I've always wondered what happened to them, because it seems like they have completely vanished from the consumer market after 2011. Worse still, not many MIPS-powered Android devices were produced to my knowledge.
So, I thought about listing all known MIPS devices with Android into this thread. If you happen to know any sort of device that is similar, please post it along with their specifications if possible.
Note that italicized text means speculated information based on existing evidence, I'm not sure if it's right.
Tablets
Question: You said Android 4.2.1 was the last official version that supported the MIPS ISA; how is a smartwatch and a tablet running 4.4 or 4.3 respectively?
Answer: It's running an unofficial build of 4.4 that has built-in support for MIPS, which is compiled by Imagination, not by Google. Likewise with 4.3.
Question: Does the FiiO X3 MK I, II, III, M3K, M3 Pro, and the M5 fit in this thread?
Answer: No. They don't run Android as far as I am aware, so they don't fit in this thread.
Question: What is the latest unofficial build of Android that supports the MIPS ISA?
Answer: Android 8.1 'Oreo', but that build is specifically made for the Imagination Creator Ci20.
Question: Would it be possible to port the Creator Ci20's system images over to the devices running older versions of Android?
Answer: Yes. It certainly isn't an easy job to do, however. The software drivers in general, will be your biggest roadblock. That and the low-end specifications of most MIPS devices would make this very impractical. It isn't worth it, in my opinion.
Question: Which Android NDK revision should be used to compile programs for MIPS?
Answer: I recommend NDK r17c, as the newer revisions of the Android NDK removed all support for MIPS. This includes MIPS64, but only 1 or 2 Linux handhelds are known to use such a CPU.
Question: What could any of these systems be used for, as you've mentioned that their compatibility is horrid?
Answer: File servers, I suppose. Although, there are many reasons as to why they shouldn't be used. Application compatibility is one of them, but there's more to consider. You see, MIPS is 'dead' as the original company which supported and designed them, has abandoned it to focus on RISC-V's development. This means you won't be getting any information on their security vulnerabilities, apart from the occasional enthusiast who may report them.
Question: Are there any known work-arounds for the aforementioned compatibility problem?
Answer: Yes. The easiest way would be to install MagicCode, which seems to be a static recompiler that converts ARM instructions into MIPS instructions. It isn't guaranteed to work on every single ARM application, though. If possible, stick to applications which support ARMv5TE or ARMv6, as MagicCode has some issues recompiling ARMv7A-only applications. Please note that ARMv8A is not supported by MagicCode, so don't try to push your luck on anything which specifically requires that architecture.
So, I thought about listing all known MIPS devices with Android into this thread. If you happen to know any sort of device that is similar, please post it along with their specifications if possible.
Note that italicized text means speculated information based on existing evidence, I'm not sure if it's right.
Watches
| Specifications | Known Details |
|---|---|
