Q1. The portrait mode (bokeh effect) on my front camera doesn't work. Can this be fixed?

Yes, this is a very common software bug reported for the BQ-5516L Twin. Flashing the official stock ROM reinstalls the original camera application and its processing algorithms, which is the most reliable way to fix issues with software-based effects like portrait mode.

Q2. My phone's battery drains incredibly fast, even when idle. What is the problem?

This is a known issue often caused by poor software optimization or rogue background processes. A clean firmware flash can significantly improve battery life by restoring the phone's original power management settings. After flashing, consider calibrating the battery by draining it completely and then charging to 100% uninterrupted.

Q3. My Face Unlock and fingerprint sensor are slow and rarely work. Will this help?

It often can. Unreliable biometrics are typically a software or driver issue. A firmware flash restores the original drivers and calibration data for both sensors. Be sure to delete and re-register your face and fingerprints after the flash for the best results.

BQ Mobile BQ-5516L Twin Firmware (Stock ROM)

The BQ Mobile BQ-5516L Twin is a mid-range smartphone from 2018 that was designed with a focus on photography, notably featuring a dual-camera setup on the front for enhanced selfies. Running on Android 8.1 Oreo, the device aimed to provide modern features like Face Unlock and a fingerprint sensor. However, users have frequently reported software issues that detract from its core features, including a buggy camera app where the portrait mode fails to work correctly, severe and unpredictable battery drain, and unreliable biometric sensors. For those experiencing these problems, flashing the official stock firmware is the most effective method to restore the device’s software and fix these persistent bugs.

ℹ️ Important Note:
This phone is powered by a MediaTek chipset and requires the SP Flash Tool to install the firmware. This process will completely erase all your personal data. Ensure you have backed up your important files before you begin.

⚠️ Prerequisites: Before You Begin

Click Here for the Essential Pre-Flashing Checklist

Backup Your Data: All your contacts, photos, and files on the phone’s internal storage will be permanently wiped.
Charge The Battery: To prevent the phone from shutting down during the update, ensure the battery is charged to at least 50%.
Windows PC & USB Cable: You will need a Windows computer and a standard micro USB cable to perform the flash.

📱 Quick Device Specifications

Device: BQ Mobile BQ-5516L Twin
Chipset: MediaTek MT6750
Display: 5.5″ HD+ IPS (1440×720)
Operating System: Android 8.1 Oreo
RAM: 2GB
Storage: 16GB
Battery: 2900 mAh

🛠 Required Tools & Downloads

File / Tool	Download Link
SP Flash Tool	Download Tool
MediaTek USB VCOM Drivers	Download Drivers

⬇️ BQ Mobile BQ-5516L Twin Stock ROM / Firmware

Android Version	Build Date	Chipset	Download Link
8.1 Oreo	2018-03-30	MediaTek MT6750	Download (MediaFire)

Quick Steps to Flash BQ-5516L Twin Firmware

Download and install the MediaTek VCOM drivers. Extract the firmware ZIP file (BQ_5516L_..._20180330_8.1.0.zip) and the SP Flash Tool on your PC.
Launch flash_tool.exe. Click the “Scatter-loading” button and select the MT6750_Android_scatter.txt file from the extracted firmware folder.
Ensure the flashing mode in the dropdown menu is set to “Download Only.”
Power off your phone completely. Click the green “Download” button in SP Flash Tool, then immediately connect the powered-off phone to your PC via USB cable.
The flash will start automatically. Once you see the green checkmark pop-up, you can disconnect the phone and power it on.

For a more detailed, step-by-step guide on this process, please refer to our main tutorial:
👉 Full Tutorial: How to Flash MediaTek Firmware with SP Flash Tool

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. The portrait mode (bokeh effect) on my front camera doesn’t work. Can this be fixed?: Yes, this is a very common software bug reported for the BQ-5516L Twin. Flashing the official stock ROM reinstalls the original camera application and its processing algorithms, which is the most reliable way to fix issues with software-based effects like portrait mode.
Q2. My phone’s battery drains incredibly fast, even when idle. What is the problem?: This is a known issue often caused by poor software optimization or rogue background processes. A clean firmware flash can significantly improve battery life by restoring the phone’s original power management settings. After flashing, consider calibrating the battery by draining it completely and then charging to 100% uninterrupted.
Q3. My Face Unlock and fingerprint sensor are slow and rarely work. Will this help?: It often can. Unreliable biometrics are typically a software or driver issue. A firmware flash restores the original drivers and calibration data for both sensors. Be sure to delete and re-register your face and fingerprints after the flash for the best results.

🔧 Device Troubleshooting

An official update (OTA) failed and now my phone is stuck on the BQ logo: A failed OTA update can corrupt the system. The only way to recover from this is to manually flash the full stock firmware using this guide.
SP Flash Tool gives a BROM ERROR or does not detect the phone: This is a driver issue. Ensure the MediaTek VCOM drivers are correctly installed (you may need to disable Windows Driver Signature Enforcement). Use a good quality USB cable and a main USB port on your PC. Make sure the phone is completely powered off before connecting it.
I get a “PMT changed for the ROM” error in SP Flash Tool: This error indicates a mismatch in the partition layout, often after a failed update. To fix this, change the flashing mode in SP Flash Tool from “Download Only” to “Firmware Upgrade” and try again.