This page provides the official stock firmware for the ZTE Blade L5 (model T520), a basic, entry-level 3G smartphone designed for emerging markets like Malaysia. For this very old device, a full firmware flash is often the only way to resolve software corruption, fix a bootloop, or restore the phone to its original factory state.
CRUCIAL WARNING: ZTE released multiple phones named “Blade L5” with different hardware. This firmware is strictly for the T520 model with the MT6572 (3G) chipset. It is NOT compatible with the Blade L5 (E7L) model or any other variant. Check your `Settings > About phone` to confirm your model before proceeding.
Important Note: This device is powered by a MediaTek MT6572 chipset and runs the outdated Android 5.1 Lollipop. The restoration process requires the use of SP Flash Tool.
Quick Device Specs
- Device
- ZTE Blade L5 (T520)
- Release year
- 2015
- Chipset
- MediaTek MT6572 (3G Only)
- Display
- 5.0″ FWVGA TFT (854×480)
- Battery
- 2150 mAh (Removable)
- Memory
- 1GB RAM + 8GB storage
- Camera
- 5MP rear, 2MP front
- OS
- Android 5.1 (Lollipop)
- Region
- Malaysia (MY)
Required Downloads
| File / Tool | Download Link |
|---|---|
| SP Flash Tool | Download Tool |
| MediaTek USB VCOM Drivers | Download Drivers |
Stock ROM & Firmware
| Version | Android | Region | Type | Download | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (2017-02-06) | 5.1 (Lollipop) | Malaysia (MY) | SP Flash Tool | Download | ~850 MB |
Quick Flashing Guide
- Download and install the MediaTek VCOM drivers and the SP Flash Tool on your computer.
- Extract the downloaded firmware ZIP file to find the `MT6572_Android_scatter.txt` file.
- Launch SP Flash Tool, load the scatter file, and ensure the flashing mode is set to “Download Only.”
- Power off your phone, remove the battery, click the “Download” button in the tool, and then connect the phone to your PC via USB to begin.
For a complete, step-by-step tutorial with screenshots, please refer to our definitive guide:
How to Flash Stock Firmware on MediaTek (MTK) Smartphones
FAQs
Q1. Why can’t my Blade L5 connect to 4G/LTE networks?
This specific model (T520) uses a MediaTek MT6572 chipset, which is 3G only. It does not have the hardware to connect to 4G LTE networks, even with a 4G SIM card.
Q2. Is this the same as the Blade L5 (E7L) model?
No, and this is very important. The T520 model has a dual-core MT6572 chipset. The E7L model has a quad-core MT6580 chipset. They are different phones, and their firmware is not interchangeable. Flashing the wrong one will brick your device.
Q3. Can I install modern apps on this phone?
No. The combination of an ancient Android 5.1 OS, a dual-core processor, and only 1GB of RAM means this phone cannot run any modern applications from the Play Store. It is only suitable for its original purpose of basic calling and SMS.
Device-Specific Troubleshooting
- “Google Play Services has stopped” Error: This is a very common and difficult problem on Android 5.1. After flashing, connect to Wi-Fi immediately and open the Play Store. Let it try to update Google Play Services. If it fails due to the 8GB storage limit, you must clear the cache (`Settings > Storage > Cached data`) or disable other pre-installed apps to make room.
- Extreme Slowness and Freezing: This is the expected performance for a device with a dual-core MT6572 chipset and 1GB of RAM. A clean firmware flash will restore it to its ‘best’ possible state, but it will always be very slow by modern standards. Run only one app at a time.
- SP Flash Tool Doesn’t Detect the Phone: This is a driver issue. Reinstall the VCOM drivers (disabling driver signature enforcement in Windows first). The removable battery is your best tool: remove it, click “Download” in SP Flash Tool, then connect the phone without the battery. Once the red bar appears, you can re-insert it.
- “Invalid IMEI” after Flashing: This critical error occurs if you use the “Format All + Download” option in SP Flash Tool. It erases the phone’s unique identifier. To prevent this, always use the “Download Only” mode. Restoring a lost IMEI is a very complex process.
