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Good afternoon everyone. I'm a total (and I mean TOTAL) novice and haven't a clue about hardware, software or firmware, so please be kind.
I bought a ZUK Z2 Pro off Ebay. I like it. It looks nice, it's pretty fast, the battery lasts ages, it's a good size in the palm of your hand and it's got loads of storage.
However, I live in the UK and it's come with this 1.9.104 ST version of ZUI which I believe is some custom ROM installed by resellers to make it compatible for international markets. It's terrible and doesn't do half of what the phone's supposed to do. What's worse, I believe there'll never be any updates on it, so it's likely to be extreme vulnerable from a security point of view. I want to be able to customise the phone so I get the type of functionality I used to get with my OnePlus One.
I'm not interested in becoming a programmer and I don't want to have to keep wiping my phone every time some new ROM comes along, but I just want a ROM that's not going to crash and at least alerts me when I've missed a call (which doesn't happen with the crappy ROM I have now). I want to get an update to Nougat when that comes to the Z2, but it looks like I won't be able to do that either given I don't get any OTA update notifications.
I'll need the Play Store integrated too, of course. Any advice or recommendations for a version that I can use, is in English and will deliver some updates when I need to get them?
Thanks in advance.
boygav said:
Good afternoon everyone. I'm a total (and I mean TOTAL) novice and haven't a clue about hardware, software or firmware, so please be kind.
I bought a ZUK Z2 Pro off Ebay. I like it. It looks nice, it's pretty fast, the battery lasts ages, it's a good size in the palm of your hand and it's got loads of storage.
However, I live in the UK and it's come with this 1.9.104 ST version of ZUI which I believe is some custom ROM installed by resellers to make it compatible for international markets. It's terrible and doesn't do half of what the phone's supposed to do. What's worse, I believe there'll never be any updates on it, so it's likely to be extreme vulnerable from a security point of view. I want to be able to customise the phone so I get the type of functionality I used to get with my OnePlus One.
I'm not interested in becoming a programmer and I don't want to have to keep wiping my phone every time some new ROM comes along, but I just want a ROM that's not going to crash and at least alerts me when I've missed a call (which doesn't happen with the crappy ROM I have now). I want to get an update to Nougat when that comes to the Z2, but it looks like I won't be able to do that either given I don't get any OTA update notifications.
I'll need the Play Store integrated too, of course. Any advice or recommendations for a version that I can use, is in English and will deliver some updates when I need to get them?
Thanks in advance.
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Use the cm Rom from Emmaus, on zukfans.eu. It's very stable. At the moment only the vibration isn't working.
MacLaughlin said:
Use the cm Rom from Emmaus, on zukfans.eu. It's very stable. At the moment only the vibration isn't working.
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Thanks Mac - which version am I looking for?
Much obliged.
boygav said:
Thanks Mac - which version am I looking for?
Much obliged.
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The last one. Don't know the date for sure. Just hit up the forum and you will find it.
boygav said:
Thanks Mac - which version am I looking for?
Much obliged.
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This one - https://emmaus.pro/?dir=Zuk Z2 Pro/CM13
Thanks guys - this is very helpful.
One more daft question for the experts: given the review of the regular ZUK Z2 (ie: not the Pro that I've got) I've read today on Trusted Reviews, which highlighted the same problems I have, is there any real issue with installing the regular official up-to-date version of ZUI from ZUK themselves, and then selecting English as a language?
If I did so, I presume that means I won't have the Google Play Store integrated? Assuming that's the case, is there a way round it?
Thanks again, and apologies if all of this is blindingly obvious to you guys. As I say, I'm pretty much a babe in the woods about this stuff (I once tried installing Oxygen OS on my OnePlus One and failed to the extent I just threw it in a cupboard and bought a new phone).
boygav said:
Thanks guys - this is very helpful.
One more daft question for the experts: given the review of the regular ZUK Z2 (ie: not the Pro that I've got) I've read today on Trusted Reviews, which highlighted the same problems I have, is there any real issue with installing the regular official up-to-date version of ZUI from ZUK themselves, and then selecting English as a language?
