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Credit: C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
Custom ROMs used to be the thing for Android enthusiasts, but discussions surrounding them have died down in recent years. Better software updates, more polished UIs, and powerful hardware have made them feel less necessary. Yet, the community never completely disappeared and in 2024, you can still find dozens of Android phones and tablets with official LineageOS builds. So, what keeps so many hooked on modified operating systems when most others have moved on? I installed custom ROMs on two of my own Android devices to find out.
Why install a custom ROM in 2024?
The biggest reason to install a custom ROM hasn’t changed in over a decade — an aftermarket OS can extend the life of older Android devices that have long been abandoned by their respective manufacturers. Take the LG V40 or the OnePlus 7 Pro, for instance. Officially, both phones no longer receive new Android version updates or security patches. However, the enthusiast community has kept such devices alive with official LineageOS builds up to Android 14. Some popular phones like the Galaxy S5 still receive updates to this day.
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