Unveiling the Powkiddy X28 Analog Stick Fix: A Deep Dive into Reverse Engineering

EDIT: BE CAREFUL WHEN FLASHING THIS FIX. At the moment, some units fail to boot with this fix and even with unbricking tools. I am trying to find out if there has been a silent revision of the x28.

Hey everyone,

After countless hours of development and honing my skills, I'm excited to share with you a fix I've been working on for the Powkiddy X28's analog stick issue, particularly the cardinal snapping problem. This journey was far from easy—it involved the incredibly complex task of reverse engineering a Linux Android kernel to address a driver-level problem.

The Challenge and the Fix

The process was insanely complex, requiring me to dig deep into the underlying kernel code and understand the intricacies of the hardware and software interaction.



While I've managed to develop a fix for the snapping issue, this has uncovered another underlying problem—calibration. It turns out that due to quality control issues, some analog sticks may not be perfectly centered, which could still cause problems even after applying this fix. (Pictured below after swapping the sticks between hall sensor and stock)


It seems that Powkiddy was masking this problem with their bad driver code.

What You Need to Know

This fix is specifically designed for the stock firmware on the Powkiddy X28. Given its current limitations, I'm happy to share it with everyone for free. It's a step in the right direction, but it's important to note that this is not a complete solution. The fix addresses the snapping issue but does not correct any potential calibration problems with the sticks themselves.

Looking Forward: GammaOS on the Horizon

Looking ahead, I'm thrilled to announce that I plan to bring my custom GammaOS firmware to the Powkiddy X28. GammaOS will not only include this fix but also offer proper calibration for analog sticks, improved performance, and better battery life. This will be a more comprehensive solution that addresses both software and hardware issues, giving you the gaming experience you deserve on this device.

Thank you all for your support throughout this process. Your encouragement keeps me pushing the boundaries of what's possible, and I can't wait to share more updates with you soon!

Stay tuned!

Sources (reversed engineered kernel) and instructions: https://github.com/TheGammaSqueeze/x28-kernel-decomp/releases/tag/fix_v1

Twitter thread: https://x.com/TheGammaSqueeze/status/1821964926690234426