| Device Photos |
|
| Make & Model | SmartQ, Z Watch Z1 |
| Availability | International, discontinued |
| Android Version | 4.3 'Jelly Bean' or 4.4 'KitKat' with UI customizations |
| Display Panel | 1.54" 6-bit capacitive touchscreen, 240x240@60Hz, glossy TN TFT WLED |
| SoC, CPU, GPU, & RAM | Ingenic JZ4775, XBurst1@1GHz, X2D@80MHz, 512MB LPDDR1 |
| WLAN, WWAN, BT, & GPS | 802.11bgn, N/A, 4.0+BLE, N/A |
| Radio Capabilities | N/A |
| Camera Configuration | N/A |
| Speaker & Microphone Configuration | N/A, 1 side microphone |
| Storage & Expansion | 4GB eMMC, 3.5mm TRRS headphone+USB 2.0 combo jack |
| Battery Capacity | 300mAh 1-cell lithium-ion polymer |
| Dimensions & Weight | 49.9 x 38.5 x 12.2mm, 42.5 grams |
| Specifications | Known Details |
|---|---|
| Device Photos |
|
| Make & Model | Shanghai Nutshell Electronic, GEAK Watch |
| Availability | China exclusive, discontinued |
| Android Version | 4.1 'Jelly Bean' with UI customizations |
| Display Panel | 1.55" 6-bit capacitive touchscreen, 240x240@60Hz, glossy IPS TFT WLED |
| SoC, CPU, GPU, & RAM | Ingenic JZ4775, XBurst1@1GHz, X2D@80MHz, 512MB LPDDR1 |
| WLAN, WWAN, BT, & GPS | 802.11bgn+NFC, N/A, 4.0+BLE, A-GPS |
| Radio Capabilities | Stereo FM |
| Camera Configuration | N/A |
| Speaker & Microphone Configuration | N/A, 1 side microphone |
| Storage & Expansion | 4GB eMMC, 3.5mm TRRS headphone+USB 2.0 combo jack |
| Battery Capacity | 330mAh 1-cell lithium-ion polymer |
| Dimensions & Weight | Unknown |
| Specifications | Known Details |
|---|---|
| Device Photos |
|
| Make & Model | Beijing Tomoon Technology, T-Fire Metal |
| Availability | China exclusive, discontinued |
| Android Version | 4.3 'Jelly Bean' with UI customizations |
| Display Panel | 1.73" 16-shade grayscale E-ink touchscreen, 320x240@60Hz, glossy |
| SoC, CPU, GPU, & RAM | Ingenic JZ4775, XBurst1@1GHz, X2D@80MHz, 512MB LPDDR1 |
| WLAN, WWAN, BT, & GPS | 802.11bgn, N/A, 4.0, N/A |
| Radio Capabilities | N/A |
| Camera Configuration | N/A |
| Speaker & Microphone Configuration | N/A, 1 side microphone |
| Storage & Expansion | 4GB eMMC, microUSB 2.0 Type-B port |
| Battery Capacity | 270mAh 1-cell lithium-ion polymer |
| Dimensions & Weight | 50 x 35.5 x 7.5mm, 37.5 grams |
Phones
| Specifications | Known Details |
|---|---|
| Device Photos |
|
| Make & Model | Shenzhen Sanno Mobile Technology, P800 & Z800 |
| Availability | International, discontinued |
| Android Version | 2.1 'Eclair' or 2.2 'Froyo' with no customizations |
| Display Panel | 3.5" 6-bit capacitive touchscreen, 320x480@60Hz, glossy TN TFT WLED |
| SoC, CPU, GPU, & RAM | Ingenic JZ4760B, XBurst1@600MHz, Vivante GC200@250MHz, 256MB DDR1 |
| WLAN, WWAN, BT, & GPS | 802.11bg, GSM+GPRS+EDGE, 2.1, A-GPS |
| Radio Capabilities | Stereo FM |
| Camera Configuration | 1 front 0.3MP camera, 1 rear 2MP camera |
| Speaker & Microphone Configuration | 1 front speaker, 1 rear speaker, 1 front microphone |
| Storage & Expansion | 512MB eMMC, 2x MiniSIM slot, microSDHC slot, microUSB 2.0 Type-B port, 3.5mm TRRS headphone jack |
| Battery Capacity | 1500mAh 1-cell lithium-ion polymer |
| Dimensions & Weight | 115 x 62 x 12.7mm, 119 grams |
Tablets
| Specifications | Known Details |
|---|
| Device Photos |
|
| Make & Model | Velocity Micro, Cruz Tablet T103, T104 & T105 |
| Availability | International, discontinued |
