The Paranoid Android team, one of the most popular and appreciated custom ROMs as well as a historical name in the world of modding, is working hard with the Sapphire Alpha builds based on Android 12 and in fact other Xiaomi, POCO and Redmi smartphones have from received little of new builds. In some cases, these are first builds, in others the Alpha 2 and Alpha 3 versions.
More precisely, the POCO X3 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition models, that just arrived are the first builds of the Paranoid Android Sapphire Alpha; on the other hand POCO X3 / X3 NFC is receiving the Alpha 3 version and POCO F2 Pro (and its alias Redmi K30 Pro ) the Alpha 2 build.
Therefore, proceeding in order, the owners of POCO X3 Pro , Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition have the opportunity to try the first release of the custom ROM based on Android 12. All the details (firmware version required at the start, any bugs and so on) and the instructions to follow – always and only provided you are aware of what you do – are available at the links below:
Paranoid Android Sapphire Alpha for POCO X3 Pro
Paranoid Android Sapphire Alpha for Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro and Mi 8 Explorer Edition
Moving on, the owners of POCO X3 NFC and POCO X3 are more fortunate, since they already have the possibility to get their hands on the Paranoid Android Sapphire Alpha 3.
Among the novelties of the new build, various bug fixes stand out, the addition of functions such as support for the management of the refresh rate for each application, the gestures with the screen off, the Quick-tap Columbus gestures and the security patches updated in February 2022. Here is the complete official changelog:
Device-specific changelog:
- Changed to User Build
- Add per-app refresh rate
- Add blocklist feature for Refresh Rate QS Tile (Add all dfps values below 60 to the blocklist)
- Add pt-rBR Translations
- Fix audio record in GCam
- Fix Fastbooot problem because vbmeta.img
- Fix OTG issues
- Firmware update from V12.5.5.0.RJGEUXM
- Update stock blobs from V12.5.5.0.RJGEUXM
- Update vendor blobs from LA.UM.9.1.r1-11500.02-SMxxx0.QSSI12.0
- Update common system blobs from LA.QSSI.12.0.r1-05800-qssi.0
- Update common vendor blobs from
- LA.UM.9.14.r1-18900.02-LAHAINA.QSSI12.0
OSPA Source changelog:
- Add screen off gestures
- Add Quick-tap Columbus gestures
- Add option to cycle through ringer modes
- February security patch
- Merge tag ‘LA.QSSI.12.0.r1-06300-qssi.0’
If you own the model in question and have already installed the previous Alpha 2, you can switch to the new version with a simple sideload of the new recovery OTA file; everyone else (including users stopped at Alpha 1) will need to perform a clean install with data wipe. Here is the link with all the details and instructions:
Paranoid Android Sapphire Alpha 3 for POCO X3 / X3 NFC
Finally, the Paranoid Android team has made the Alpha 2 version available for POCO F2 Pro and Redmi K30 Pro. This new build contains improvements to the Monet dynamic theme system, but also the addition of the “swipe to screenshot” gesture, Quick Tap, Extreme battery saver mode and more. Here is the complete changelog of the release:
Device-specific changelog:
- Moved to a completely new device tree, made in line with CAF and PA defaults.
- Switched almost blobs to BSP (using only device specific blobs from MIUI).
- Updated vendor MIUI blobs to MIUI V12.5.5.0.RJKMIXM.
- Updated vendor BSP blobs to LA.UM.9.12.r1-13300-SMxx50.QSSI12.0.
- Fixed UDFPS Flashbang
System side:
- Merged Frebruary SPL.
- Improved Monet.
- Switched DT2W to OffScreen Gestures impl.
- Fixed battery usage graphics.
- Added Swipe to Screenshot.
- Added Adaptive Playback.
- Added Cycle Through Ringer Modes.
- Added Quick Tap.
- Added Extreme battery saver.
- Added weather on lockscreen.
- Launcher received a lot of improvements.
- Details and instructions are available at the following link:
Paranoid Android Sapphire Alpha 2 for POCO F2 Pro / Redmi K30 Pro