Question International ROM for XIAOXIN PAD PRO 2021 unlikely?

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mardon85

Senior Member
Jan 8, 2009
562
83
Manchester
All the news this week is referring to a Snapdragon 888 and 8Gb ram P12 Pro. Do we think the 870 2021 Xiaoxin will ever receive an International ROM?

I've got one in the mail and thinking I may have made a big mistake. Its main use will be netflix and Disney+ and I wanting to take advantage of Dolby Vision.
 

IMR707

New member
Aug 20, 2019
2
0
Can't say for sure about Disney+, but I have no issue playing Netflix Videos on Full HD downloaded from Play Store.

In case you're wondering, I installed Play Store with an APK downloaded from APK Mirror and it seems to work out of the box.

The only thing i didn't like about the tablet is it disables notification for each app by default and set battery optimization option on by default on newly installed app which could affect some things like notifications. Other than that, this tablet is a satisfying multimedia powerhouse

Edit: Also i set Dolby option to "Movie" and it sounds wonderful.
 

mardon85

Senior Member
Jan 8, 2009
562
83
Manchester
Well this is promising. Is yours the 2021 version? Did you update any software and just use out of the box?
Does it have widevine 1? I've seen reports of it dropping back to 3?

I guess you have to have the ultra subscription (which you may not have) but did you notice if Netflix offers Dolby Vision?

I'll be steaming most my content via plex so as long as that works well I guess it won't be a total loss if Disney+ and Prime aren't in FHD HDR.
 

flhthemi

Senior Member
Feb 8, 2012
554
95
Statesville, NC
I have Plex, Tubi, Locast, Peacock and Kodi on mine and no issues with any of them. This is the best tablet I have ever owned. Even Starmaker (Karaoke app) works well with Bluetooth headset.
 

mardon85

Senior Member
Jan 8, 2009
562
83
Manchester
Great news. Mine arrives next week I'll report back.

Looking forward on catching up on some of the latest series from the comfort of my bed!!

Also going to give moonlight a go to try and game stream my pc from downstairs.
I've got mesh WiFi-6 so hopefully it'll work well.
 

bakarilos

Member
Aug 25, 2021
15
0
Hi!!!

i have an issue. i got on a spending spree and ordered the tablet. first of all it is not as bright as i expected and i paid lot for it (due to VAT) i have GOOGLE PLAY

but here is my problem?

how to check for HDR?

NETFLIX doesn't support HDR for this tablet (only for p11 pro...)
should i get prime video?
 

mardon85

Senior Member
Jan 8, 2009
562
83
Manchester
If you updated via the update when you first boot you've lost widevine 1. Download DRM off the play store and it'll tell you your current level (it's 1 out of the box).

Out the box the tablet does FHD on Netflix with no HDR as you say. Prime video is SD and a waste of time.

Just got to hope for an international ROM or else you've got a great tablet which is limited by its software.

I'm doing everything via plex and its working well.
 

bakarilos

Member
Aug 25, 2021
15
0
If you updated via the update when you first boot you've lost widevine 1. Download DRM off the play store and it'll tell you your current level (it's 1 out of the box).

Out the box the tablet does FHD on Netflix with no HDR as you say. Prime video is SD and a waste of time.

Just got to hope for an international ROM or else you've got a great tablet which is limited by its software.

I'm doing everything via plex and its working well.
i rather had bought the p11 pro which was 100 euros cheaper and had lte... i feel so stupid
 

mardon85

Senior Member
Jan 8, 2009
562
83
Manchester
i rather had bought the p11 pro which was 100 euros cheaper and had lte... i feel so stupid
I'm sort of in the same boat. If you're just using it for media the P11 Pro has the better software.

However if we get a proper international release and firmware it'll be worth it still.
The P12 Pro talk at the moment referees to a Snapdragon 888 processor so I'm not holding my breath.

I'm lucky really despite having amazon prime, disney+ and Netflix subs I'm having to torrent the Dolby Vision versions of the stuff I want to watch to my plex. It's a ball ache having to do it, but at least I've not wasted my money.
 

bakarilos

Member
Aug 25, 2021
15
0
I'm sort of in the same boat. If you're just using it for media the P11 Pro has the better software.

