Top Used Chinese Phones to Root Safely (Android 8+)

Root Android and unlock bootloader are practical on several used Chinese phones — pick Snapdragon-based global variants with strong community support (OnePlus 6/6T/7/7T/8, POCO/Pocophone F1 and later POCO F-series, and Snapdragon Redmi Note 7/Note 8/Note 9 families). These devices have Android 8+ firmware images available and mature TWRP/Magisk + fastboot workflows so you can root without relying on vendor web‑unlock services; avoid Mediatek budget models like the Redmi 6A and Huawei/Honor because of locked bootloaders and ARB risks.

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Contents

• Safe used models to root — Root Android and unlock bootloader
• Why Snapdragon and global variants matter for rooting
• Model-specific notes and quick warnings
• Pre-purchase checks to unlock bootloader and root Android
• Rooting approaches that don’t require official vendor unlock services
• Sources
• Conclusion

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Safe used models to root — Root Android and unlock bootloader

Short version: prefer OnePlus (older models), the original POCO/Pocophone F1 and later POCO F-series, and Snapdragon-based Redmi Note families sold as Global/International variants. Those have abundant TWRP, Magisk, firmware images (Android 8+) and established community workflows that don’t depend on the vendor’s web unlock portal.

Recommended device families (used buys, with why/how):

• OnePlus 6 / 6T / 7 / 7T / 8 series (global/OxygenOS variants)

• Why: OnePlus historically allows fastboot-based unlocking without a vendor web queue; strong TWRP/Lineage/Magisk support and plenty of step‑by‑step threads. Good choice if you want the highest chance of straightforward fastboot unlock + Magisk root. See an overview of mod‑friendly phones at Android Central for context: Android Central: Best phones for rooting and modding.

• POCO / Pocophone F1 (and later POCO F3/F4 family — check exact variant)

• Why: Pocophone F1 shipped on Snapdragon (SD 845), has long community support (TWRP, Magisk, custom ROMs) and multiple community guides. Reddit/XDA communities commonly list POCO as an easy-to-root option for budget used phones: Reddit: best phones for rooting.

• Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 / Redmi Note 8 / Redmi Note 9 families — only the Snapdragon/global variants

• Why: These have plentiful firmware images, TWRP builds and Magisk solutions for many variants. They often need extra attention because Xiaomi’s official unlock flow (Mi Unlock) can be flaky for CN units, but the community documents alternative unlock/bypass routes for older models — see the XDA thread on unlocking Chinese vs Global versions and Deep Testing methods: XDA: Unlock bootloader (Chinese and Global) — updated.

Quick elimination list — don’t buy if your goal is safe, practical rooting without vendor services:

• Redmi 6A and many low‑end Mediatek phones — limited community recovery support, often require testpoint/EDL or MTK exploits. Your Redmi 6A is one of those risky buys.
• Huawei / Honor (post‑2018) — widely reported locked bootloaders and hard blocks in community threads. See community discussion on the general difficulty of Chinese vendor policies: XDA: which phones are easiest to root in 2024?.

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Why Snapdragon matters for root Android

Short answer: Qualcomm (Snapdragon) devices generally have more standard fastboot workflows and better community tooling. That matters because most easy, vendor‑independent rooting methods rely on fastboot (flash or boot a patched boot image), TWRP, and Magisk. Snapdragon phones often accept fastboot commands that let you unlock or boot custom images without having to use a vendor portal or proprietary authorization.

Contrast:

• Snapdragon global models → fastboot unlock or community bypasses are well documented; TWRP & Magisk available.
• Mediatek budget models (e.g., many cheap CN phones) → may require SP‑Flash/testpoint/EDL work, special scatter files and are higher‑risk for bricking or losing IMEI. Community support exists for a few MTK devices, but it’s much more fragmented.

In short: if you’ll root used phones regularly, prefer Snapdragon global variants — they give you the best chance to root Android reliably and without vendor web services.

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Model-specific notes and quick warnings

• OnePlus (6 / 6T / 7 / 7T / 8): generally plug‑and‑play for modding. Unlock via fastboot, then flash Magisk‑patched boot image or TWRP. Keep an eye on the exact codename (e.g., cheeseburger, enchilada) and target the recovery/boot image for that codename. See rooting/modding summaries at Android Central: Android Central: Best phones for rooting and modding.

• POCO F1: excellent community support. If you see global/EEA/CN variants, prefer global. Community threads (Reddit/XDA) discuss unofficial bypasses and clear instructions for Magisk/TWRP. See Reddit community list for recommended mod‑friendly phones: Reddit: best phones for rooting.

• Redmi Note 7/8/9 series: useful and cheap, but variant matters. CN (China) firmware often ties to Mi accounts and Mi Unlock policies; global variants are safer. XDA documents alternate unlock routes (Deep Testing APK, etc.) and notes anti‑rollback (ARB) checks for older Xiaomi models: XDA: Unlock bootloader (Chinese and Global) — updated.

• Avoid newer phones with HyperOS/ARB updates if you don’t know the exact rollback/firmware history — ARB can brick a device if you flash an older bootloader/firmware.

General caveat: community support is model‑specific. Always verify the exact codename (not just the marketing name) before trusting a generic guide.

