The Android developer community is huge, with their biggest feat being the ability to develop custom ROMs or custom Android builds. A custom ROM is an aftermarket firmware production based on the Android source code provided by Google. So if you’re someone who wants to install a custom ROM on your device but are confused about which one to go with, read on as we bring the 15 best custom ROMs for Android in 2022.
The main reason why people prefer custom ROMs is that almost every company drops support for their devices after 2-3 years of their launch. A custom ROM, on the other hand, helps keep your device alive and updated with the latest version of Android. Another reason why people seek custom ROMs is because of the extra features they offer. They also reduce bloatware that comes as a part of many manufacturer skins. While there are many custom ROMs out there, not all of them are stable enough to be used as your daily driver.
- Pixel Experience
- LineageOS
- Evolution X
- Corvus OS
- Revenge OS
- Havoc-OS
- Arrow OS
- Bliss ROM
- Project Sakura
- MSM Extended
- crDroid
- Paranoid Android
- Syberia OS
- Potato Project
- AOSIP
1. Pixel Experience
Pixel Experience is the best custom ROM for Android right now and I can draw out three reasons for that. First, it supports a huge number of devices from Xiaomi to Realme to Asus to Samsung. Second, it brings Pixel features for non-pixel devices like the newer Google Assistant, built-in GCam support, Pixel live wallpapers, and more.
Third, it has amazing stability among all the ROMs that I have tested for years. The main developer, Henrique Pereira, is not in a tearing hurry to port new Android versions to all the devices.
2. LineageOS
Next is the biggest name in the custom ROM scene – LineageOS. While many of you might not be familiar with the name, LineageOS is actually the same custom ROM that started as CyanogenMod. Back in the fall of 2016, Cyanogen Inc. announced that it was discontinuing development and shut down the infrastructure behind the project. Since then, the developer community has kept the project alive, but under the name of LineageOS.
Built on top of Google’s AOSP code and adding their own custom code to it, LineageOS works as a standalone ROM as well as the source code for many other custom ROMs out there. It has the biggest developer team under its name and officially supports over 190 devices. The ROM includes basic but useful features that include but are not limited to customizing the status bar, changing the overall theme, editing the navbar, and much more.
3. Evolution X
If I were to describe Evolution X, I would say it is the stable version of Resurrection Remix from yesteryear. This is because of the plethora of customization features it offers, and it does so without any loss in the stability of the ROM. Evolution X merges various code snippets into one main project to bring a long list of features and for many devices. While this does mean that updates come a little slower, they are still able to deliver regular updates.
If you are looking for the best Android custom ROM for PUBG or generally, gaming then Corvus OS is what you need. It’s built on the foundation of Dirty Unicorns and has many features ported right from there. Among the main features, it supports various gaming-centric kernels such as Hydra kernel, Ryzen kernel, and more. You will be able to play games for a much longer time without your device getting hot beyond normal limits.
Revenge OS is a fairly new custom ROM in the Android world but has got pretty good traction because it has brought Android 11 builds for a lot of devices. The OS is built on the Android Open Source Project and has kept just the core essentials to keep the system lightweight and clutter-free. But the one thing that puts it in a different position is the way it looks and its design approach.
You can create how your quick settings panel should look with various gradients of color, how many tiles do you need, what kind of media controls you want, and much more. In fact, it has brought those abandoned custom clock faces that Google showcased in Android 11 betas. I would say, if you want an Android 11 custom ROM then RevengeOS is a modern and beautiful OS out there and you should give it a try.
To define Havoc-OS would take up more than a couple of words. In your first run of this ROM, you’d find it similar to just about any other custom ROM out there. Use it for a couple of days, and you literally start experiencing the true beauty of Havoc-OS. One of the first ROMs to successfully implement a truckload of features. It will definitely remind you of Resurrection Remix and Paranoid Android from the past.
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If minimalism is what you’re looking for then Arrow OS is right up your alley. Possibly the lightest and most functional custom ROM out there, the Arrow OS project is based on the AOSP code while adding useful tweaks to it. It’s very similar to the Pixel Experience ROM but brings additional features to the barebone feature list.
Bliss ROM is a new custom ROM in the Android ecosystem but it has huge potential. It not only develops ROMs for smartphones, but also for tablets and Windows devices like Surface Pro. And the overall experience is quite nice as it comes with a customized launcher and desktop mode.
We all know how mid-tier Samsung phones lag behind when it comes to enjoying the latest Android OS. And even in the custom ROM world, some years ago, Samsung phones were not supported because of the Exynos chip. However, things have changed and now Project Sakura aims to bring the latest Android build to a plethora of Samsung smartphones. You have got a clean and minimal stock-like user interface with support for both Android 10 and 11 builds.
10. MSM Extended
Another ROM that is based on the AOSP Gerrit but has its own custom mods is the MSM Extended. This project came into existence around the time of the Android Pie launch. However, despite being a relatively new project, the ROM has quickly evolved into becoming a very stable and reliable ROM and gives plenty of other competitors a run for their money.
Imagine being on your device’s stock ROM, but with slight tweaks here and there that allow you to customize your device without losing out on the Stock stability. Well, that’s crDroid for you. crDroid has been around for some time and it has gained huge popularity among the stock Android enthusiasts. Similar to AOSP Extended, crDroid has an active development team and supports some of the old devices like Redmi Note 5 Pro, Poco F1, and more.
After a few years of break, Paranoid Android is back again. In case you don’t know, Paranoid Android was considered one of the most acclaimed custom ROMs of all time. The development team focused on bringing a polished and refined experience while using minimum resources. While it may not boast of the plethora of features and customization features that other ROMs offer, Paranoid Android or PA, does promise a soothing user experience overall.
For people who love stock Android, but want additional features on top, Syberia OS is another Android custom ROM to consider. Built on top of AOSP/CAF, Syberia OS offers almost everything you’d want from your Android phone.
The Potato Open Sauce Project is brought to you by a team of Indian developers who have adopted the quintessential potato as their choice of name. Even the different versions of the ROM are titled ‘baked potato’, ‘dumaloo’ etc.
The ROM boasts a clean and minimal UI, along with feature improvements. You can expect better notch handling, a new and improved volume control system, and yes, over the air updates of course. The ROM is completely open source, so if you have the skill for it, you can fork the project and make your own custom custom ROM out of it.
If you’ve even dabbled in the world of Android custom ROMs you would know the meaning of AOSP. Well, AOSIP is the Android Open Source Illusion Project — a custom ROM that lives by the Android motto ‘Be Together, Not the Same’.
Custom ROMs bring out a new experience to your mobile devices. While no ROM out there will ever be as stable as the stock ROM, having a custom ROM does give you the liberty to sacrifice a few points of stability in order to gain tons of features.