However if we get a proper international release and firmware it'll be worth it still.
The P12 Pro talk at the moment referees to a Snapdragon 888 processor so I'm not holding my breath.

I'm lucky really despite having amazon prime, disney+ and Netflix subs I'm having to torrent the Dolby Vision versions of the stuff I want to watch to my plex. It's a ball ache having to do it, but at least I've not wasted my money.
i found out the hard way. i got it fot he better screen but it seems i misfired.
 

mardon85

Senior Member
Jan 8, 2009
562
83
Manchester
I must have got lucky as I didn't have to pay any import charges so it cost me £350 delivered which is a very good price for the hardware.

Shame there's not a bigger scene on here supporting custom roms etc.
 

bakarilos

Member
Aug 25, 2021
15
0
I must have got lucky as I didn't have to pay any import charges so it cost me £350 delivered which is a very good price for the hardware.

Shame there's not a bigger scene on here supporting custom roms etc.
i paid 400 euros + 150 for import charges... the p11 pro would have been 420 total...
 

Slu79

Member
May 12, 2020
9
0
I also bought mine from Giztop, £435 delivered, including the keyboard case.. pretty good deal if you ask me.

Havent updated base firmware to avoid losing the widevine L1 as everyone is referencing.. but am also hoping we eventually get a global rom for it.
 

mardon85

Senior Member
Jan 8, 2009
562
83
Manchester
I've done more digging on this. I've updated and still have widevine level 1.

Pretty happy with it overall. One stuck pixel though :(

If an international rom doesn't come out I'm possibly going to pick up an S7+ second hand when their new one launches.
 

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  • 2
    When did I say it wasn't bright? Both panels have perfectly acceptable brightness levels.

    I have spent more time with my 2021 Pad Pro as my 12.6 had to go back to China for a reflash.
    In that time i've established a few things.

    The dirty screen effect is an issue but not one I see day to day anymore.

    The biggest problem I was encountering was the black crush in dark scenes of films. I've actually found out what the issue is. I use JustPlayer for all my content as it will play all HDR containers inc Dolby Vision. What I was noticing is the video plays fine for about 1 to 2 seconds then the brightness/contrast changes and it is at this point that the images turns to trash. I have discovered if I set the screen to 60Hz this no longers occurs.
    Since i've made this change when watching media i'm actually pretty pleased with the Pad Pro 2021 and value wise it is absolutely the best tablet on the market.

    However... The E4 panel in the 12.6 is hands down better in all scenarios to my eyes. In high bitrate files around red objects the 11" would look pixelated and distorted. (I will try and capture this). This does not occur on the 12.6, I also found the 12.6 to be brighter in HDR.

    Colour vibrancy (with all settings between the two tablets equal) the E4 panel is greatly increased. Images and video pop much more.

    Pentile or otherwise the 12.6 screen is sharper. I don't know why as the PPI is actually lower on the 12.6 but it is clearly (excuse the pun) sharper.

    I should be getting it back tomorrow. I'll try and capture some of the examples (if possible) side by side.

    Something to note, it seems your comparing a Samsung S6 E4? I belive even the S7+ has a dimmer panel than the e4 in the Pad Pro 12.6 (P12 Pro) so your results although interesting are not valid against this newer tablet imo.
    It was the message in between yours #13 that referred to low brightness, (my bad).
    as sustained +600nits certainly ain't too shabby on an OLED-based tablet.
    I am able to go a tad higher on Samsung E4 1600p AMOLED panel, but only if I flood the light-sensor and trigger the short sunburst-effect.
    but as a plain slider brightness (sustained), the Xiaoxin actually goes higher than Samsung on the brightness slider.
    If you can try to measure the brightness on the P12pro.
    I don't know if you got a bad batch on your P11pro2021 and, your definitely not alone with the phrase "Pentile display" - many reviewers on YT.. uses that phrase on this Xiaoxin but when asked under their videos' if they actually know what pentile display is and why they conclude that its a pentile display on the Xiaoxin, . its mostly silence or "I have heard it from another YT'er".

