LineageOS is the most popular custom Android ROM there. It is lightweight, allows you to use Android without Google services, and receives regular updates several times a year. It’s the best way to get your old phone working, even if its manufacturer stopped supporting it with software updates years ago.
This is especially true for older Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones, which are still quite popular and used by many people. If you own one of these phones and it’s capable of running newer Android versions, but it’s no longer officially supported, don’t worry—you can install the latest version of the phone. LineageOS (23.2) and give your old but still perfectly usable phone a new lease of life.
Note that the latest version of LineageOS, LineageOS 23.2Built on Android 16 and up hugged Google’s The material is expressive design system. Other than that, it is not much different from it LineageOS 23which is also based on Android 16.
Are you using an older Pixel that Google hasn’t rolled out for Android 16?
LineageOS has you covered
While Google promises seven years of software updates for its Pixel phones starting with the Pixel 8, older Pixel devices aren’t so lucky. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 families received Android 16 and are expected to receive Android 17, despite Google recently conducting an operation. perfect job Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 with software updates. However, the Pixel 5 and older models are stuck on older versions of Android.
As for the Pixel 5 and its variants, they’re stuck on Android 14, while older models run older versions of Android. The thing is, older Pixels are pretty capable devices that are still solid SoCs and enough memory to run Android 16. If you have a Pixel 5, Pixel 4 or any of their variants, you can upgrade it to Android 16 with LineageOS 23.2, and once LineageOS receives the next Android release, you’ll also be able to upgrade the phone to Android 17.
Even the original Pixel and Pixel XL can run LineageOS 22.2 based on Android 15, despite being a decade old in October. While not perfect, it is better than Android 10, the last update officially released by Google for the first generation Pixel phones. LineageOS 22.2, based on Android 15, is also available for the Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 families, which are stuck on Android 11 and Android 12, respectively.
The latest LineageOS is also available for many older Samsung Galaxy phones
As long as you can unlock the bootloader
If you have a Samsung Galaxy phone that is no longer supported, you have a chance to install LineageOS 23.2 and upgrade it to Android 16. However, LineageOS support for Samsung Galaxy phones is more limited than for Google Pixel devices, mainly because Samsung has locked bootloaders on US variants of Galaxy phones for years, and an unlocked bootloader is a prerequisite for installing custom ROMs.
Owners of international versions of Samsung Galaxy phones powered by Samsung’s Exynos chipsets (usually sold in European, African and Middle Eastern markets) were able to easily unlock the bootloader via the OEM Unlock link found here. Developer Options years, but Samsung removed the switch With the One UI 8 update.
As it stands, if you own the US version of the Samsung Galaxy S or the international version of the Samsung Galaxy S21 or newer, chances are good. you won’t be able to To run LineageOS. For some reason, the Galaxy S23 has an official LineageOS port, but there is no official way to unlock its bootloader, which makes installing the ROM quite difficult.
If you have an international Exynos-powered phone from the Galaxy S10 or Galaxy S20 family or the Galaxy Note10, you can upgrade it to LineageOS 23.2 and thus Android 16. Just make sure you can unlock the exact model of your phone and its bootloader with the OEM Unlock link.
The same goes for a number of international versions of mid-range Galaxy phones like the Galaxy A52, Galaxy A52s, Galaxy A71, Galaxy A72, Galaxy A73 and a few others.
- Brand
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Samsung
- SoC
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Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
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If you have an old Android device that you are still using, check if you can install LineageOS on it
Of course, LineageOS is not only available for Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy devices. If you have an old Android phone stuck on an old version of Android, don’t forget to visit supported devices page Check the LineageOS website and if your phone is supported.
Please note that not all supported phones are compatible with the latest version of LineageOS and Android 16. So if your device is still actively supported, the worst case scenario is that you get LineageOS 22.2 and Android 15.
Even if your device is no longer actively supported by the LineageOS team, you can still download and install the latest version of LineageOS released for it. make it usable again. If nothing else, it could be a fun weekend project.
