In today’s highly homogenized smartphone market, pre-installed systems are often criticized for their bloat and rampant advertising. However, LineageOS, which emerged in 2016 as a successor to CyanogenMod, has become a “savior” for geek players and users of old devices due to its “ad-free and highly customizable” features. Although its latest version has evolved to 21 (based on Android 14), LineageOS 18.1 (based on Android 11) still maintains a “top-tier” status in the flashing community due to its stability and extensive device support.
Core Advantages of LineageOS 18.1: Why is it so Popular?
- Ad-Free Pure Experience
- Unlike domestic customized systems, LineageOS completely removes pre-installed applications and ad push from manufacturers, retaining only basic system applications (such as phone, SMS, browser, etc.), allowing users to freely install the services they need. For users tired of “shake-to-show-ads” and “system-level pop-ups”, it is a “purification tool”.
- Official statistics show that LineageOS 18.1 supports over 200 devices, including the 2016 Google Pixel, OnePlus 3T, and even the Xiaomi 6 and Samsung Galaxy S8, which are still in use. By flashing the latest security patches (monthly updates are still provided as of December 2023), users of old devices can effectively avoid privacy risks after manufacturers stop updates.
- Full Control of Root Permissions: Obtain superuser permissions through Magisk without rooting, customize kernels, overclock CPUs, and freeze background processes.
- Comprehensive Theme Engine: Supports Substratum theme plugin, allowing deep modifications of icons, fonts, and animations.
- Hardware Potential Exploration: Manually adjust screen color temperature, GPU rendering modes, and even unlock manual focus for cameras (on some models).
Weaknesses of LineageOS 18.1: Are These Pain Points Acceptable to You?
Despite the significant advantages of LineageOS 18.1, there are still some issues to consider before flashing:
- Hardware Compatibility Risks
- Some models may experience issues with camera, fingerprint recognition, or NFC functionality (depending on the capabilities of community maintainers).
- 5G network support is unstable, and older modems may lead to weak signals.
- Domestic applications (such as banking apps and games) may detect the system as “non-official”, triggering crashes or limiting functionality.
- No built-in app store; users need to manually install third-party markets or APK files, which poses security risks.
- From unlocking the bootloader to debugging Magisk modules, a certain technical foundation is required, and ordinary users may brick their phones due to operational errors.
The Future of LineageOS: Open Source Spirit vs. Commercialization Dilemma
The survival of LineageOS relies on the voluntary contributions of global developers, but in recent years it has faced two major challenges:
- Device Adaptation Lag
- New models depend on manufacturers providing open-source kernels, but brands like Huawei and OPPO are gradually tightening unlocking policies, leading to extended adaptation cycles or even lack of support.
- The project mainly relies on donations and ad revenue sharing (setting the default search engine to DuckDuckGo generates income), making it difficult to support large-scale development.
In an era where manufacturers’ “planned obsolescence” strategies are prevalent, LineageOS 18.1 serves as a key to unlock new life for old devices and reclaim control for users. It may not be the trendiest system anymore, but the spirit of “my phone, my rules” is still worthy of our respect.
About the Wallpapers
Native wallpapers of the LineageOS 18.1 system
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Wallpaper Acquisition
Previous Selections iOS 18 / iPad OS18 / Mac OS15 
