Since Android is an open source operating system that can be changed by anyone who is capable, there are many versions that change in the menus, included applications and functions. For this reason, Android phones of various brands appear different in the interface and, often, also in the configurations, because the manufacturers modify the system to adapt it to the device. At the same time, some independent developers develop different Android versions, called custom ROMs, which can be freely installed on many phones.
In another article we saw which are the best Android custom ROMs.
Modding is the series of operations to flash the ROM and change the original firmware of the smartphone with respect to that installed by the manufacturer. For modding operations , unlocking the bootloader and rooting is essential, that is, the procedure for acquiring administrator rights on the system.
Thanks to modding and custom ROMs, you can update Android on your smartphone without having to wait for the official release from the manufacturer, you can add new features to smartphones to make the most of all its features, you can optimize energy consumption to make the battery last longer and it can also extend the life of old cell phones. Modding is the main reason why you choose to root Android, but it must be simple for everyone to do, without risk and with the possibility of recovery in case of problems.
Given this quick introduction, it should be noted that not all phones are the same when thinking about rooting and modding .
Some phones are more difficult to edit, root and unlock, while others are left more free by their manufacturer. Regarding the bootloader, for some smartphones the unlocking is allowed by the manufacturer itself while for others it is necessary that some crackers find out how to unlock it forcibly, even if the manufacturer has put a protection. Furthermore, to have more choice and also to be sure to be able to install updated versions in the future, it is important not only that the smartphone is popular and sold all over the world, but also that it is for the community of ROM developers and modding applications.
Who cares about the longevity of his smartphone, who likes to change ROM, firmware and make changes to improve the operating system of his phone, when he has to buy a new mobile phone can only look for the one most suitable for modding, the one with the most active community of developers ready to release daily updates that add functionality and squeeze the hardware to the maximum (possibly without voiding the warranty).
READ ALSO: Do the Android ROOT to have your cell phone free and unlocked (programs and guide)
For years, the best smartphones for modding have been Google Nexus, Nexus 4, Nexus 5 and Nexus 5X most of all, because they are easy to unlock and with a very active community of developers and modders . Those who still own these smartphones can choose one of the many custom ROMs still kept updated and install the latest version of Android on these phones.
Speaking of today's smartphones, the best mobiles for modding and rooting, the easiest ones to modify and with more updated ROMs to choose from, those with the most discussions on the XDA Developers forum are these 5.
1) OnePlus
With the end of Google's Nexus line there has been a gap in the market for phones with high-end hardware specs at medium prices. OnePlus has skillfully filled this space with the OnePlus series, with top-level features enhanced by the Snapdragon processor, at a low price (currently around 500 Euros).
OnePlus phones are preferred by Android fans because they are cheap and work well. OnePlus facilitates unlocking the bootloader and installing alternative software with support for TWRP and Magisk. In addition to the popularity of this smartphone, another factor that has stimulated the development of alternative firmware has been the internal problems of the factory software. For any problem, the OnePlus also has a system to reset and restore the original firmware which can be downloaded from the official website.
2) Google Pixel
Google's Pixel phones are not very cheap, but they are the heirs of the Nexus, those who have the latest version of Android released by Google itself. Developers can therefore always start from an updated system to modify and optimize it. The bootloader can be unlocked easily and without voiding the warranty, leaving the freedom to modify the system of the device without problems.
3) Moto G7
The Moto G series of phones owes its commercial success not only to the low price, but also to the fact of using an Android stock system, that is, pure and without customization. The Moto G7 costs little, so it lends itself very much to the experiments of developers who can try out ROMs and applications of various types without crying in the event of a break. The Moto G5 makes it easy to unlock the bootloader, even if this invalidates the Motorola warranty. Driver binaries and kernel sources are posted on Motorola's Github page, so developers have no problem creating custom firmware.
4) LG
LG's flagship model of 2019, certainly not among the best sellers, is still highly appreciated by the reviews of the magazines and allows you to unlock the bootloader in a simple way with codes provided by LG itself (even if the warranty is canceled). LG offers a useful kit called LG Bridge that allows you to download the serial firmware and restore the phone in a few clicks in case of problems. The development community for the LG G6 is very active and provides many ROM variations and several root applications.
5) Huawei Mate 20 and Honor Series
Huawei smartphones have become among the best sellers in the world (Huawei is the third manufacturer behind Samsung and Apple) and offer high-end performance at relatively low prices. Honor and also Mate have a community of developers very active in creating new ROMs, which make these phones suitable for modding. Huawei allows you to unlock the bootloader with a code provided, even if this cancels the warranty. The original Android versions of the Huawei phones are published on the site, including the source codes, thus allowing developers to modify them without problems.
Conclusion
As I see it, all those who have a minimum of interest in keeping the phone always updated and more optimized than how it is sold by the manufacturer, should buy a smartphone that allows unlocking the bootloader. This root unlock of the phone should be done about a year after the purchase and when you are sure that the manufacturer will no longer release software updates for that phone and a new version of Android will not be released. With the unlock, if you buy one of the phones described above, you can install a custom ROM based on the latest Android version, add functions, applications and optimize both memory and battery management.
