HMD Global’s bootloader unlock policy might be a mess, but the company still has a pretty good reputation among Android enthusiasts due to their speedy update schedule and minimal software changes. Be it the entry-level Nokia 2.2 or the mid-range Nokia 7.2, HMD Global has kept its promise to roll out the Android 10 update according to the roadmap published by the OEM. The COVID-19 outbreak has delayed the rollout a bit, but leaked beta builds suggest that updates for the Nokia 8 Sirocco as well as the Nokia 5.1 Plus are on their way.

Nokia 8 Sirocco XDA Forums || Nokia 5.1 Plus XDA Forums

In the past, similar beta builds for the Nokia 6.1, Nokia 6.1 Plus, Nokia 7 Plus, Nokia 7.1, and Nokia 9 PureView surfaced on the Internet before the official update rollout. XDA Senior Member hikari_calyx was the man behind those leaks, and he is also responsible for sharing the current set of beta builds as well. While the initial Android 10 update package for the Nokia 8 Sirocco dates back to January 2020, the Nokia 5.1 Plus Android 10 beta build has been built quite recently. The latter can also be installed on the China-exclusive Nokia X5, provided the unit has been cross-flashed earlier with the global Android One firmware.

nokia_5.1_plus_x5_android_10_leaked

The installation procedure is fairly simple for owners of the Nokia 8 Sirocco as the update packages can be sideloaded using the stock recovery image. Nokia 5.1 Plus users, however, need to acquire root privilege using the MediaTek-su exploit before attempting to play with the leaked Android 10 beta build. This particular requirement can be bypassed by unlocking the bootloader first, but HMD Global doesn't provide any official method to achieve that on the Nokia 5.1 Plus.

Download internal Android 10 build for the Nokia 8 Sirocco

Download internal Android 10 build for the Nokia 5.1 Plus

It’s worth noting that flashing these beta builds on your phone may affect the warranty status. You might also encounter some unforeseen bugs or face issues while rolling back to the stable channel in the future, so we would advise caution before tinkering with your daily-driver.


Thanks to XDA Senior Member hikari_calyx for the screenshot (via Twitter)!