    btw, I also have an LG 2017 4K OLED (55"), so that black crushing you are referring to, I would be able to replicate if you show some examples.
    Here is a WOLED grid on that 2017 4K LG OLED.
    precarious that LG's 4K WRGB OLED grid arrays still only let 3 of the 4 WRGB subpixels be lit a once. (not sure if that limitation is still the case on the newer WRGB OLED panels for TVs from LG display, but I reckon it is)
    - below macro is at the same resolution as on the Samsung E4 1600p AMOLED and the 1600p OLED macro view in the above-posted vid, so it gives a good indication of how big the WRGB is OLED pixels are on these 4K TVs in regards to the OLED RGB pixels on tablets.

    I haven't noticed any black crushing on my Xiaoxin and also have access to two Samsung E4 OLED panels.. the 10.5" 1600P in fx Tab S6 and the 12.4" in Tab s7+.. not sure what panel are in the P12pro as that one is obviously bigger 12.6" then S7+ that is 12.4" but it is labeled as an E4 AMOLED so same gen as the 10.5" and the 12.4"
    as mentioned some things the Xiaoxin 1600p OLED panel does better then Samsung E4 gen with its blue stripe AMOLED, and in some aspects, the Samsung does better.
    fx if I put a test pattern with very fine lines beside each other.. I see more dirty screen effects on the Xiaoxin than I do on the Samsung E4 panel.

    If you can' try and take the app "Screen test pro" on both and go into screen color test and put the brightness slider on max with the setting "brightness enhancement" active and do the same on the P12pro, and take a side by side picture.
    If you see the same effect, on the P12pro 12.6" E4 AMOLED panel, as I do and they are worse in reproducing "red", than the OLED panel in Xiaoxin.
    here is a 10.5" 1600p Samsung AMOLED panel on the left, found in fx the 2020 flagship S6 and Xiaoxin 11.5" 1600p OLED on the right both with the app screen test pro and color slides.
    Samsung E4panels often choke into orange.



    I also wondered about the p12pro as that unit was up for sale' when I went for Xiaoxin p11pro, though the p12pro keyboard and accessories like stylus were not present at that time.
    but in my mind, the p12pro made little sense as it was so much more expensive.
    I really didn't need another big Android tablet, now that all my older books also run Android, like Surface Book2 and the 2x Porsche Books,.. that are 13.5" and 7mm thin and weigh around 700g and works well as huge Android tablets, though sadly not OLED..

    The Xiaoxin P11pro2021 was facepalm good value around singles day and BF and still is and was actually very close to CN sale prices, so wicked good value not least here from Denmark with tax + 25% danish VAT, and often results in some of the world's highest consumer prices and overall livingcost.
    Fx on Lenovo DK official atm.. the older P11pro 730G 60HZ from 2020 cost from 4299 DKK (+655 USD) and thats the base wifi entry version 128GB, so quite high prices here on somewhat dated 2020 hardware, when the older 2020 variant is almost double the price of the P11pro2021.

    Also wondered about the Mi pad5 and the Mi pad5pro and were close to take the plunge on the Mi pad5 when that unit was on early bird-sale at 299Euro - and glad I didnt as that is almost the same price as what you could get the P11pro2021 for at these singles day or BF sale, - and I certainly prefer the keyboard-cover for the Xiaoxinp11pro2021 with the trackpad and the magnetic kickstand where Mi pad5 (and also its Pro version) uses that grove-variant. without any trackpad.
    Went for the P11pro2021 and the keyboard (both from Giztop) and the folio-cover from Lenovo Denmark as they had it for around 16 euro with free shipping (seems it comes from England) and that was less. then what I could find it at' from abroad.

    btw does any of yours P11pro2021 weigh the claimed 485g.. mine is 492g.

