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There was a time when people loved experimenting with custom ROMs. That’s when CyanogenMod stood apart from all, but its popularity gradually began to fade. The successor of the once-great CyanogenMod, LineageOS, took charge eventually. But, do you have any guesses as to how many devices currently run LineageOS? Well, the figure is astounding with a total of 1.5 million devices running the popular LineageOS custom ROM.
The legacy of LineageOS continues with a total of over 1.5 million devices
LineageOS succeeded the popular CyanogenMod project in 2016. It continues to provide custom ROMs for a wide range of devices, including Google, Fairphone, Samsung, OnePlus, and Xiaomi. It even revives discontinued brands like Essential and LG. LineageOS gives users more control over their Android experience with a variety of personalization options.
LineageOS 20, the latest version of LineageOS, is based on Android 13. It was released in late 2022. LineageOS’s super predecessor, CyanogenOS, was first released in 2009 based on Android 1.5. It slowly became the most popular Custom ROM to ever exist. Android 1.5 had one of the cutest names in Android’s history: Cupcake. As Android 14 has been released, the next LineageOS 21 is expected to be released by the end of 2023.
How popular is LineageOS in current times?
The actual popularity of LineageOS has been a mystery until now. But a recent podcast episode provides some answers. In a special episode of MKBHD’s WVFRM podcast (via 9to5Google), David Imel explored the history of custom ROMs on Android. He sat with members of the LineageOS team.
The episode is an insightful watch or listen, and one particular statistic caught our attention. LineageOS is currently installed on about 1.5 million devices. While there’s no information on the active usage patterns, device types, or the number of distinct users behind these devices, this figure provides a glimpse into LineageOS’s popularity in an era where ROMs have lost their former prominence and necessity.
Custom ROMs have become less popular in recent years. However, LineageOS has remained a constant force in the community. LineageOS provides a stable and customizable experience, which has kept users coming back for more. It continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible on Android. We are excited to see what the future holds for LineageOS and the custom ROM community as a whole.