The Nubia Z11 Mini S (model NX549J) was a powerful and camera-focused compact smartphone from 2016. It stood out in the mid-range market with its high-resolution 23MP Sony IMX318 rear camera and a premium metal unibody design. The device was powered by the legendary and power-efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, offering a smooth and reliable experience on its 5.2-inch Full HD display. This guide provides an official stock ROM, a low-level QFIL / EDL package, designed to unbrick a hard-bricked phone or perform a complete factory restore.
Important: This is an advanced unbricking procedure. This firmware is specifically for the Nubia Z11 Mini S (NX549J). The flashing process requires your phone to be in EDL Mode (9008), and the process will erase all data.
Quick Device Specs
- Device: Nubia Z11 Mini S (NX549J)
- Release year: 2016
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625
- Display: 5.2″ IPS LCD, Full HD
- Battery: 3000 mAh
- Original OS: Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), Nubia UI 4
Required Downloads
To flash a Qualcomm device in EDL mode, you will need the specific QPST suite and drivers. You can find the downloads for these in our main guide linked below.
- QPST & QFIL Flash Tool
- Qualcomm QDLoader USB Drivers
Unbrick Firmware (QFIL)
| Build Date | Type | Download | Chipset |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08-02-2017 | QFIL EDL Unbrick ROM | Download | Qualcomm |
How to Flash the Stock Firmware
Restoring a bricked Nubia Z11 Mini S requires a Windows PC and the QFIL tool. The process involves installing the correct Qualcomm drivers, forcing your phone into EDL Mode by holding Volume Up + Down and connecting the USB cable, loading the firehose programmer and XML files from the firmware, and then starting the download.
For a detailed, step-by-step guide with screenshots and tool download links, please follow our comprehensive pillar guide: How to Use QFIL to Flash Qualcomm Devices.
Device-Specific Troubleshooting for Nubia Z11 Mini S
- China ROM / No Google Services: The Nubia Z11 Mini S was primarily sold in China. This unbrick firmware is likely based on the official China ROM, which does not include Google Play Services or the Google Play Store. After flashing, you may need to install them manually or find a global-based custom ROM.
- “No Port Available” / Driver Issues: If QFIL doesn’t see the “Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008” port, your drivers are not installed correctly. You must disable Driver Signature Enforcement in Windows before running the driver installer. Reboot your PC after installation and try again.
- Entering EDL Mode: Ensure the phone is completely powered off. Press and hold both Volume Up and Volume Down buttons simultaneously. While holding them, plug the USB cable into the phone. The screen will stay black, but your PC should make a sound, and the port will appear in QFIL. For a completely dead device, hardware test points may be required.
- QFIL “Sahara” or “Firehose” Error: This error points to a communication failure. Use a high-quality USB cable, connect directly to a reliable USB 2.0 port on your computer, and ensure no other conflicting mobile drivers are installed.
FAQs
Q1. What is a QFIL / EDL firmware?
QFIL (Qualcomm Flash Image Loader) is a tool used to flash firmware in EDL (Emergency Download) mode. This is a very low-level mode, a step below fastboot, designed to recover Qualcomm devices from a “hard brick” state where they are otherwise unresponsive.
Q2. What made the Snapdragon 625 processor special?
The Snapdragon 625 was legendary for its 14nm manufacturing process, which provided an excellent balance of smooth, reliable performance for everyday tasks while being incredibly power-efficient. This resulted in fantastic battery life in many devices, including the Z11 Mini S.
Q3. Will this ROM install Google Play Store?
Most likely not. Unbrick packages for Nubia devices from this era are typically based on the China ROM, which does not contain any Google apps or services. They would need to be installed manually after flashing.
Q4. Will this process erase my data?
Yes. A QFIL flash is a complete factory restore that erases all user data from the phone’s internal storage.
