[UNOFFICIAL BUILD] Gigaset GX290

Hello,

here is my custom build e-2.9-s for Gigaset GX290:

Install instructions:

  • Warning, you are doing this on your own risk:
    If you are switching from original rom, you must do a factory reset,
    that is delete and format the userdata partition!

  • make sure the battery is charged!

  • Unlock bootloader in the deleoper options
    (tab five times “about phone/build-number”)
    (system/developer: unlock bootloader)

  • reboot to fastboot:
    (hold volume-up, select fastboot with volume-up, start with volume-down)

  • unlock, confirm on screen:
    fastboot flashing unlock

  • unzip recovery:
    unzip e-2.9-s-20250531-UNOFFICIAL-GX290.zip recovery.img

  • flash it:
    fastboot flash recovery recovery.img

  • boot recovery:
    fastboot reboot recovery

  • in recovery,
    Do a factory reset if switching from original rom!
    select “Apply update”, “Apply from adb”
    adb sideload e-2.9-s-20250531-UNOFFICIAL-GX290.zip

reboot.

This build got these enhancements:

  • Kernel weed out
    The original Kernel was build with debugging enabled in all parts.
    Here is a greeting from the old kernel:
[    0.000000] **********************************************************
[    0.000000] **   NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE   **
[    0.000000] **                                                      **
[    0.000000] ** trace_printk() being used. Allocating extra memory.  **
[    0.000000] **                                                      **
[    0.000000] ** This means that this is a DEBUG kernel and it is     **
[    0.000000] ** unsafe for production use.                           **
[    0.000000] **                                                      **
[    0.000000] ** If you see this message and you are not debugging    **
[    0.000000] ** the kernel, report this immediately to your vendor!  **
[    0.000000] **                                                      **
[    0.000000] **   NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE   **
[    0.000000] **********************************************************

Yes, this is how that device was sold.

I cut off a lot of debugging cruft. A lot. A lot.

  • fixed charge mode
    The battery animation now works.
    And there was a bug that the device did not turn off the display backlight. So it doesn’t do fast charge. I fixed that.

  • wireless charger
    My device used to become punk after using a wireless charger. I fixed that somehow: The original code is crap. I’d like having the data sheets.

  • Android
    fixed adb via wlan
    Bug was, it did not remember the wireless network.

  • /e/os

    • I included Trebuchet launcher. You get the choice at the end of the welcome.
    • F-Droid with privileged extensions

bugs?

So far it’s just “App Lounge” that does not work for me. Let’s see if that gets fixed in e-3.0 :wink:

7 Likes

nice effort! also removing the debug mode…

Good news,

upgrade available:

e-3.0-s-20250607-UNOFFICIAL-GX290.zip

2 Likes

Hello @chr, Welcome to the /e/ forum.

Thank you, for your contribution on this device that was hoped for a long time.

.

When i build /e/, i like to share also the recovery-e aside the main .zip file, (and the others mandatory .img to flash prior when exist).
i take it from /out/target/product and rename it following the /e/ naming convention (copy/paste from the main .zip filename).

Edit : reading your instructions, i just see you included the recovery into the main .zip

Is it possible to upgrade without wiping all the user data?

What is your current version ?

0.23-r-20220512-UNOFFICIAL-GX290

The userdata gets wiped at this step:

fastboot flashing unlock

If the device was unlocked, you must not wipe. Boot to recovery and sideload the upgrade.

Mh, I’d like to update the install instructions but I can’t edit my post ?!

I tried to, I get signature verification failed error 21 in sideload

sha256 for the zip is fine.

m@ryz:~/.local/share/torbrowser/tbb/x86_64/tor-browser/Browser/Downloads$ sha256sum e-3.0-s-20250607-UNOFFICIAL-GX290.zip
058823e5c98a2cdf02d6e7956bc104f3f638c016afc8f65b9b4e1de0321399fd e-3.0-s-20250607-UNOFFICIAL-GX290.zip
m@ryz:~/.local/share/torbrowser/tbb/x86_64/tor-browser/Browser/Downloads$ cat e-3.0-s-20250607-UNOFFICIAL-GX290.zip.sha256sum
058823e5c98a2cdf02d6e7956bc104f3f638c016afc8f65b9b4e1de0321399fd e-3.0-s-20250607-UNOFFICIAL-GX290.zip
m@ryz:~/.local/share/torbrowser/tbb/x86_64/tor-browser/Browser/Downloads$

Did you flash the recovery beforehand?!
The build is signed with public test-keys

I accidentally sideloaded the uncompressed .img, now I managed to
install the new image and keep user settings. Thanks for the support.

So, it works?!
I tested that on ~4 devices

It is working properly now.
Thanks for your hints.

Cool, worked on my devices as well :wink:

At the moment I’m trying to build custom builds by my own.
Can you provide the code?
What need to be done to add it as supported device?

Maybe you want to join our wuplug meetings :wink:

Hello,
Do you know if this build should work with the GX290 plus ?

@piero : I am sorry but I don’t get the point of your reply.

Gigaset brand is not referenced in your first link. ADB request to already have the phone. And even if I known the code name of the GX290 and the GX290 plus, I didn’t find any list of compatible code name, neither in this topic nor in the sourceforge link.

So, your reply sound like a “search better before asking”. I could understand if your link would contain any helpful information. But here, if there it contains an answer to my question I didn’t find where, and I feel a little like talking with these bots which always give predefined answer whatever the question is, when you try to contact your phone operator.

It seems that the only difference between the two models is the quantity of ram and memory space. I don’t see any reason why they would need a different build, but I would have the confirmation before buying one. Will this build work with the “plus” model ?

Thanks for your help.

i wanted to know the device codename to search XDA…

.

also, unlike some other Gigaset “Plus” device, the GX290_plus is not registred in the list of Android Supported devices - Google Play Help - Google Support (this list is not always accurate, there are some duplicate and some ommited devices)
Why i asked for device productname…


i remember this comment :

but i also remember have read a user saying he installed the not plus build on a GX290 plus
it still not fully clear in my mind…

Edit : it was not a simple user, but it was the builder (maybe the developper)

Search results for ‘GX290 plus’ - /e/OS community
.
Search results for ‘GX290 plus’ - XDA forums

That is the “volla phone”, isn’t it?

Yes, it should work.

Volla OS worked as well on a GX, not plus, even having less RAM

ps: use my install guide. Just flash and start recovery first: that is a good test.
Recovery must work otherwise makes no sense to flash everything.

2 Likes

You have the answer from the expert now.

But the reason you asked the question is that you still wanted some certainly after you had done your research. @piero has spent much time demonstating why there might be uncertainty !
You said

Gigaset brand is not referenced in your first link.

This is because you were reading what the forum creators call a “preview” – unhelpful in this case. If you care please just read the link (briefly) [HOWTO] Find device codename … there it is demonstrated that there are many ways to find the device codename and you can then check your device is an exact match with the build. Is why you asked your original question.