things working again.

[dennisdd]

Still trying to find a way to reverse the color in apps with a black background. Unfortunately, my Version doesnt have reverse colors in the settings - thats why i broke it enabling developer/color blind mode.
Any ideas - maybe an APP that can do it
or a way to make this show up in the settings?

[kconan]

I wanted to thank Joscha from chinahandys for the tutorial to root and install google playstore.

https://youtu.be/T9CWR7SwgTM

https://www.chinahandys.net/hisense-...guide-english/

It's very easy to follow. Now my A5 is more useful, for free.

[cartz]

Originally Posted by dennisdd

Still trying to find a way to reverse the color in apps with a black background. Unfortunately, my Version doesnt have reverse colors in the settings - thats why i broke it enabling developer/color blind mode.
Any ideas - maybe an APP that can do it
or a way to make this show up in the settings?

No way around that if the app doesn't have a light mode. Best to find an alternate app.

[dennisdd]

Originally Posted by cartz

No way around that if the app doesn't have a light mode. Best to find an alternate app.

Unfortunately, these are special apps from companies where i have a contract - so alternatives are not there.

[Schnipps]

I'm looking to buy my first eInk phone - it's Hisense A5 (en-chinese) vs. Yotaphone 2.
I don't need Google Play or Google snooping, but the whole shebang offers more goodies than just that. The Yota has the smaller, inferior screen, no sdcard, smaller battery, gets no more updates, but it's more compatible & still well supported by xda.

- Does the Hisense have usable TTS (Russian, Spanish)?
- How is the sound quality (with headphones)?
- Does the Yota definitely support USB-OTG?
- Can they both read exFAT formatted media (sdcard/OTG)?

[tracey1]

Originally Posted by Schnipps

I'm looking to buy my first eInk phone - it's Hisense A5 (en-chinese) vs. Yotaphone 2.
I don't need Google Play or Google snooping, but the whole shebang offers more goodies than just that. The Yota has the smaller, inferior screen, no sdcard, smaller battery, gets no more updates, but it's more compatible & still well supported by xda.

- Does the Hisense have usable TTS (Russian, Spanish)?
- How is the sound quality (with headphones)?
- Does the Yota definitely support USB-OTG?
- Can they both read exFAT formatted media (sdcard/OTG)?

If you don't care about having a color screen, I don't see how you could not chose the Hisense A5. Excpet maybe if you like having a matte EPD. I liked my yotaphone for the idea of having two screens but it's notorious for having a bad charging jacket and developing white lines on the EPD. I don't have an answer to your questions but I bet if the YP2 can do those things you listed, the Hisense A5 can do them, too and probably more.

[Schnipps]

I'd love a look at the Hisense, but I'm not buying the cat in a bag. All I really want for now is check out what's on offer.

Usage cases: reading in daylight, language learning on-the-go (with TTS), music, maps, internet & calls. A phone is more versatile than an ereader. Size & ruggedness also matter.

I did get my hands on a Yotaphone 2 the other day - still on Android 5, definitely has OTG support, but apparently no exFat driver (which format I use with all my sticks & cards). Most likely this wouldn't change if flashed to Android 6. None of my Marshmellow devices' stock ROM supported exFat - this appears to be a custom or Android 7+ feature. The problem with all these E Ink devices is you can't install custom ROMs on them.

I do care about a good screen, and that's a point in favor of the Yota. 16 greyscale levels can't compete with 16 million colors, at least, when the contest is about more than simulating a paper book. Which even the Yota does half-convincingly at 960x540 pixels, bad print and all. The color screen is nice and crisp, and the dimming can be well adjusted at lower levels.

The headphone sound is good, but the Yota appears a little touchy - the slightest nudge turns it on or off. The size is o.k., large enough for reading, but slim enough for a jacket pocket, though I hear the eInk screen is prone to cracking.

All in all - the Yotaphone 2 (to me):
- pros: dual screen, Google Play services, geek value
- cons: touchy, outdated, possibly more fragile than it looks

The Yotaphone 3 is newer, but according to one cect-shop review, more limited in what can be done with the eInk screen. The mirroring feature (that allows full control over the phone using this screen) no longer works. And it's larger and more expensive.