| Android Version | 2.0 'Eclair' or 2.2 'Froyo' with no customizations |
| Display Panel | 7" 6-bit capacitive touchscreen, 800x480@60Hz, glossy TN TFT WLED |
| SoC, CPU, GPU, & RAM | Ingenic JZ4760B, XBurst1@600MHz, Vivante GC200@250MHz, 512MB DDR1 |
| WLAN, WWAN, BT, & GPS | 802.11bgn, N/A, N/A, N/A |
| Radio Capabilities | N/A |
| Camera Configuration | N/A |
| Speaker & Microphone Configuration | 2 side speakers, 1 side microphone |
| Storage & Expansion | 4GB eMMC, SDHC slot, MiniUSB 2.0 Type-B port, 3.5mm TRRS headphone jack, proprietary dock port, Kensington lock slot |
| Battery Capacity | 1800mAh 2-cell lithium-ion polymer |
| Dimensions & Weight | 191 x 121 x 15.2mm, 454 grams |
| Specifications | Known Details |
|---|---|
| Device Photos |
|
| Make & Model | Velocity Micro, Cruz Tablet T301 |
| Availability | International, discontinued |
| Android Version | 2.0 'Eclair' or 2.2 'Froyo' with UI customizations |
| Display Panel | 7" 6-bit capacitive touchscreen, 800x600@60Hz, glossy TN TFT WLED |
| SoC, CPU, GPU, & RAM | Ingenic JZ4760B, XBurst1@600MHz, Vivante GC200@250MHz, 256MB DDR2 |
| WLAN, WWAN, BT, & GPS | 802.11bgn, N/A, N/A, N/A |
| Radio Capabilities | N/A |
| Camera Configuration | N/A |
| Speaker & Microphone Configuration | 2 side speakers, N/A |
| Storage & Expansion | 4GB eMMC, SDHC slot, MiniUSB 2.0 Type-B port, 3.5mm TRRS headphone jack |
| Battery Capacity | 1600mAh 2-cell lithium-ion polymer |
| Dimensions & Weight | 191 x 142 x 15.2mm, 434 grams |
| Specifications | Known Details |
|---|---|
| Device Photos |
|
| Make & Model | Skytex, Primer Pocket SX-EB430A |
| Availability | America exclusive, discontinued |
| Android Version | 2.2 'Froyo' with no customizations |
| Display Panel | 4.3" 6-bit resistive touchscreen, 480x272@60Hz, glossy TN TFT WLED |
| SoC, CPU, GPU, & RAM | Ingenic JZ4760B, XBurst1@600MHz, Vivante GC200@250MHz, 256MB DDR2 |
| WLAN, WWAN, BT, & GPS | 802.11bgn, N/A, N/A, N/A |
| Radio Capabilities | N/A |
| Camera Configuration | N/A |
| Speaker & Microphone Configuration | 1 rear speaker, 1 side microphone |
| Storage & Expansion | 4GB eMMC, microSDHC slot, MiniUSB 2.0 Type-B port, 3.5mm TRRS headphone jack |
| Battery Capacity | 1400mAh 1-cell lithium-ion polymer |
| Dimensions & Weight | 114.3 x 77 x 11.9mm, 141.7 grams |
| Specifications | Known Details |
|---|---|
| Device Photos |
|
| Make & Model | Shenzhen ICOO Electronics Technology, T22 |
| Availability | International, discontinued |
| Android Version | 2.2 'Froyo' with UI customizations |
| Display Panel | 4.3" 6-bit resistive touchscreen, 480x272@60Hz, glossy TN TFT WLED |
| SoC, CPU, GPU, & RAM | Actions ATM7001c, MIPS32 24K@480MHz, Unknown, 256MB DDR2 |
| WLAN, WWAN, BT, & GPS | 802.11bg, N/A, N/A, N/A |
| Radio Capabilities | N/A |
| Camera Configuration | N/A |
| Speaker & Microphone Configuration | 1 rear speaker, N/A |
| Storage & Expansion | 4GB eMMC, microSDHC slot, MiniUSB 2.0 Type-B port, MiniHDMI-out port, 3.5mm TRRS headphone jack |
| Battery Capacity | Unknown |
| Dimensions & Weight | Unknown |
| Specifications | Known Details |
|---|---|
| Device Photos |
|
| Make & Model | Shenzhen Rongzhi Electronic Technology, A3 |
| Availability | International, discontinued |
| Android Version | 2.2 'Froyo' with UI customizations |
