Top 5 Custom Roms For Your Android Device

Android is truly an open source platform in other words developers can tinker with all the underlying code and that brings the ability to create custom Android builds, generally known as Custom ROMs. A custom ROM is an upgraded software version for your Android device that allows users to change every element of the Android interface along with giving you control over everything.

Two reasons why a custom ROM is used:

The first one is that you want to remove all that bloatware that comes already installed in your phone.

The second is that you want to do some real customization with your device. Adding splendid themes, overclocking, improving battery life, downloading apps to SD card and making your device’s speed better are some of the exceptional tasks that a custom ROM performs. A custom ROM features its own kernel.

Note: Installing a custom ROM requires you to root a device, which voids the warranty on most smartphones and if things go wrong, It may turn your phone into a brick if something goes wrong.

1. CyanogenMod

CyanogenMod has passed the test of time and is the most popular Android ROM with most number of installations in the world. This is because the ROM is compatible with more Android devices than any other ROM. The ROM is regularly updated and supports most of the devices available on the marketThis custom ROM has versions like CyanogenMod 7, CyanogenMod 10, and CyanogenMod 10.1 which are based on Android 2.3, Android 4.1, and Android 4.2 respectively. It also recently started offering nightly builds of CyanogenMod 13, based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Firmware’s features that make it different from the original firmware include easy access to thousands of themes, perfect sound processing options like headphone filtering, dynamic range compression and equalization, more options in notification drop-down menu etc.

CyanogenMod 7 is the best option for devices that don’t support Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich ICS).

2. Paranoid Android

Paranoid Android is another great deal in custom Android ROM that boosts your device’s usability. An exceptional feature in this custom ROM is its hybrid mode. With this option you can switch among tablet and smartphone modes. Paranoid Android removes the restrictions of Android’s DPI system and in this way, you can run any application no matter if it was built for tablet interface or smartphone interface.Paranoid incorporates Cyanogen’s theme engine along with various other customization features. The ROM is officially available for Nexus, Oppo and OnePlus devices but you can get it on other devices through unofficial channels on XDA.

3. Cataclysm

Cataclysm ROM might not seem pleasing to the eye looking ROM but it aims at bringing value additions for a solid performance. The ROM brings a lot of handful additions like configurable toggles, lock screen along with customization options for status bar, notifications etc. Other notable features include Smart Radio, App Ops, battery styles, navigation bar options and more. The ROM is best known for its great performance and solid builds, with the least number of bugs. The ROM is only available for Nexus devices officially but you can get the ROM for other devices from unofficial channels like XDA.

4. SlimBean

SlimBean is another impressive firmware for Android have mainly focused on minimalism by the developers . Its interface is almost the same as the one you get already installed on your device. However, it offers much more features like profiles and customization notification drawers.
The Real Dark Slimis another important feature of SlimBean . Through this, you can invert the colors of your interface with one touch. Along with better performance, the firmware offers better battery life. The ROM has its own Kernel which manages your device’s power well.

5. AOKP

Android Open Kang Project (AOKP), is an open source replacement distribution for Andriod mobiles that support some high end Android devices. The ROM empowers your phone’s processing, removes the bloatware that comes already installed in an Android device and allows users to change many aspects of the OS including its appearance and its functions. Ribbons and toggles are two amazing things that have been introduced in this ROM.