If I did so, I presume that means I won't have the Google Play Store integrated? Assuming that's the case, is there a way round it?
Thanks again, and apologies if all of this is blindingly obvious to you guys. As I say, I'm pretty much a babe in the woods about this stuff (I once tried installing Oxygen OS on my OnePlus One and failed to the extent I just threw it in a cupboard and bought a new phone).
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If you want to stick to zui, you could also head to zukfans.eu, there is a global rom with multilanguage and integrated Google play services
So, since November, is there a better suggestion for a stable, updateable ROM for ZUK2 PRO?
I find it very difficult to find one that is not broken. And I don't mind minor broken stuff like vibration, but things like camera or not being able to call, that's important.
I was collaborating with the one from Edgrr000 and emmaus in https://forum.xda-developers.com/zuk-z2-pro/development/rom-lineageos-wip-t3551507 but it looks like it is abandoned now.
delawen said:
So, since November, is there a better suggestion for a stable, updateable ROM for ZUK2 PRO?
I find it very difficult to find one that is not broken. And I don't mind minor broken stuff like vibration, but things like camera or not being able to call, that's important.
I was collaborating with the one from Edgrr000 and emmaus in https://forum.xda-developers.com/zuk-z2-pro/development/rom-lineageos-wip-t3551507 but it looks like it is abandoned now.
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thank god i'm not the only one finding that a €300+ device should just work and nothing else
Feel free to use the Stock rom. Everything work as it should do.
Or use at least this one:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/zuk-z2-pro/development/z2-pro-miui-8-touch-drivers-support-t3520833
As the first post says, I am also a novice and dont understand terms like flashing, rooting, TWRP, Qfil etc (I know I m dumb).
I had bought a zuk z2 pro, still on its way, from a supplier who installed a multilanguage custom rom. I tried to read threads here and on the zukfans eu and honestly I m getting more confused...some say stock rom is the best, others mention cyanogenmod etc.....All I need is the english language and google play...does that mean stock rom is enough? will it update automatically to nougat 7?...and another important question...how am I going to remove the custom rom to the stock rom? would that be safe? thanks
Stock ROM is Chinese and had some English translation. A load of things are still Chinese. So far I'm happy with mokee 7.1. A good translation and almost no Chinese stuff
just got mine today with global rom and android 6.0. The gallery app crashed all the time so i flashed it with stock rom and android 7.0. the stock rom has to much chinese for me so looking for a new rom. whats the best and most stable out there at this date?
after this very good tutorial, I finally got myself out of this zuk-whatever-it-is-OS... and I love Mokee.
running MK60.1-z2pro-170403-RELEASE.zip with ease and smile, and I do not think a sec to switch back to ZUI.
tnx, think i'll do that. can't get contacts from gmail to dialer or change launcher. i'll try mokee before i downgrade the phone to a musicplayer
@boygav, i suggest zui v2.3.044 ST very smooth, stable and fully functional...just root and remove chinese apps and u r good to go... I can guidde u if u need assistance
I recommend you the Mokee 7.1.1.
Everything work great (but no u-health and u-touch).
I made a tutorial to install this ROM from the beginning
https://forum.xda-developers.com/zuk-z2-pro/how-to/howto-install-mokee-7-1-1-unofficial-t3582686
ROM page :
https://forum.xda-developers.com/zuk-z2-pro/development/rom-share-lr-team-zuk-z2row-z2-pro-t3567710
Why not use easily official download site?!
https://download.mokeedev.com/?device=z2pro
Every time up2date and no need to uplaod anywhere!
When I installed my Mokee, there was no Official Mokee version.
So now you can installed the nightly one from official download. But I don't know if everything works well like the unofficial.