| Display Panel | 4.3" 6-bit resistive touchscreen, 480x272@60Hz, glossy TN TFT WLED |
| SoC, CPU, GPU, & RAM | Ingenic JZ4760B, XBurst1@600MHz, Vivante GC200@250MHz, 256MB DDR2 |
| WLAN, WWAN, BT, & GPS | 802.11bg, N/A, N/A, N/A |
| Radio Capabilities | N/A |
| Camera Configuration | N/A |
| Speaker & Microphone Configuration | 1 rear speaker, N/A |
| Storage & Expansion | 4GB eMMC, microSDHC slot, MiniUSB 2.0 Type-B port, 3.5mm TRRS Composite-out port, 3.5mm TRRS headphone jack |
| Battery Capacity | 1400mAh 1-cell lithium-ion polymer |
| Dimensions & Weight | Unknown |
| Specifications | Known Details |
|---|---|
| Device Photos |
|
| Make & Model | Shenzhen Gemei Electronic Technology, HD8900 Pro |
| Availability | International, discontinued |
| Android Version | 2.2.2 'Froyo' with UI customizations |
| Display Panel | 5" 6-bit resistive touchscreen, 800x480@60Hz, glossy TN TFT WLED |
| SoC, CPU, GPU, & RAM | Actions ATM7001, MIPS32 24K@600MHz, Unknown, 256MB DDR2 |
| WLAN, WWAN, BT, & GPS | 802.11bg, N/A, N/A, N/A |
| Radio Capabilities | N/A |
| Camera Configuration | N/A |
| Speaker & Microphone Configuration | 1 rear speaker, N/A |
| Storage & Expansion | 8GB eMMC, microSDHC slot, MiniUSB 2.0 Type-B port, MiniHDMI-out port, 3.5mm TRRS headphone jack |
| Battery Capacity | Unknown |
| Dimensions & Weight | 129 x 86 x 13mm, Unknown |
| Specifications | Known Details |
|---|---|
| Device Photos |
|
| Make & Model | Trikyyu LLC, Qoo! q-pad IC0707A |
| Availability | Russia exclusive, discontinued |
| Android Version | 4.0 'Ice Cream Sandwich' with no customizations |
| Display Panel | 7" 6-bit capacitive touchscreen, 800x480@60Hz, glossy TN TFT WLED |
| SoC, CPU, GPU, & RAM | Ingenic JZ4770, XBurst1@1GHz, Vivante GC860@440MHz, 512MB DDR2 |
| WLAN, WWAN, BT, & GPS | 802.11bgn, N/A, N/A, N/A |
| Radio Capabilities | N/A |
| Camera Configuration | 1 front 0.3MP camera, 1 rear 2MP camera |
| Speaker & Microphone Configuration | 1 rear speaker, 1 side microphone |
| Storage & Expansion | 8GB eMMC, microSDHC slot, MiniUSB 2.0 Type-B port, MiniHDMI-out port, 3.5mm TRRS headphone jack |
| Battery Capacity | 4000mAh 1-cell lithium-ion polymer |
| Dimensions & Weight | 187.5 x 112 x 12mm, 580 grams |
| Specifications | Known Details |
|---|---|
| Device Photos |
|
| Make & Model | Shenzhen Ainol Electronics, Novo 7 Basic, Paladin & Knight |
| Availability | International, discontinued |
| Android Version | 3.2 'Honeycomb' or 4.0.3 'Ice Cream Sandwich' with no customizations |
| Display Panel | 7" 6-bit capacitive touchscreen, 800x480@60Hz, glossy TN TFT WLED |
| SoC, CPU, GPU, & RAM | Ingenic JZ4770, XBurst1@1GHz, Vivante GC860@440MHz, 512MB DDR2 |
| WLAN, WWAN, BT, & GPS | 802.11bgn, N/A, N/A, N/A |
| Radio Capabilities | N/A |
| Camera Configuration | N/A |
| Speaker & Microphone Configuration | 1 rear speaker, N/A |
| Storage & Expansion | 8 or 16GB eMMC, microSDHC slot, MiniUSB 2.0 Type-B port, 3.5mm TRRS headphone jack |
| Battery Capacity | 4000mAh 1-cell lithium-ion polymer |
| Dimensions & Weight | 176 x 110 x 13.2mm, 420 grams |
| Specifications | Known Details |
|---|---|
| Device Photos |
|
| Make & Model | Unknown, Q8 GS701B |
| Availability | International, discontinued |
| Android Version | 4.0.3 'Ice Cream Sandwich' with no customizations |
| Display Panel | 7" 6-bit capacitive touchscreen, 800x480@60Hz, glossy TN TFT WLED |
