The Best Android ROMs that you can install on your mobile

Until just a few years ago, using third-party ROMs in our Android devices was something of the most common and common, mainly due to the passivity of the vast majority of manufacturers when updating their devices to the latest version of Android, and to the eagerness on the part of users to try the latest news on their terminals. Today, although the use of ROMs has plummeted, there are still those who bet on this type of software developed by independent chefs, which sometimes provides useful new functions while giving a new life to the device in which it is used. Install.

Over the years, some popular ROMs have disappeared, and others have remained at the foot of the gun, supporting dozens of different devices. But, what are the best Android ROMs that can be installed in the middle of 2020? But, what are the best Android ROMs that can be installed in the middle of 2020? In this article, we select some of the best.

The best Android ROMs that you can install on your mobile

LineageOS

The ROM platform par excellence, known until the beginning of 2018 as CyanogenMod, is still today one of the best that any user can install on their Android device to give it a new life and enjoy the native features of the Google operating system, tuned to work perfectly on virtually any existing model.

LineageOS is an open-source operating system based on Android and whose community works daily to offer support to as many devices as possible. By default, the ROM is a practically clean version of AOSP, with only a few additions included by the Lineage team. Still, without unnecessary extras – in fact, it is the user’s choice whether or not to install the Google applications.

LineageOS

Today, LineageOS offers many devices, from brands such as ASUS, BQ, Google, HTC, Huawei, Xiaomi, Motorola, or Samsung. All builds can be downloaded from the official LineageOS website. The latest available version of LineageOS corresponds to version 17 based on Android 10.

Paranoid Android

If there is a ROM platform capable of standing up to LineageOS in terms of popularity, it is undoubtedly Paranoid Android. Like LineageOS, it is based on the AOSP system. It includes various extra configuration and customization options such as PIE controls, gesture controls, support for third-party themes through the Substratum engine, and more details on the official website by Paranoid.

Paranoid Android

The number of devices compatible with Paranoid is lower than that of LineageOS – something evident, on the other hand, because LineageOS has a larger community of developers – and its development is not so fast. As of today, the latest version available is PA 10 Quartz, based on Android 10.

Pixel Experience

A relatively new ROM but with an auspicious future is the Pixel Experience. Its main leader, the developer, jhenrique09, intends to bring the Google Pixel experience to as many users as possible. For this, he decided to create an AOSP-based ROM with some of the exclusive additions of the great G devices. These additions range from the launcher to the icons, the system font, or the boot animation.

Pixel Experience

Similarly, the highest possible stability is ensured, and the developer ensures that security is one of the essential aspects. It is currently compatible with devices from 14 different brands, including Xiaomi, Samsung, OnePlus, Huawei, or Motorola. The ROM can be downloaded from the official Pixel Experience page.

OmniRom

Another veteran platform in this Android ROMs is OmniROM. Since its inception, the community behind this initiative has intended to offer the greatest possible stability to users through fully functional ROMs loaded with useful functions, where customization is an essential factor.

OmniRom

Again we find a ROM based on AOSP, available to install in dozens of different devices, including the latest models from brands such as OnePlus, Sony, or Xiaomi.

Resurrection Remix OS

Every Android user who loves customization should give Resurrection Remix a try. This ROM platform based on AOSP offers dozens of functions. You can modify the Ta system interface, from the home screen to the notification panel, through the different menus and even the recent applications screen.

Resurrection Remix OS

It also includes extra options such as updating the latest version of the ROM through the OTA system, monthly security patches, and much more. It is compatible with more than 80 different device models, and the latest builds can be downloaded from the platform’s official website.

Evolution X

Some consider Evolution X ROM the successor to Resurrection Remix: an extremely customizable ROM, but one that does not forget the simplicity that characterizes stock Android.

Evolution X

According to the people behind its development, Evolution X brings the “Pixel experience” to devices. Still, under its hood, it hides settings and functions that we would not find on Google phones. All of this with monthly security patches and frequent updates. The ROM can be downloaded from the project website and is available for several different models.

Dirty Unicorns

Go Dirty, Never Clean. Under that slogan hides one of the most popular Android ROMs of recent times, Dirty Unicorns. It is an open-source platform that started in 2012 and which today is made up of a large team of independent developers that support more than 20 different devices.

Dirty Unicorns

The latest Dirty Unicorns builds based on Android 9 Pie so that any user with a compatible device can enjoy the benefits of the latest version of Android on their terminal. It is possible to download the corresponding version for each device on the official website of Dirty Unicorns.

AOSP Extended

As its name suggests, this platform is based on the AOSP source code. It improves it through “extensions” that consist of add-ons integrated into the system settings, intended to modify aspects that, by default, are not customizable. Those looking to enjoy a ROM as close to Android Stock as possible, but don’t want to neglect the ability to customize the system to their liking, may find their new preferred ROM in AOSP Extended.

AOSP Extended

Its developers claim to offer Google’s monthly security patches after their release, in addition to focusing their efforts on improving the performance of any compatible device. To date, more than 14 brands of Android phones and tablets are supported by AOSP Extended, which has allowed the platform to almost reach the figure of 1 million installations worldwide since September 2017. The download center AOSP Extended collects all the packages available for each of the supported devices.

How to install a ROM on your mobile, step by step

How to install a ROM on your mobile step by step

If you have already chosen the ROM that you want to install on your Android mobile, the next step is, logically, to install it on the device. Although the process is relatively simple, and there shouldn’t be any of it if you follow the indicated steps, you should remember that installing a ROM or making any advanced changes internally to the phone’s software carries certain risks. In addition, although the steps to follow are usually similar in practically all the ROMs, before carrying out the installation, you should inform yourself on the official website of those you have chosen to check the specific requirements of the platform.

That said, the steps to follow to install a ROM on an Android device are the following:

  1. Download the ROM: on the platform’s official website, download the corresponding ROM package for your device, and store it in the internal memory of the Android phone or tablet. You may also need to download the Google Apps package.
  2. Boot the device in recovery mode: to install the ROM, you will need to have a modified recovery such as TWRP, which will have been installed previously. To access this menu, the most common is holding the Volume Down + Power buttons for 5 seconds when the phone is off.
  3. Install the ROM: in the recovery, access the “Install” menu. Select the option corresponding to “Install zip from storage / sdcard,” and in the file explorer that will appear, find and select the ROM package that you downloaded in the first step. Once the installation is complete, it will be time to install the Google Apps.

Although we have not included it in the procedure, in some cases, it may be recommended to perform a “Wipe” of the different partitions of the system, such as Caché or Data. In this way, you will have already installed the new ROM on your device. However, it will depend on whether the ROM is being installed for the first time or an incremental update. For this reason, again, we recommend you inform yourself on the official website of the ROM you intend to install.

Another aspect to consider is that, although this ROM installation guide will work in the vast majority of current devices, in some, it will be necessary to resort to specific tools such as Samsung’s Odin or Xiaomi Mi Flash Tool.