So now I'm intrigued by the technology, but not sold on it. The screens are not good enough for anything but basic maps and text. All I can really imagine myself doing with it is lounging around in the sun reading, or emergency navigation when biking around. Maybe I should simply buy a bigger straw hat instead?

Lastly, book pages aren't shiny (usually, art prints and comics excepted), so it makes sense to have a matte EPD screen or screen protector; also, to avoid reflections. I found the Goodereader comparison of all the Hisense A5 models pretty convincing in that regard. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PufgRUvI9s)

[Gregor1430]

Hi all!
I have had my Hisense A5 for about a week now. Overall I'm happy with the phone, I see that I spent less time on it than I had on my previous (one of the goals checked). I am, however, noticing a strange "glitch". After I have it in locked mode for some time, the screen becomes blurr (all black with the same picture as in the end) and unresponsive. I am not able to solve this problem quickly and effectively, it usualy solves itself ater 30 minutes or so of many restarts. Has anybody else had the same problem and how did you manage to solve it?
Thanks for your help

[Question Mark]

Originally Posted by Schnipps

Usage cases: reading in daylight, language learning on-the-go (with TTS), music, maps, internet & calls. A phone is more versatile than an ereader. Size & ruggedness also matter.

All that, you can do on the A5. As for ruggedness, haven't had any issues with mine and I carry it about daily, usually in a pocket full of keys.

Originally Posted by Schnipps

I do care about a good screen, and that's a point in favor of the Yota. 16 greyscale levels can't compete with 16 million colors, at least, when the contest is about more than simulating a paper book. Which even the Yota does half-convincingly at 960x540 pixels, bad print and all. The color screen is nice and crisp, and the dimming can be well adjusted at lower levels.

...

So now I'm intrigued by the technology, but not sold on it. The screens are not good enough for anything but basic maps and text. All I can really imagine myself doing with it is lounging around in the sun reading, or emergency navigation when biking around. Maybe I should simply buy a bigger straw hat instead?

From what you say here, I don't think you would be all that content with an eink phone. They are very different beasts compared to phones with an LCD or LED screen. As such, you need to adjust your expectations accordingly or risk being disappointed. They are primarily for reading, but allow a bit more flexibility than your average eink ereader. I suspect you would be happier with a regular smart phone and a large sombrero.

[Schnipps]

Originally Posted by Question Mark

I suspect you would be happier with a regular smart phone and a large sombrero.

I agree. But it's a tablet, not a phone, strictly speaking - too big to lug around on a chance outing. And regular phones are boring. So there should ideally be a large variety of custom ROMs to chose from... oh, wait, this is 2020. Lineage.

Are there any E Ink devices with custom ROMs? Maybe old & cheap?

[pata]

Originally Posted by Schnipps

I'm looking to buy my first eInk phone - it's Hisense A5 (en-chinese) vs. Yotaphone 2.
The Yota has the smaller, inferior screen, no sdcard, smaller battery, gets no more updates, but it's more compatible & still well supported by xda.

Originally Posted by Schnipps

I'd love a look at the Hisense, but I'm not buying the cat in a bag.

I do care about a good screen, and that's a point in favor of the Yota. 16 greyscale levels can't compete with 16 million colors, at least, when the contest is about more than simulating a paper book. Which even the Yota does half-convincingly at 960x540 pixels, bad print and all.

Originally Posted by Schnipps

I agree. But it's a tablet, not a phone, strictly speaking - too big to lug around on a chance outing. And regular phones are boring. So there should ideally be a large variety of custom ROMs to chose from... oh, wait, this is 2020. Lineage.

Are there any E Ink devices with custom ROMs? Maybe old & cheap?

Why only chose between Hisense A5 and Yotaphone? There is also Hisense A6L (and older A6) which both have dual color and eink screen and both support custom XDA roms e.g. for A6L and for A6