| SoC, CPU, GPU, & RAM | Actions ATM7013, MIPS32 1074Kc@1GHz, Vivante GC800@375MHz, 512MB DDR3 |
| WLAN, WWAN, BT, & GPS | 802.11bgn, N/A, N/A, N/A |
| Radio Capabilities | N/A |
| Camera Configuration | 1 front 0.3MP camera |
| Speaker & Microphone Configuration | 1 rear speaker, 1 side microphone |
| Storage & Expansion | 4GB eMMC, microSDHC slot, MicroUSB 2.0 Type-B port, MiniHDMI-out port, 3.5mm TRRS headphone jack |
| Battery Capacity | 2500mAh 2-cell lithium-ion polymer |
| Dimensions & Weight | 181 x 121 x 8.9mm, 260 grams |
| Specifications | Known Details |
|---|---|
| Device Photos |
|
| Make & Model | Shenzhen Ramos Digital Technology, miumiu W1 |
| Availability | China exclusive, discontinued |
| Android Version | 4.0 'Ice Cream Sandwich with no customizations |
| Display Panel | 7" 6-bit capacitive touchscreen, 1024x600@60Hz, glossy TN TFT WLED |
| SoC, CPU, GPU, & RAM | Actions ATM7019, MIPS32 1074Kf@1GHz, Vivante GC800@375MHz, 512MB DDR3 |
| WLAN, WWAN, BT, & GPS | 802.11bgn, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown |
| Radio Capabilities | Unknown |
| Camera Configuration | 1 front 0.3MP camera |
| Speaker & Microphone Configuration | 1 rear speaker, Unknown |
| Storage & Expansion | 4 or 8GB eMMC, Unknown |
| Battery Capacity | Unknown |
| Dimensions & Weight | Unknown |
| Specifications | Known Details |
|---|---|
| Device Photos |
|
| Make & Model | Karbonn Mobile, Smart Tab 1 |
| Availability | India exclusive, discontinued |
| Android Version | 4.0.3 'Ice Cream Sandwich' or 4.1 'Jelly Bean' with no customizations |
| Display Panel | 7" 6-bit capacitive touchscreen, 800x480@60Hz, glossy TN TFT WLED |
| SoC, CPU, GPU, & RAM | Ingenic JZ4770, [email protected], Vivante GC860@250MHz, 512MB DDR2 |
| WLAN, WWAN, BT, & GPS | 802.11bgn, N/A, N/A, N/A |
| Radio Capabilities | N/A |
| Camera Configuration | 1 front 2MP camera |
| Speaker & Microphone Configuration | 1 rear speaker, 1 side microphone |
| Storage & Expansion | 1GB eMMC, microSDHC slot, MiniUSB 2.0 Type-B port, MiniHDMI-out port, 3.5mm TRRS headphone jack |
| Battery Capacity | 3700mAh 2-cell lithium-ion polymer |
| Dimensions & Weight | 193 x 121 x 8mm, Unknown |
| Specifications | Known Details |
|---|---|
| Device Photos |
|
| Make & Model | Philips, Tablet 7+ PI3800 |
| Availability | China exclusive, discontinued |
| Android Version | 4.0 'Ice Cream Sandwich' with UI customizations |
| Display Panel | 7" 6-bit capacitive touchscreen, 1024x600@60Hz, glossy TN TFT WLED |
| SoC, CPU, GPU, & RAM | Ingenic JZ4770, XBurst1@1GHz, Vivante GC860@250MHz, 512MB DDR2 |
| WLAN, WWAN, BT, & GPS | 802.11bgn, N/A, 2.1+EDR, N/A |
| Radio Capabilities | N/A |
| Camera Configuration | 1 front 0.3MP camera, 1 rear 2MP camera |
| Speaker & Microphone Configuration | 1 rear speaker, 1 side microphone |
| Storage & Expansion | 8 or 16GB eMMC, microSDHC slot, MicroUSB 2.0 Type-B port, 3.5mm TRRS headphone jack |
| Battery Capacity | 4000 or 6000mAh 1-cell lithium-ion polymer |
| Dimensions & Weight | 203.2 x 123.3 x 13.2mm, 365 grams |
| Specifications | Known Details |
|---|---|
| Device Photos |
|
| Make & Model | Verizon, NP-M801 |
| Availability | Limited giveaway to developers, discontinued |
| Android Version | 4.0 'Ice Cream Sandwich' or 4.1 or 4.3 'Jelly Bean' or 4.4 'KitKat' with no customizations |