To date, the best smartphone for modding and rooting is, clearly, the OnePlus, which costs less than the Google Pixel, offers compatibility with everything and has a much more numerous and active community of developers.
READ ALSO: Best apps for Android phones unlocked with root
In another article we saw which are the best Android custom ROMs.
Modding is the series of operations to flash the ROM and change the original firmware of the smartphone with respect to that installed by the manufacturer. For modding operations , unlocking the bootloader and rooting is essential, that is, the procedure for acquiring administrator rights on the system.
Thanks to modding and custom ROMs, you can update Android on your smartphone without having to wait for the official release from the manufacturer, you can add new features to smartphones to make the most of all its features, you can optimize energy consumption to make the battery last longer and it can also extend the life of old cell phones. Modding is the main reason why you choose to root Android, but it must be simple for everyone to do, without risk and with the possibility of recovery in case of problems.
Given this quick introduction, it should be noted that not all phones are the same when thinking about rooting and modding .
Some phones are more difficult to edit, root and unlock, while others are left more free by their manufacturer. Regarding the bootloader, for some smartphones the unlocking is allowed by the manufacturer itself while for others it is necessary that some crackers find out how to unlock it forcibly, even if the manufacturer has put a protection. Furthermore, to have more choice and also to be sure to be able to install updated versions in the future, it is important not only that the smartphone is popular and sold all over the world, but also that it is for the community of ROM developers and modding applications.
Who cares about the longevity of his smartphone, who likes to change ROM, firmware and make changes to improve the operating system of his phone, when he has to buy a new mobile phone can only look for the one most suitable for modding, the one with the most active community of developers ready to release daily updates that add functionality and squeeze the hardware to the maximum (possibly without voiding the warranty).
READ ALSO: Do the Android ROOT to have your cell phone free and unlocked (programs and guide)
For years, the best smartphones for modding have been Google Nexus, Nexus 4, Nexus 5 and Nexus 5X most of all, because they are easy to unlock and with a very active community of developers and modders . Those who still own these smartphones can choose one of the many custom ROMs still kept updated and install the latest version of Android on these phones.
Speaking of today's smartphones, the best mobiles for modding and rooting, the easiest ones to modify and with more updated ROMs to choose from, those with the most discussions on the XDA Developers forum are these 5.
1) OnePlus
With the end of Google's Nexus line there has been a gap in the market for phones with high-end hardware specs at medium prices. OnePlus has skillfully filled this space with the OnePlus series, with top-level features enhanced by the Snapdragon processor, at a low price (currently around 500 Euros).
OnePlus phones are preferred by Android fans because they are cheap and work well. OnePlus facilitates unlocking the bootloader and installing alternative software with support for TWRP and Magisk. In addition to the popularity of this smartphone, another factor that has stimulated the development of alternative firmware has been the internal problems of the factory software. For any problem, the OnePlus also has a system to reset and restore the original firmware which can be downloaded from the official website.
2) Google Pixel
Google's Pixel phones are not very cheap, but they are the heirs of the Nexus, those who have the latest version of Android released by Google itself. Developers can therefore always start from an updated system to modify and optimize it. The bootloader can be unlocked easily and without voiding the warranty, leaving the freedom to modify the system of the device without problems.
3) Moto G7
The Moto G series of phones owes its commercial success not only to the low price, but also to the fact of using an Android stock system, that is, pure and without customization. The Moto G7 costs little, so it lends itself very much to the experiments of developers who can try out ROMs and applications of various types without crying in the event of a break. The Moto G5 makes it easy to unlock the bootloader, even if this invalidates the Motorola warranty. Driver binaries and kernel sources are posted on Motorola's Github page, so developers have no problem creating custom firmware.
4) LG
LG's flagship model of 2019, certainly not among the best sellers, is still highly appreciated by the reviews of the magazines and allows you to unlock the bootloader in a simple way with codes provided by LG itself (even if the warranty is canceled). LG offers a useful kit called LG Bridge that allows you to download the serial firmware and restore the phone in a few clicks in case of problems. The development community for the LG G6 is very active and provides many ROM variations and several root applications.
5) Huawei Mate 20 and Honor Series
Huawei smartphones have become among the best sellers in the world (Huawei is the third manufacturer behind Samsung and Apple) and offer high-end performance at relatively low prices. Honor and also Mate have a community of developers very active in creating new ROMs, which make these phones suitable for modding. Huawei allows you to unlock the bootloader with a code provided, even if this cancels the warranty. The original Android versions of the Huawei phones are published on the site, including the source codes, thus allowing developers to modify them without problems.
Conclusion
As I see it, all those who have a minimum of interest in keeping the phone always updated and more optimized than how it is sold by the manufacturer, should buy a smartphone that allows unlocking the bootloader. This root unlock of the phone should be done about a year after the purchase and when you are sure that the manufacturer will no longer release software updates for that phone and a new version of Android will not be released. With the unlock, if you buy one of the phones described above, you can install a custom ROM based on the latest Android version, add functions, applications and optimize both memory and battery management.
To date, the best smartphone for modding and rooting is, clearly, the OnePlus, which costs less than the Google Pixel, offers compatibility with everything and has a much more numerous and active community of developers.
READ ALSO: Best apps for Android phones unlocked with root
