What is custom rom in android

So, you are a proud android user and you have been using your android device from quite some time and now you came across a term called “CUSTOM ROMS” for android. So you want to know what does aftermarket upgrades or custom upgrades on android phone mean or what it does. Ok, so let’s read what all you need to know about Custom Roms on android.

Custom Roms:

ROM (Read Only Memory) is basically a firmware that contains the OS (operating system) and kernel (heart of OS, which makes everything operate). All devices come with a “Stock Rom” installed by the manufacturer. A “Custom ROM” is a tweaked version of the Stock Rom and is a fully standalone version that contains the OS, including the kernel. The difference between Stock Rom and Custom Rom is, Stock Rom comes from the manufacturer but Custom Rom has been modified by someone (android developer). The main purpose of Custom ROMs is to tweak and modify the Stock Rom in such a way that garbage functions or apps or even services can be eliminated and the OS can be optimized

Who makes Custom Roms?

Since Android is open source Mobile OS, so anyone can develop a new OS from stock ROMs. Android developers are the programmers who take Stock Roms, modify them, remove the useless apps from them, optimize them, add features and pretty much do whatever their imagination and skills allow. They then release the software from their forums to the general public to install on their rooted devices. A ROM developer usually gains a loyal community which beta tests his updates in real life situations and provide feedback, or even fixes bugs. The best part is developers do it for free, but sometimes they expect donations to keep their good work running.

Benefit of Custom Roms:

1. Update Frequency: You get frequent and latest updates that fix bugs and introduce new features because the developer behind the ROM doesn’t have the same procedures as the manufacturer. Custom Roms can update Over the Air (OTA). These updates are faster and don’t require you to reinstall anything.
2. Improved performance: Custom roms help us freeing the internal phone memory as developers remove the “bloatware”, the trial or otherwise unwanted software which are installed by carriers or manufacturers.  This helps you to add more apps in your android device and freeing up internal memory improves performance.
3. Improved efficiency: Custom roms are much faster and give better battery backup than the Stock Roms. A modified kernel of Custom Rom can provide a much better battery life than the stock one. Ex: If the processor operates at 800Mhz, it will need some amount of voltage like 3volts. If less amount of voltage is supplied, the processor may function a bit slower which will in turn make the battery last longer. This can be done by kernel optimization. Moreover overclocking of processor is also done by modifying kernel which will make a 1 GHz processor run at 1.6 GHz.
4. Custom themes and New UI : Most of the time developers change the whole interface of the themes in Custom Roms, which makes your device look completely new. 

Drawbacks of Custom Roms:

1. Rooting Required: You need to root your android device for installing a Custom Rom. Rooting is like giving administrator privilege to your android smartphone to make modifications in system files. Rooting has its own risks, the most important being chances to Hard-brick your device and warranty being void.
2. Data Loss: Installing a Custom Rom generally involves performing clean wipe of your device. Make sure you back up the data properly before installing Custom Rom. You can choose Titanium Backup from the Android Market.
3. Bugs: Custom Rom for your device may have some bugs that might cause your device to have some issues. If you face this kind of issue, inform the developer team who created that Rom, they will find a fix.
4. Warranty: Just like rooting, installing Custom also voids the manufacturer’s warranty of your smartphone. But there is always an option to install the Stock Rom back if you don’t like the Custom Rom.
5. Hard Brick: If something goes wrong with the flashing process (that’s the process of installing the ROM), it leaves your phone in a bricked state. Hard Brick means it will be as good as a paper weight. Try to go for the ROM that has been tested by many users and has lots of positive feedback.

Getting the right Custom ROM:

New phones and their Roms keep on releasing. We can’t cover Rom of each and every other model over here. But the best place to find the Custom Rom for your android device will be XDA DEVELOPERS FORUM.