# MXQ PRO RK3229: an Android firmware investigation and Linux repurposing

> An owner documents identifying an RK3229 TV box, investigating its stock Android ROM and repurposing it with a userspace gamepad driver and Armbian. REA assisted ADB inventory and Android-provider routing; APK analysis and device changes are reported as a mixed workflow, not firmware reconstruction.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Firmware
- Category: Community REA investigations
- Relationship: Author-reported mixed workflow
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-01
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-01
- Original resource: <https://github.com/bigtower17/mxqpro-rk3229>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/bigtower17/mxqpro-rk3229/blob/b9079b419373eec439d85df4a8a11be549cd2f56/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/mxqpro-rk3229-rea-repurposing-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/mxqpro-rk3229-rea-repurposing-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/mxqpro-rk3229-rea-repurposing-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** Requires an owned, correctly identified RK3228/RK3229-class board and its matching firmware/backups; the MXQ PRO sales label alone does not identify the hardware.
- **Attribution:** The author limits REA's role to device inventory and the Android provider pointer; JADX and separate host/device tools perform other parts of the work.
- **Testing evidence:** The report covers one unit and describes replacing its stock system. Partition layout, board support and boot behavior are device-specific.
- **License:** Large/proprietary images, system APKs and decompiled third-party source are excluded upstream. A project-wide license grant is not stated in the reviewed README.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/bigtower17/mxqpro-rk3229/blob/b9079b419373eec439d85df4a8a11be549cd2f56/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/morluto/rea/discussions/8248>

## More in Firmware and hardware

- [iCSee LocalMod: a stock-firmware camera control extension](https://awesomerea.org/resources/icsee-localmod-rea-camera-case/index.md) · Case study
- [flipper-telink: replacement firmware for Tuya Zigbee remotes](https://awesomerea.org/resources/flipper-telink-tuya-remote-firmware-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Supermodel: initial Real3D Pro-1000 image-generator emulation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/supermodel-real3d-pro1000-emulation-case/index.md) · Case study
- [OpenDMCUFirm: a reimplemented Wii U DMCU display firmware](https://awesomerea.org/resources/opendmcufirm-wii-u-dmcu-firmware-case/index.md) · Case study
- [reflecticon-224: running Lexicon 224 reverb firmware on emulated hardware](https://awesomerea.org/resources/reflecticon-224-lexicon-emulation-case/index.md) · Case study
- [TeddyCloud: a self-hosted replacement for the Toniebox cloud](https://awesomerea.org/resources/teddycloud-toniebox-server-case/index.md) · Case study

## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.