    To make it clear, the Samsung Tab 7+ uses a 12.4". E4 AMOLED panel. the Samsung Tab S6 (Samsung 2020 flagship) is the same also an E4 AMOLEDbut in 10.5".
    The Xiaoxin P12pro. is 12.6" so a tad bigger than the S7+ panel, but P12pro is also on the old E4 panel, so pretty sure you will get the same results, as the other E4 blue-stripe AMOLED panels found in S6 and S7+.
    also why I referred to testing fx an all-red slide on max brightness' when you have both devices P11pro2021 and P12pro, as the E4 AMOLED-grid array's red-subpixels is a tad smaller' than the red subpixels in the Xiaoxin (see the first video in #131), and could be why the red-colors are worse on Samsung's E4 AMOLED panels. (more orange tone)

    Samsung is just now finally elevating to a new generation of AMOLED panels (finally).. their so-called E5 generation, but as I wrote above. I don't know if the new Tab S8+ and Tab S8ultra that are about to land in 1q 2022 is with that new generation of E5 AMOLED panels, though it would surprise me if it ain't.

    I have had some problems with the charging on my unit.. where it will not charge and just give a message "cant charge right now" and you are quite puzzled.. as it doesn't give any explanation, and you left with a ??.. okay tablet, but when does it then suit you to charge.!!

    I hard-rebooted mine, and then it charged fine but precarious experience..
    btw..it seems you have been able to take OTA updates without loosing your L1 .. is that the case for others, that are on the P11pro2021 native CN/ENG rom, or have other people lost that L1 widewine by using OTA?

    //
    I checked the display for use of DC dimming, and it indeed makes use of DC dimming.
    have waveform video on a Micsig ST1104C scope.
    Also noted a 144hz bug on the display setting front page (below) though havent installed any OTA updates so far, still, on the OS revision, it arrived with.

    I'm quite impressed with the sound-- out of the box. Its 4x JBL-labeled Atmos speakers don't sound good, it gets way better if you activate the "Atmos" feature, but my Samsung's AQK quad speakers still sound a tad better, but If I go into the 10-band Atmos EQ, I can get very close to the AGK Atmos quad-speaker quality from Samsung that IMO is the best on tablets these years. (certainly not bad quad-speakers in the Xiaoxinp11pro2021, but it takes a little work to finetune it in the Atmos 10band EQ)

    Also like Lenovo's landscape feature where it flips apps, to landscape-view, quite useful when you use keyboard and trackpad)
    Same with the swipe feature, and something I like a lot on Samsung tablets, where you can swipe from the sides, happy to see that on the Xiaoxin. but maybe it is a native feature on Android but quite useful..- same is the feature to jump between current apps you have open, by making a half-circle from below..

    The microSD card reader supports up to 1TB, and I tried to test the speed with one of these cheap new Aliexpress Samsung cards-
    It seems to max out just under 90MBs read and just under 80MBs write. (128GB Samsung Evo+ white)
    also tried with one of the other in Samsung's new line micro SDcard.. the blue Samsung pro 256GB, and it was the same speeds on the Xiaoxin p11pro2021, so it seems to be the max.
    IMO the new Samsung Evo+ (white version). more or less same as the old Evo+ (red) and the new Samsung Pro blue, it matches my Sandisk extreme pro when testing on laptops.
    Samsung does label this blue Samsung Pro with 160MB read and 120MB write but was not able to get those readings, on a thunderbolt3 TypeC port on Porsche Book with a TypeC 3.0 pr 3.1 SD card reader.. perhaps if I use a USB3.2 reader, though, at around 45USD delivered for 256GB with incl. danish 25%VAT, it's not a bad value these blue Samsung Pro cards with MicroSD card speeds around Sandisk extreme pro.
    but the Samsung Evo+ (red or the white version), is still the best bang for the buck MicroSD cards as those you can get at around 15USD.
    A1 app microSD card test with white 128GB Samsung Evo+

    cards https://i.imgur.com/NgioSIA.jpg

    The UFS3.1 system drive.

    Netflix specs.

    Antutu run.

    Audio codecs

    The cameras are nothing to write home about, it got 4, two in the back and two in the front..but I don't know which CMOS sensors Lenovo is using, but the Lenovo camera app is utter garbage and third-party apps didn't seem to elevate any higher res on video then the 1080p30 that is low (2mpix) for a 13mpix sensor..
    So Its a mixed bag, and the overall Lenovo software and the camersa, leave a lot to be desired, but all the other things..gives a flagship vibe, and with the price in mind, its in my view the best bang for the buck Android tablet - in the second half of 2021.