Nickthegr8 said:
@boygav, i suggest zui v2.3.044 ST very smooth, stable and fully functional...just root and remove chinese apps and u r good to go... I can guidde u if u need assistance
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Apologies for the delay guys. Nick - I may well take you up on your offer. The security on this ROM is pretty hopeless - I was being spammed really badly with pop-ups the other day there (and it was nothing I'd downloaded or installed either - my browsing history is pretty spotless, I like to think). Seemed the phone had just installed something overnight.
If you have an absolute idiot's guide to installing this and what the hell rooting actually involves, I'd be most grateful.
Many thanks.
Picked up the $330 deal from Newegg Ebay. The phone is charged and unmodded / not updated. The software it came with is A2017UV1.0.0B27. There is an update pending but I've not applied it yet. I'm well versed with ADB and fastboot coming from a long line of Nexus phones that I always root...
There seems to be lots of ways forward from here but I'd like to see what people recommend. It appears that an unlocked bootloader will make it so future updates cannot be applied. I've always unlocked in the past but I hope to get wifi calling (T-Mobile) in future updates (from what I understand that's on the way but not out yet?). If a non-stock rom allows wifi calling I'd be game for that as I typically am not a fan of how companies bloat the standard android rom.
Main things I want:
TWRP
(seamless?) root (primarily for AdAway and TiBackup)
Band 12
Wifi calling
Remove any potential ZTE spyware
What do you think? Unlock the bootloader and forget future ZTE updates? Keep it locked?
Thanks!
OTA updates work just fine with an unlocked bootloader. They do not however work if the system or recovery has been modified.
I ran stock for a few weeks. Recently switched to resurrection remix. It adds a lot of additional configuration ability. Most of the settings that were/are available in gravity box. GB is no longer possible until xposed is redeveloped for 7.
I'd say unlock the bootloader first, then either try stock or one of the aosp roms. Been on RR for just two days now, first impressions include bettery battery life and faster UI interaction.
gpz1100 said:
OTA updates work just fine with an unlocked bootloader. They do not however work if the system or recovery has been modified.
I ran stock for a few weeks. Recently switched to resurrection remix. It adds a lot of additional configuration ability. Most of the settings that were/are available in gravity box. GB is no longer possible until xposed is redeveloped for 7.
I'd say unlock the bootloader first, then either try stock or one of the aosp roms. Been on RR for just two days now, first impressions include bettery battery life and faster UI interaction.
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Ahh... understood. Seamless is the way to go for future updates then. I'll unlock and take that route. Thanks much!
Lost Dog said:
Ahh... understood. Seamless is the way to go for future updates then. I'll unlock and take that route. Thanks much!
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My personal experience with Lineage (never tried RR, but I guess it's close to lineage) is overall disappointment. Half of the apps I tried didn't work, especially some 3D games. The stock camera app is unbearably bad IMO, from comparisons I decided to make I hate the overall quality of the photos... ZTE's system is not even close to full of bloatware. The only added out of the box apps are WPS Office which comes in handy, AccuWeather which is kinda questionable, true; ZTE Cares which mostly tells you to reboot your phone if you have a problem (1.14 mb, never open), this WeShare thing that you can ignore completely, and the stock music, browser, etc and Gapps. Even the calculator and some kinda useful apps are all packed on one app, and you can add shortcuts... Can't really say I've seen less bloated phones in the market...
TWRP and root are completely fine on Stock
no idea about band 12
ZTE spyware... The only thing I heard about was the location provider on A2017G which is being changed on the next update. We had Qualcomm IZat (Korea) and we got changed to Tencent (China) so that's kind of a spyware. but you can uninstall that with root
and I understand people who say that the stock ROM is ugly. Just use a launcher.
the only real advantage that I can see is the possibility to use Substratum with a pitch black theme. I could get near to 2 days battery with that stuff.
^^How recently have you tried it?
I'll be out and about tomorrow so will get a chance to play with the camera to see how well it does in RR. I got both the google camera and aosp camera apps installed. We'll see how good/bad the pics come out. I don't expect dslr results out of a cell phone camera anyway so camera quality isn't at the top of the list for me.
