So, what are the favorite choices of those looking for a Custom ROM to give extended life to an "old" (or not so old) phone?

[britechguy]

This topic really deserves to be one of its own, in my opinion. Though Android is definitely a Linux spin-off of sorts, it's not Linux, strictly speaking.

What might be considered "best" can also change over time, and with the device involved. GrapheneOS for the Google Pixel series and LineageOS for others have already been mentioned. Any others?

 

[Blues]

Solid question but sadly in this space I haven't tried and with cost and other support problems I have not seen any truly good/valid options. I will say if someone wants something to use at home as a VoIP phone using a free or cheap service over local WiFi I am not sure how concerned I am about a new/replacement OS and just factory reset the device and install only what is needed and still working on a device. I have done this with an old out of support iPhone it was a home VoIP phone and "TV" remote basicly.

I would love to know of and see more that can really expand the life of old hardware.

 

[trevm999]

LineageOS does work remarkably well, especially considering the scope, but getting it loaded on old old phones usually requires dicking around. I had a phone that you needed to use a computer with a USB 2.0 port in order to flash it. I wouldn't do it for anyone other than myself.

Even getting a phone ready for my child, I didn't bother putting LineageOS on it. I just install apps via usb and don't log into anything on it.