    I hope OS13 is being channeled through the OTA channel, at a given point and not only as a manually install..
    2
    Anyone answer me please
    Dear 3bo0od, I bought the Xiaoxin pro pad 2021 from Giztop last month (actually typing on it right now) and it has the China - translated English ROM on it. I can install all apps on it (Google, Play etc.) and now even use if for work (with all the Microsoft apps installed on it). The English translation is ok, but as a near-native English speaker there are some funny translations noticable.

    With regards to L1 for Netflix, I can confirm it runs HD quality on Netflix without issues. When I got it, it had 2 updates ready which I installed after 2 days of waiting. It simply updated Android and I still have L1 with Netflix. I will see if I can take a screenshot later.

    As a European user, I was tempted to buy the P12 European tablet (not sure if it is available already) due to the ROM and English-translation issues. But honestly, the tablet runs great and the price on Giztop was fine. Better than Banggood if you want the keyboard with it as well.
    2
    We took a slight gamble getting a tablet with these specs for £350. It's not the end of the world. The OLED screen is OK. Bright scenes are fine but shadows are massively crushed and dark screen uniformity is horrendous. Also no global ROM with widevine level 1. No massive issue if your native language is English as the Chinese rom is totally fine.

    In hindsight you'd be better off trying to get a better deal on an Samsung Tab S7+ with better AMOLED screen and Native HDR support in nexflix.

    On this screen dolby Vison is no better than normal HDR. Losing to go the Samsung is no great loss.

    The P12 Pro with its Amold screen with chinese and global varient looks the safer bet.
    1
    For someone that clearly enjoys oled are you really telling me you can't see the grain effects on red colours?

    It's 100% not the os transparency effect. Dim the screen and look at this web page and report back.

    The issue with films is largely fixed by setting the screen to 60hz. 95% of the content I watch is in HDR and their is a bug that elevates the black after a few seconds on certain players. My go to is "justplayer". Again other people are reporting the same.
    Perhaps they fixed some off the issues I'm seeing at a hardware level between yours and mine.
    This isn't opinion or preferring once device over the other due to which I own. It is a genuine issue on mine and other people's devices.

    Also who cares if it can do 900nits if you activate the light sensor, just like the red test pattern it's not something you see in day to day usage. Know one sits consuming content with a torch pointing at the sensor. They both output 600nits which is totally fine for indoor use.
    I reckon it went over your head.. the use of 900 nits brightness on Lenovo P11pro2021 comes in handy with certain use-cases in bright sunlight - as you hopefully can conclude on your own.
    instead of making a braindead example, like "who would be watching movies with a flashlight to trigger maximum brightness"
    c'mon bud.. a tablet can be used for other things than just watching movies.
    The 900nits maximum brightness feature, is intended for bright sunlight, if your using the tablet fx outside, or in a car, - or as I often do, as a 1600p OLED screen for DJI drones, - the native sustained brightness is at 625nits..
    People have different use-cases for their tablets, not only watching movies, and it's a nice feature to have on mobile items like tablets, and mobiles that the item can peak brightness in certain well-lit environments..

    I haven't noticed any of these things you referring to, but I'm also running native CN OS and haven't put any third-party ROMs on it, or flashed it back and forward with different ROMs, and many models are being sold of this unit - are being sold with third-party multilingual ROMs. (not sure if your unit is one of those)
    But I was trying to help, and I kept backing it up with videos. and pictures and examples... simply to demonstrate where it excels and where it doesn't - but it needs to be repeatable.. just claiming I get some issues in something I'm watching, is a relative as it comes and not easy for others to check or validate, as it can be down to numerous things., and I don't recall I have seen any examples from you..

    That you have grainy "reds"....don't take for granted that it's the same for all other people with a P11pro2021 - with your statement. - // "you like OLEDs and you can't even see the grainy reds".
    If you take a screentest-app.. and chose red and even dial brightness back and forward..does it look solid, if it does, then it ain't fundamental.
    You could clearly see how coherent the RED looked in a side-by-side with 1600p AMOLED panel.