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Pre-purchase checks to unlock bootloader and root Android

Before you buy a used phone (insist on testing it in person or ask the seller to run these checks while on a call):

1. Confirm exact model, variant and Android version

• Settings → About phone: note model name, build number, and Android version (must be Android 8.0+ per your requirement).
• If you can connect via ADB, run adb shell getprop ro.product.model and adb shell getprop ro.build.version.release.

2. Confirm the vendor/region (Global vs CN)

• CN variants often have locked services or Mi/OPPO/realme account binds. Ask seller “Is this a global/international ROM?” If they can’t confirm, treat as suspect.

3. Check bootloader status and OEM unlocking availability (fast test)

• Reboot to bootloader: adb reboot bootloader (or power + vol‑down).
• Run: fastboot oem device-info or fastboot flashing get_unlock_ability and look for lines like Device unlocked: false or a get_unlock_ability value (nonzero usually means unlockable).
• For Xiaomi, you can query anti‑rollback: fastboot getvar anti — XDA threads mention checking ARB before flashing older firmware: XDA: unlock guide.

4. Check Developer options / OEM unlocking in Settings

• Turn on Developer options and see if the “OEM unlocking” toggle is present and can be enabled. If that option is missing/greyed out, the phone is harder to unlock.

5. Verify no account locks (Mi account, Google FRP)

• Ask the seller to factory reset in front of you (or do it yourself). If the phone requires the previous account login after reset, it’s FRP/Mi‑locked — avoid that device.

6. Search XDA/TWRP for the exact codename

• Go to XDA and the official TWRP device list and search the codename. Confirm there’s an official or stable TWRP build and recent Magisk instructions for that codename. For Xiaomi unlock/deep‑testing methods see XDA: Unlock bootloader (Chinese and Global).

7. Red flags — walk away if you see them

• Seller can’t boot device to home screen.
• Bootloader permanently reported as non‑unlockable in fastboot.
• Device tied to seller’s Mi/Google account and they won’t remove it.
• Device has unknown/altered motherboard (seller opened device).
• Frequent seller excuses about “Mi Unlock won’t work” — that often signals a CN variant or account lock.

Checklist of commands to ask a willing seller to run (or to run yourself if you can test the device):

• adb devices (verify ADB)
• adb shell getprop ro.product.device (codename)
• adb shell getprop ro.build.version.release (Android version)
• adb reboot bootloader then fastboot oem device-info / fastboot flashing get_unlock_ability / fastboot getvar anti

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Rooting approaches that don’t require official vendor unlock services

If you confirmed the device is unlockable without vendor web services, these are the safe, commonly used workflows:

1. Standard fastboot unlock + Magisk (recommended for Snapdragon/global models)

• Backup everything. Unlocking wipes userdata.
• Boot to bootloader, run fastboot oem unlock or fastboot flashing unlock (device‑specific).
• Download the stock boot image for your exact build, patch it with Magisk Manager on the device or via Magisk on PC, then flash the patched image with fastboot flash boot patched_boot.img (or use fastboot boot twrp.img then flash Magisk.zip). This is the normal “root Android” path most guides use. TWRP + Magisk workflows and phone‑specific guides are available in XDA and Reddit threads (see sources below).

2. Temporary boot to custom recovery and flash Magisk (no permanent recovery replace required)

• fastboot boot twrp.img (temporary) then use TWRP to install Magisk.zip. Useful if you don’t want to permanently replace recovery.

3. Community bypasses for locked Xiaomi devices (advanced, higher risk)

• For some older Xiaomi/POCO models the community has documented unofficial bypasses (deep‑testing APK, GitHub bypasses, paid/unofficial unlock services). These work for some used phones but carry risk (bricking, warranty void, account/region issues). XDA covers Deep Testing / alternate flows for Chinese vs Global variants: XDA unlock guide. Use only if you’re comfortable troubleshooting deep restores and EDL flashes.

4. Mediatek SP‑Flash/testpoint and EDL (only for experienced users)

• This is a last resort. MTK tooling can restore or write firmware but is easy to mess up and can lead to persistent IMEI/NVRAM loss. Avoid unless you know the exact scatter files and have a known good guide.

Always read the device‑specific XDA thread front page and the latest Magisk/TWRP posts for that codename before attempting anything. Community threads often include step‑by‑step patched images and known pitfalls for each firmware revision.

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Sources

• XDA: Which are the easiest/best phones to root in 2024?
• Reddit r/Android: Best phones for rooting, custom ROMs and Linux (community list)
• Android Central: Best Android phones for rooting and modding
• XDA: Chinese and Global Version Unlock bootloader — updated guide (Deep Testing / MIUI notes)

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Conclusion

If you want to root Android on a used Chinese phone without relying on vendor web unlocks, buy global Snapdragon variants with strong XDA/Reddit support — top practical picks are OnePlus 6/6T/7/7T/8, the POCO/Pocophone F1 (and carefully vetted POCO F-series), and Snapdragon Redmi Note 7/8/9 models (global variants only). Avoid Mediatek budget models like the Redmi 6A and avoid Huawei/Honor for this purpose. Do the pre‑purchase checks (codename, fastboot unlockability, OEM toggle, Mi/Google account removal, TWRP/Magisk presence) and follow the device‑specific XDA threads for a safe Magisk/TWRP workflow. Root Android successfully — but only after you’ve verified unlockability and that a matching Android 8+ firmware and community recovery exist for the exact codename.