LineageOS, the successor to CyanogenMod, has released version 16 of their custom Android ROM. This new release is based on Android Pie, and will serve as the base for countless other ROMs.
The project was first launched to the public with LineageOS 14.1, which was based on Android 7.1 Nougat and, by itself, was not much more than just a fork of the existing CyanogenMod 14.1 source code. It then started evolving and taking a slightly different path with LineageOS 15.1, based on Android 8.1 Oreo, maintaining their premise of a community-centered project above everything while adding a number of useful, widely-requested features such as a system-wide dark mode as well as privacy-focused improvements like the Trust interface. Today, that evolution continues with LineageOS 16.0, the newest and latest version of the incredibly-popular custom ROM, as announced on the team’s blog post.
As is the norm, with a version number change comes a big platform update. LineageOS has been re-based on the latest Android Pie source code. And with this comes all of Android Pie’s new features and improvements, including the renewed Material Theme redesign, the new navigation gestures, and more.
While initially LineageOS 16 officially supports about 24 devices, unofficial support will cover more devices, and over the coming weeks and months, more and more devices will become officially supported.
“While initially LineageOS 16 officially supports about 24 devices”
Astonishing and very pleased to see that one of these devices is the LeEco Pro 3 which I own. Problem is, I doubt LineageOS will support all this phone’s features that are common with Chinese phones (e.g. the alarm app can power-on the phone, just like an old Nokia). It’s brilliant news however and I’ll definitely try this ROM just for the Android security updates.
Again, no support for the Pixel phones… Anyone know why that is? I would consider trying LineageOS on my Pixel 2 XL as was a fan of CyanogenMod in the day on my Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 5.
Well, guys… I installed just upgraded my Nexus 6 (my only phone) over the weekend. It works great! I wish it would be so good for more devices! I have a bunch of LineageOS phones and tablets in my family, some are now not supported anymore. But I was lucky with my Nexus 6. For info, I bought it “new” on eBay for 150 US$ last summer… (some unsold phones from Hong Kong).
I hope 1 day it will be as easy as installing Ubuntu on your laptop. By that I mean any phone would be able to use an “Open Android”…
Since this news appears to be about custom ROMs getting Android 9 releases… I’ll add that I’ve been happily using weekly official OmniROM releases of Android 9 for my Moto G4 for a couple of months now. 🙂
It’s been available since December 2018. http://dl.omnirom.org/athene/