Same with games. Can't remember the last one I played on a phone. Most of my use is email/web/navi/voip. Long battery life is at the top of my list. With typical usage, I could go 2 days between charges and still have ~40% remaining. If I get 3 days now with RR with similar usage/sot, I'll be happy camper. Not to mention, the phone is more responsive.
Stock isn't bad until you've tried something else, then you get a feel for how heavy the ui is.
Band 12 is supported on both tmo and att as far as i know. I know i've seen it a few times on att.
Does anyone have an alternative link to the files in this post:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/axon-7/development/wip-axon-7-root-bootloader-unlokced-t3441204
Dev-Host either throws out a ton of spam links or just stalls on the download.
Alright!
I'm on 7.1.1 with backed up stock bootloader and recovery. Rooted with a modified version of Magisk and passing the safetynet check.
So far, signal strength seems good and the addition of wifi calling is fantastic....
I don't have T-Mobile, but I believe the latest update, v. 7.1.1 B19 includes WiFi calling.
ETA: Oops. I guess that's what I get for getting distracted and posting a response an hour after I started it.
I just picked up an S8+ for €524 (new). However I'm not allowed to have anything Google on my phone (not just apps, but Play Services). Nor do I want them really.
Since there still aren't any working AOSP ROMs, which of the 100s of modified stock ROMs (or N8 ports) are available where GoogleApps must be installed as a separate package (like AOSP)? Anyone have a list?
Don't want to waste time messing around removing it from ROMs that already have it baked in.
Lineage OS when it will have official support (no idea when)
Thanks, I'm aware that it (and Resurrection Remix etc etc) will. But rather strangely, in my view, there seems to be a huge disbalance in development efforts between stock and AOSP on the S8.
Anyway, regardless, in the mean time, I want a 'stock' / modified ROM that has no Google as standard.
From what I know...there is no AOSP rom that works completely for the s8 yet...
You can still root it and unistall anything inside from google from the stock rom, so that you keep all the functions without using google stuff
Per my first post, I'd rather not bother.
I'll just return the phone or sell it immediately if there really aren't any custom ROMs where G-Apps are installed separately. Aside from the initial bother, OTA updates tend to reinstall them, so it's a constant battle.
No AOSP roms for now. There's long way for Lineage or RR to become fully functional and bug-free. Just to remind the S6/S7 case.
I know, but surely there must be a few custom ROMs with no G-apps by default? There are literally hundreds.
mudnightoil said:
I know, but surely there must be a few custom ROMs with no G-apps by default? There are literally hundreds.
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Have a look at BatMan Rom v1.5. If I remember correctly you can choose to omit installing any G-apps via the Aroma installation.
Norup58 said:
Have a look at BatMan Rom v1.5. If I remember correctly you can choose to omit installing any G-apps via the Aroma installation.
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AFAIK removing Google Play Services (via Aroma) isn't an option. It's just the actual apps. Certainly it isn't an option in the screengrabs in that ROM or others.
Also, I assume like many other ROMs with G-apps baked in, OTAs complicate this, and they may never really be gone.
Thanks for the suggestion though.
Doubt very much you will find a Rom which fulfills your needs precisely.
An alternative is to use Titanium Backup or Package Disabler to get 'rid' of all Google things.
I remember there being a few in the Nexus 4 and 5 days, and some old Samsungs.
Haven't kept track of it recently, as have used stock CM / LOS in later years, so found it unnecessary.
Bump
To the OP I'd be happy to take stock from a backup and remove all Google apps entirely and upload it for all. Do you want it rooted or would you prefer to do so yourself? It would be. ROM and not odin specific. I too hate Google and have everything removed except Gmail play store and modded YouTube. Battary life is pretty amazing too.
Donations are always,welcomed for my work I do. Not needed but does aid me for my daily endeavours.
