The Huawei Y9 Prime (2019), known in some regions as the Huawei P Smart Z, was a game-changer for budget-conscious users. It introduced a pop-up selfie camera and a massive 4000mAh battery at a mid-range price point. However, as time progresses, official software support has ended. EMUI, while stable, feels dated, heavy, and lacks the customization of modern Android.
Enter the world of Custom ROMs. Flashing a custom ROM on your Huawei Y9 Prime (codenamed Sturk) can breathe new life into the device, offering Android 13, 14, or even 15, improved performance, and zero bloatware. But because Huawei uses a Kirin chipset (Kirin 710F), this journey is different from Qualcomm devices.
This article covers everything you need to know: benefits, risks, the best ROMs available, and a step-by-step installation guide. huawei y9 prime custom rom
Short answer: Yes, but only if you have the non-EMUI version (Huawei Y9 Prime 2019 – JKM-LX1/JKM-LX2/JKM-LX3).
If your device runs EMUI 9.1 or later with a Kirin 710 chip, you’re likely locked out due to Huawei’s bootloader unlock policy change in mid-2018.
| Feature | EMUI 10 (Stock) | LineageOS 18.1 | |---------|----------------|----------------| | Pop-up camera | ✅ Works | ✅ Works (manual init fix) | | Fingerprint | ✅ | ✅ | | Banking apps | ❌ (no updates) | ❌ (SafetyNet) | | Battery life | 6h SOT | 5h SOT | | Security patch | Jan 2022 | June 2024 | | GCam support | No | Partial (no night mode) | The Huawei Y9 Prime (2019), known in some
The trade-off: You gain modern Android + security patches, but lose banking apps unless you root + hide with Magisk + Shamiko + Play Integrity Fix (cat-and-mouse game).
Prerequisites:
Fix: You likely flashed a ROM built for the P Smart Z (Dubai). Ensure your ROM file name includes "Sturk" or "Y9 Prime." If broken, restore stock persist partition backup (you did backup, right?).
The Huawei Y9 Prime’s signature feature is its mechanical front camera. Custom ROMs handle this differently: | Feature | EMUI 10 (Stock) | LineageOS 18
Warning: If you drop the phone while the camera is popped up, you will shatter the mechanism. Custom ROMs lack the "Drop Detection" safety feature of EMUI.