Setting up E-ink HISENSE A9 on US t-mobile network… sort of

You’ll have to make choices… in Chinese. Use Google translate from images:

We’re all spoiled now, but I still can’t help but marvel that this is possible in my lifetime.

Keyboard is for pinyin. Install GBoard app.

Phone calls: You will be asked for a “password” even though you never set it up. Reset your *voicemail* password. Call #793# to reset your password. Now you can call.

SMS: Won’t send/receive. Settings -> system & updates -> reset network settings. Reboot. Now you can text.

Unfortunately, it defaults to a slow “EDGE” network, corresponding to a little “E” next to the bars. To get 4g network you have to root the phone which is a complicated process explained here and then use an app to force the phone to connect to 4g. I haven’t done this yet, hoping to view this as a feature rather than a bug. We’ll see, and if anyone knows of an alternative simple way to get 4g, let me know.