Device Identification & Buying Guide

Due to how generic Chinese 4G modems are manufactured, devices sold under identical exterior plastic cases often contain completely different motherboards and chipsets.

Before attempting to flash, you must identify:

The Processor: Is it genuine Qualcomm MSM8916 (Snapdragon 410)?
Flash Memory Type: Is it eMMC or NAND (SPINand/SLC)?
Board Revision & Silkscreen: What specific hardware layout does it use?

1. The Most Important Check: eMMC vs NAND Flash

  ┌─────────────────────────────────┐       ┌─────────────────────────────────┐
  │         eMMC Flash Chip         │       │         NAND Flash Chip         │
  │                                 │       │     │││││││││││││││││││││││     │
  │     [ Smooth square chip with ] │       │   ┌─┴─────────────────────┴─┐   │
  │     [ hidden solder balls BGA ] │       │   │   Visible solder legs   │   │
  │                                 │       │   │  (SOP-8 or TSOP-48)     │   │
  │                                 │       │   └─┬─────────────────────┬─┘   │
  │       ✅ FULLY SUPPORTED        │       │     │││││││││││││││││││││││     │
  │    (Mainline Linux / Debian)    │       │     ⚠️ HIGHLY RESTRICTED        │
  └─────────────────────────────────┘       └─────────────────────────────────┘

eMMC (Recommended):
- Appears as a smooth, flat square or rectangular black chip (often branded Kingston, Samsung, SanDisk, Foresee, or Micron).
- All solder contacts are beneath the chip (BGA).
- Typically 4 GB or 8 GB capacity.
- Works natively with standard block device drivers (/dev/mmcblk0) in mainline Linux.
NAND Flash (Avoid for New Purchases):
- Appears as a chip with visible pins extending from its sides, or a small 8-pin SPI NAND chip (e.g., GigaDevice, Winbond).
- Typically 256 MB or 512 MB.
- Requires raw MTD flash management, lacks standard partitions, and mainline Linux support is extremely experimental.

2. Common Board Families

UFI001B / UFI001C

Silkscreen: UFI001B_MB_V01, UFI001B_MB_V02, UFI001C
Specs: MSM8916, 512MB RAM, 4GB eMMC.
Wi-Fi: WCN3620 (2.4 GHz).
Status: Fully Supported. One of the most documented boards in the community.
EDL Test Point: Two test pads located near the SIM card slot.

UFI003

Silkscreen: UFI003_MB_V01 / V02
Specs: MSM8916, 512MB or 1GB RAM, 4GB or 8GB eMMC.
Features: Often features upgraded 1GB RAM and 8GB eMMC, making it the most coveted board for running Docker and heavy Linux applications.
Status: Highly Recommended.

UZ801

Silkscreen: UZ801_V2.1, UZ801_V2.2
Specs: MSM8916, 512MB RAM, 4GB eMMC.
Status: Fully Supported. Features clearly labeled test points on the PCB.

Zhihe (4G Wingle)

Silkscreen: ZHIHE_...
Specs: Varies widely. Earlier versions used MSM8916 with eMMC; newer cost-reduced versions switched to ASR or ZXIC chipsets!
Warning: Always verify that the central processor has the Qualcomm logo and MSM8916 printed on the chip.

3. Software Identification via ADB

If your device is running its stock Android firmware and has USB debugging enabled:

# Verify ADB connection
adb devices

# Query the SoC model
adb shell getprop ro.board.platform
# Expected output: msm8916

# Check storage device
adb shell ls -l /dev/block/bootdevice/by-name
# If you see partitions like boot, system, userdata, fsg -> It is eMMC!

If getprop ro.board.platform returns sp9820e, asr1802, or zx297520, your device is not an MSM8916 and cannot run OpenStick firmware.

4. Buying Tips for New Devices

When purchasing on AliExpress or Taobao:

Search for keywords: MSM8916 4G USB, Snapdragon 410 USB modem, UFI001B.
Check customer reviews for motherboard photos showing the Qualcomm chip.
Message the seller directly asking: “Is the main chip Qualcomm MSM8916 with eMMC storage?”
Avoid listings advertising “ZXIC 7520” or “ASR 1802” (these use different architectures).