| Display Panel | 9.7" 6-bit capacitive touchscreen, 1024x768@60Hz, glossy IPS TFT WLED |
| SoC, CPU, GPU, & RAM | Ingenic JZ4780, 2x XBurst1@1.5GHz, PowerVR SGX540@200MHz, 1GB DDR3 |
| WLAN, WWAN, BT, & GPS | 802.11bgn, HSPAP+LTE, 4.0, N/A |
| Radio Capabilities | Unknown |
| Camera Configuration | 1 front 0.3MP camera, 1 rear 2MP camera |
| Speaker & Microphone Configuration | 2 front speakers, 1 front microphone |
| Storage & Expansion | 4GB eMMC, microSDHC slot, MicroUSB 2.0 Type-B port, MiniHDMI-out port, 3.5mm TRRS headphone jack |
| Battery Capacity | 4000mAh 1-cell lithium-ion polymer |
| Dimensions & Weight | Unknown |
Frequently Unasked Questions
Question: You said Android 4.2.1 was the last official version that supported the MIPS ISA; how is a smartwatch and a tablet running 4.4 or 4.3 respectively?
Answer: It's running an unofficial build of 4.4 that has built-in support for MIPS, which is compiled by Imagination, not by Google. Likewise with 4.3.
Question: Does the FiiO X3 MK I, II, III, M3K, M3 Pro, and the M5 fit in this thread?
Answer: No. They don't run Android as far as I am aware, so they don't fit in this thread.
Question: What is the latest unofficial build of Android that supports the MIPS ISA?
Answer: Android 8.1 'Oreo', but that build is specifically made for the Imagination Creator Ci20.
Question: Would it be possible to port the Creator Ci20's system images over to the devices running older versions of Android?
Answer: Yes. It certainly isn't an easy job to do, however. The software drivers in general, will be your biggest roadblock. That and the low-end specifications of most MIPS devices would make this very impractical. It isn't worth it, in my opinion.
Question: Which Android NDK revision should be used to compile programs for MIPS?
Answer: I recommend NDK r17c, as the newer revisions of the Android NDK removed all support for MIPS. This includes MIPS64, but only 1 or 2 Linux handhelds are known to use such a CPU.
Question: What could any of these systems be used for, as you've mentioned that their compatibility is horrid?
Answer: File servers, I suppose. Although, there are many reasons as to why they shouldn't be used. Application compatibility is one of them, but there's more to consider. You see, MIPS is 'dead' as the original company which supported and designed them, has abandoned it to focus on RISC-V's development. This means you won't be getting any information on their security vulnerabilities, apart from the occasional enthusiast who may report them.
Question: Are there any known work-arounds for the aforementioned compatibility problem?
Answer: Yes. The easiest way would be to install MagicCode, which seems to be a static recompiler that converts ARM instructions into MIPS instructions. It isn't guaranteed to work on every single ARM application, though. If possible, stick to applications which support ARMv5TE or ARMv6, as MagicCode has some issues recompiling ARMv7A-only applications. Please note that ARMv8A is not supported by MagicCode, so don't try to push your luck on anything which specifically requires that architecture.
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I sadly don't have any knowledge on the topic but maybe it would be nice to have some kind of explanation for the use case and pictures of the devices. How or where did you get that data btw. ?