Sent from my G955F
mudnightoil said:
Bump
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No need to bump since you won't find anything, the formula for aosp is a Snapdragon cpu and an unlocked bootloader. You bought the wrong phone.
peachpuff said:
No need to bump since you won't find anything, the formula for aosp is a Snapdragon cpu and an unlocked bootloader. You bought the wrong phone.
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For the Nth time, if you're going to bother to reply, then at least read what I have written and explained in a number of posts.
Nowhere have I asked for AOSP. It'll come when it comes, but I need a fix in the mean time.
I am asking for a modified stock ROM with Google removed by default. Something that has existed in the past, and which it's incredible if it does not exist among the hundreds of modified stock ROMs for the S8 variants.
Also, Snapdragon certainly isn't a prerequisite for AOSP. Samsung released all the sources a while ago. Huawei (Kirin & slow to release any / all sources and unreleased drivers) have AOSP.
I think the main impediment is that the S8/S8+/Note8 have been very expensive. But given that an S8 can now be bought for the same or less than a 64GB OP 5T in Europe, and has obviously better hardware, I suspect there will be a great deal more development effort incoming. Per my original post, my S8+ cost €524 from one of the largest e-tailers in Germany. A 5T costs €499.
this.guy.lol said:
To the OP I'd be happy to take stock from a backup and remove all Google apps entirely and upload it for all. Do you want it rooted or would you prefer to do so yourself? It would be. ROM and not odin specific. I too hate Google and have everything removed except Gmail play store and modded YouTube. Battary life is pretty amazing too.
Donations are always,welcomed for my work I do. Not needed but does aid me for my daily endeavours.
Sent from my G955F
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That's very kind. The only problem I foresee, as mentioned earlier, is that removing Google from a ROM which doesn't have a maintained Google-free version means that every significant OTA update is likely to 're-infect' the system.
I think the most likely chance of success is a minor fork of ICE / BatMan / Renovate (i.e. one of the most popular modified stock ROMs) with a default Google-free version. This way, it may well attract enough interest that even if you stop, someone else will maintain it. They're so popular that there might be enough interest to maintain it even after LOS15.1 and derivatives are working and stable.
mudnightoil said:
For the Nth time, if you're going to bother to reply, then at least read what I have written and explained in a number of posts.
Nowhere have I asked for AOSP. It'll come when it comes, but I need a fix in the mean time.
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Ah you're right, my bad.
mudnightoil said:
Samsung released all the sources a while ago.
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For exynos?
I am asking for a modified stock ROM with Google removed by default. Something that has existed in the past, and which it's incredible if it does not exist among the hundreds of modified stock ROMs for the S8 variants.
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Now why didn't you do your research before buying this phone? Did you just assume you'd find a google free touchwiz rom? It doesn't take long to skim through the dev section and see every rom is basically stock with little tweaks here and there. Its not like you bought the phone on day 1, its been out for 8 months or so.
So like i said before, you bought the wrong phone, give it back and get that op5t if you don't want google on your phone. Flash aosp and voila, no google unless you flash gapps.
mudnightoil said:
That's very kind. The only problem I foresee, as mentioned earlier, is that removing Google from a ROM which doesn't have a maintained Google-free version means that every significant OTA update is likely to 're-infect' the system.
I think the most likely chance of success is a minor fork of ICE / BatMan / Renovate (i.e. one of the most popular modified stock ROMs) with a default Google-free version. This way, it may well attract enough interest that even if you stop, someone else will maintain it. They're so popular that there might be enough interest to maintain it even after LOS15.1 and derivatives are working and stable.
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itll be 7 months before we see aosp on s8 and s8 plus. as for the other thing, i have a base im working on atm. when an update comes along ill make one from it. in the meantime, the build i use is super fast and compared to the others you mentioned like ice and batman, its way better for snappy and so on. if interested let me know. itll take me around 6 hours to get it going and another 3 to upload if im lucky. donations on this would be highly highly appreciated but not needed
this.guy.lol said:
itll be 7 months before we see aosp on s8 and s8 plus. as for the other thing, i have a base im working on atm. when an update comes along ill make one from it. in the meantime, the build i use is super fast and compared to the others you mentioned like ice and batman, its way better for snappy and so on. if interested let me know. itll take me around 6 hours to get it going and another 3 to upload if im lucky. donations on this would be highly highly appreciated but not needed
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I think it'll be much sooner than that. Price matters. It'll fall even further once the S9 is out. But anyway ....