    So far you haven't delivered even one example to repeat these things as I recall - so it doesn't make much sense to debate it further if there are no tangible examples.
    you DID state that you would show an example.. didn't you??. (have I missed it, then my bad??)

    and you even stated it was a "pentile display", which I explained to you it wasn't and Pentile displays are a Samsung trademark, and this wasn't a pentile display as per se' as it had an equal amount of RGB subpixels..

    The biggest drawback with these Lenovo tablets is the OS.. which seems kind of half-baked IMO.. the hardware is top nudge' fronting flagship-level.. not least for a sub 350 USD device delivering 725k in Antutu and IMO the ideal framerate for different use-cases, like video or gaming with 90hz for an SD870 Soc with a DC dimmed RGB OLED panel and a 1TB SD storage slot.

    Certain media players can cause problems with HDR metadata, not least when this device also supports dynamic HDR (frame by frame) and not just static HDR.. again I don't know if flickering can be down to that. or the mediaplayer your using.

    - at the end of the day, it's Lenovo.. it's not like their firmware & software is the gold standard.. often quite half-baked... even products intended for the western market can be a hard sell. -. it's the low price that makes this product stand out.

    -----

    Just check the colorcharts for the differentOLED-tablets, and as I showed in my colorslide-video the color reproduction that is being delivered with this Lenovo/Xiaoxin 1600p RGB OLED in P11pro2021 is better than what I'm seeing on AMOLED. E3, E4, E5.
    Sadly Notebookcheck did not check the SD870 variant but they did check another Lenovo unit. (P11proSD730) that seems to have the same 1600p RGB OLED display (just run at lower framerate and lower brightness) and they also saw better colors on that RGB OLED than on Lenovo P12's E4 AMOLED.
    Calman color-checker.
    _Lower is better_
    AMOLED E4 blue S-stripe panel in Lenovo P12pro.
    P12pro dE2000 3.43
    P12pro dE2000 max. 7.25 (wow)

    P11pro dE2000 1.8
    P11pro dE2000max 4.2

    The P12pro color check scores are not good, they are around the 1350p IPS in Yoga Pro13, but that is IPS.
    even Samsung own flagship Tab S7plus own AMOLED E4 panel. are delivering worse colorcheck-scores (dE2000 2.4) than the 1600p RGB OLED panel that was in the P11pro (dE2000 1.8) a dE2000 at 1.8 is flagship ApplePro mini-LED level..

    And it falls in line with what I saw when comparing the colors of the RGB OLED in P11pro2021 vs AMOLED ..
    the p11PRO2021 RED subpixels does seem more coherent then on AMOLED. https://tinyurl.com/2p9d63yw
    Im quite impressed by the 1600p RGB OLED panel that are in P11pro2021 and its even beating Samsung tabS7+ and is also ahead of Apples current tablet flagship Ipad Pro 12.9 MiniLED on color check scores, and when you then have in mind - it's a sub 350 tablet.
    - not to shabby 90HZ DC dimmed 625nits 1600p RGB OLED panel Lenovo is using in the P11pro2021.

    _ added Calman color check-scores for new gen E5 AMOLED (Notebookcheck)
    14.6" (E5 AMOLED)
    Tab S8ultra dE2000 2.7
    Tab S8ultra dE2000max 5.3

    12.4" (E5 AMOLED)
    Tab S8plus dE2000 2.2
    Tab S8plus dE2000max 4.9
    1
    Ive been using this tab for a couple of days. The ROM is just a cleaned-up Chinese one, it has English language and gapps. However, the only major problem is that ZUI doesn't let apps from google store function in the background, as a result, all the messengers, e-mail apps, youtube, etc, basically all the apps that should notify you about anything don't do it. If you're working in the app and shortly after you've closed it - yes, you'll get a notification, but not after it has been cleared from the memory. It is not the first time a Chinese ROM behaves this way, so maybe anyone has some suggestions?