What's the base? Will it have Aroma?
It would probably be a good idea to make a thread with details, and then you can gauge interest and thereby likelihood of donations.
Once I actually have the phone (it's in DE and I'm currently in NL) and get round to installing it, I'd of course contribute, provided it is indeed suitable.
mudnightoil said:
I think it'll be much sooner than that. Price matters. It'll fall even further once the S9 is out. But anyway ....
What's the base? Will it have Aroma?
It would probably be a good idea to make a thread with details, and then you can gauge interest and thereby likelihood of donations.
Once I actually have the phone (it's in DE and I'm currently in NL) and get round to installing it, I'd of course contribute, provided it is indeed suitable.
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Base will be 7.0/7.1.1 as its the most stable as far as speed is concerned. Aroma will be an option yes. I'm still learning how to make threads in here. Would love to have a place holder of sorts. Ill look into more later on. Be looking for my other account on here to post the ROM. The name is LVL7MODZ
I'd love to get some totally un-biased views here, including pros and cons. This will probably also help others given the current circumstances and wading through old threads containing up to 4000 posts is a real PIA. Current info condensed into one new thread would be great and not introduce clutter in the ROM threads.
Given that even if we get Oreo, there will most likely be no further official updates, just wondering, from all of you who have used many ROMs, what is an honest view of which ROMs are nearly bug free? Are any bug free? For me stuff like call and camera issues are a total deal breaker. I use my phone for personal and work, including interstate and minor overseas travel. Not going to even install any ROM that is compromised in some way.
I put OmniROM MM on my Oppo Find 7 and that was fantastic. It even got updated to Nougat and I think still has updates so I reset it to a non rooted, stock (Omni) state and passed it on to my eldest daughter. It's being enjoyed and well used still.
I'd really like to get that kind of service life from my Axon 7 as it is a very good phone still.
I reccomend Oreo AEX,although i heard that dualsim is not currently working
Just like asking "what are the best headphones?", or "what are the best speakers?", the only real way to tell how well a certain ROM will work for YOU on YOUR PHONE is to try it. Even between phones of the exact same model, there will always be different experiences across users. Backup, wipe, flash & see if the features/performance you find are what work for you.
Well that won't be happening. I use it for work. Can't be flashing it all the time. Just needs to work and leave it alone.
RobboW said:
Well that won't be happening. I use it for work. Can't be flashing it all the time. Just needs to work and leave it alone.
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I'd use raystef's stock based roms then, check them out.
Most are nougat, one is oreo beta, pick your poison.
I've had really good experiences with Official lineageOS. It has been a seamless process without any hitches. I'm personally waiting for the official release of lineageOS 15.1 (if and when it comes out). I've installed lineage on various devices and have been super happy with all of them. My Moto G Titan feels like a new phone after I've installed it.
Victor13f said:
I've had really good experiences with Official lineageOS. It has been a seamless process without any hitches. I'm personally waiting for the official release of lineageOS 15.1 (if and when it comes out). I've installed lineage on various devices and have been super happy with all of them. My Moto G Titan feels like a new phone after I've installed it.
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It's very device specific though. Sometimes a custom ROM (such as LOS, OMNI etc) will work well on one type of phone and be buggy on a different one. Not all phones work the same on them and I think the Axon 7 is one of those that ends up with buggy ROMs. The camera and DAC are complications that can be hard to get running well, also dual SIM can be an issue and I use it all.
If it's a choice between custom with bugs or stay on stock Nougat I would stay stock.
RobboW said:
If it's a choice between custom with bugs or stay on stock Nougat I would stay stock.
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The feedback on LOS doesn't seem to be too bad and I do understand that since I am also still stock but the problem is that the stock ROM is filled with bugs aswell. The screen brightness bug I get sometimes, the call bug, my Google play store crashes often, my GPS doesn't work properly etc etc. Those are all bugs the stock ROM itself has.
I'm hoping someone can give me the general consensus on whether flashing ROMS for this device vs staying on stock is best. I'm not currently up on the state of Samsung bloatware, if it's gotten better or worse. I found an open box at BB for $300. I'd say excellent condition. I'm getting it for my 12 year old daughter. I suppose the main concern is the general stability of flashing, say Lineage, and the lag that Samsung has, or at least used to have, as they age.
Thanks much!
orangepowerpokes said:
I'm hoping someone can give me the general consensus on whether flashing ROMS for this device vs staying on stock is best. I'm not currently up on the state of Samsung bloatware, if it's gotten better or worse. I found an open box at BB for $300. I'd say excellent condition. I'm getting it for my 12 year old daughter. I suppose the main concern is the general stability of flashing, say Lineage, and the lag that Samsung has, or at least used to have, as they age.
Thanks much!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I was going to use the tablet myself, I'd certainly flash a custom ROM and get root access. But for a 12yr old girl, I'd stay with stock and know she'd be getting the latest security updates. It's not like this was an 8 or 16gb tablet where getting rid of bloatware would be a major concern. It has plenty of storage and RAM to handle that. Just my two bits.
I only hand my son tablets / phones that can run custom ROMs (Lineage in particular). This way I can control what goes on them, what software, what he sees. I guess you could do similar things with a rooted stock device, but still. The other half of that is, most of the devices I give my son are old enough they aren't getting security updates from the manufacturers anymore. In those cases the only way to get security updates of any sort is to run custom ROMs.
Having rooted my tablet and also installed twrp I would certainly not do it for someone else to use
I would suggest buying package disabler pro and disabling all bloatware and Bixby.
When you use 'disable bloatware' on package disabler, it disables storage on sd card. So you just need to look through the disabled list and re-enable external storage.
Other than that small bug it is excellent.
ExTall said:
Having rooted my tablet and also installed twrp I would certainly not do it for someone else to use
I would suggest buying package disabler pro and disabling all bloatware and Bixby.
When you use 'disable bloatware' on package disabler, it disables storage on sd card. So you just need to look through the disabled list and re-enable external storage.
Other than that small bug it is excellent.
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Have you noticed a performance improvement? I see that it is slow for ordinary use such as social networks, the web and reading books.
miangelgabriel said:
Have you noticed a performance improvement? I see that it is slow for ordinary use such as social networks, the web and reading books.
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I can't really say as I installed package disabler pro when I first had the tablet as I hate apps like bixby.
My tablet has always seemed plenty fast to me
Regards Extall
Not much bloatware on One UI.
Sent from my SM-T720 using Tapatalk
miangelgabriel said:
Have you noticed a performance improvement? I see that it is slow for ordinary use such as social networks, the web and reading books.
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I have read books with $29 dollar chinese knockoffs. How long does it take to turn a page? My very first tablet had an Antutu of about 900. This one about 185,000. I was still able to "surf the net" with that first one. They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I'm beginning to doubt that. I think it is in the MIND of the beholder. How anyone can consider this tablet slow for surfing or social networking, just blows my mind. "OH, but my latest and greatest iPad is just SOOO much better."
I can't remember having an Android device since my OG Droid that I didn't root and flash. I'm going to skip that for this S5e, for the first time. Everything I do with it these days, my head isn't bumping into it's 'ceiling', so to speak. My SM-T580 was a different story (thank goodness for @followmsi and @srgrussso among others), and custom paid off very well.
Then again, maybe I'm just getting old.:laugh: :highfive:
orangepowerpokes said:
I'm hoping someone can give me the general consensus on whether flashing ROMS for this device vs staying on stock is best. I'm not currently up on the state of Samsung bloatware, if it's gotten better or worse. I found an open box at BB for $300. I'd say excellent condition. I'm getting it for my 12 year old daughter. I suppose the main concern is the general stability of flashing, say Lineage, and the lag that Samsung has, or at least used to have, as they age.
Thanks much!
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I have the Verizon LTE version and even with the Verizon preinstalled apps it doesn't take up a lot of space. I have the 64GB version and I had PLENTY of space for all of my apps. I put a 512GB microSD card in it so I don't have any space issues.
I rooted the SM-T725 few months ago when i got it but this was the 3rd time i had problems booting up and the twrp backup didn't work this time so i just cleaned it and i use stock now and i removed bloatware with ADB. I use only open source software no more google. But that just my way, if you want to root go with it but if its just to remove bloatware just use ADB.
Android 10 coming this june/july and probably android 11 will come to this tablet too because samsung does 2 major android updates to the device they release. If they don't you can unlock the bootloader and install android 11 in the future if a developer make it of course but i doubt it because galaxy tab s6 lite is coming soon so i don't know the future of this tablet.
S5e
OhioYJ said:
I only hand my son tablets / phones that can run custom ROMs (Lineage in particular). This way I can control what goes on them, what software, what he sees. I guess you could do similar things with a rooted stock device, but still. The other half of that is, most of the devices I give my son are old enough they aren't getting security updates from the manufacturers anymore. In those cases the only way to get security updates of any sort is to run custom ROMs.
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Just got this SM-T720 & was planning on putting Lineage 17.1 (OFFICIAL) on it.
Got the firmware, Magisk, TWRP all downloaded.
But on TWRP's site it says you have to root before installing a "rooted TWRP" image?
What's with this?
Not asking for a full tutorial but seriously TWRP can't just be flashed in Odin then vbmeta multi-
disabler, WIPE, then flash ROM + Magisk?
Any help will be greatly appreciated. My posts elsewhere are days old & no replies....
zach
I just got this tablet yesterday. I've had several previous Android tablets and phones and I've always rooted them. So far, I haven't run into anything that makes me want to root this one. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there is a battery protection setting that allows you to limit charging to 85%. Normally, you have too root to do that. I may find a need to root somewhere down the road, but right now I'm hoping to get by with stock and unroofed.
Can you keep dex on other ROMs?
coolbeans2016 said:
Just got this SM-T720 & was planning on putting Lineage 17.1 (OFFICIAL) on it.
Got the firmware, Magisk, TWRP all downloaded
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I've done it a few times and I would recommend following the maintainers instructions, LuK1337's Instructions . Dont skip anything, dont add anything, dont wipe anything that isnt listed, follow them exactly.
This tablet is picky. Magisk can be flashed in TWRP, but from what Ive found many modules can't, they will make the tablet fail to boot. Most modules can only be flashed in Magisk. My recommendation would be to get it booting before adding modules or even Magisk for that matter.
I'm using mine as stock, and this seems plenty fast for the 2 weeks I've owned it. Slow to read books? That sounds like an app problem - moon reader on a 2018 Fire HD 8 didn't have a problem reading books. How slow is the Fire 8? If I was in plex, hit the home button, and started netflix it was about 10 seconds from the press of the home button until netflix was responsive.
Besides, do you really want to have to fix your kid's devices when they inevitably have a problem?
**Edit** I also have a question. Are there any security issues when flashing roms or rooting on this like with the phones with KNoX and not being able to use secure folder and such? Im guessing if I flash a ROM I'd also be losing access to this right? (samsung apps and secure folder) Thank you!
Ughh Im kind of regretting buying this tablet now..did I make a mistake? From what Ive seen on here, it sounds like its best not to root it. Ive found that on some newer devices, irts best not to root them to avoid unnecessary problems because some just dont work well with root and magisk, especially if a lot of the modules arent going to work. I mean I dont really have any reason to root this except for not being able to use / change the themes. I cant believe they dont have the theme store on this tablet! I'm so bummed thats one of the good things about samsung phone that I miss.