Bootloader unlocking: Difference between revisions

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==='''2. Expanding Device Lifespan'''===

Most custom ROMs are free of bloatware and can thus be used to extend the longevity of phones that have become unusable due to the default system growing larger with each manufacturer update. Especially on low-end phones, these updates often exhaust the built-in storage after as little as two years. This renders the devices slow and unstable, leaving no room for user data. Custom ROMs are typically much smaller than the manufacturer's software. Consequently, many old phones can run even faster with a custom ROM than they did when new, thus often more than doubling their useful lifespan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=By how much do custom roms really extend Phone lifespans? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidQuestions/comments/gdq2rc/comment/fpj11ay/ |access-date=2025-08-23 |website=Reddit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223033349/https://old.reddit.com/r/AndroidQuestions/comments/gdq2rc/by_how_much_do_custom_roms_really_extend_phone/fpj11ay/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-10 |title=Xiaomi Redmi 8a - olivelite with Dual Sim |url=https://community.e.foundation/t/xiaomi-redmi-8a-olivelite-with-dual-sim/29192/12 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-23 |website=/e/OS Community |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250907145946/https://community.e.foundation/t/xiaomi-redmi-8a-olivelite-with-dual-sim/29192/12 |archive-date=7 Sep 2025}}</ref>

Most custom ROMs are free of [[bloatware]] and can thus be used to extend the longevity of phones that have become unusable due to the default system growing larger with each manufacturer update. Especially on low-end phones, these updates often exhaust the built-in storage after as little as two years. This renders the devices slow and unstable, leaving no room for user data. Custom ROMs are typically much smaller than the manufacturer's software. Consequently, many old phones can run even faster with a custom ROM than they did when new, thus often more than doubling their useful lifespan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=By how much do custom roms really extend Phone lifespans? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidQuestions/comments/gdq2rc/comment/fpj11ay/ |access-date=2025-08-23 |website=Reddit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223033349/https://old.reddit.com/r/AndroidQuestions/comments/gdq2rc/by_how_much_do_custom_roms_really_extend_phone/fpj11ay/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-10 |title=Xiaomi Redmi 8a - olivelite with Dual Sim |url=https://community.e.foundation/t/xiaomi-redmi-8a-olivelite-with-dual-sim/29192/12 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-23 |website=/e/OS Community |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250907145946/https://community.e.foundation/t/xiaomi-redmi-8a-olivelite-with-dual-sim/29192/12 |archive-date=7 Sep 2025}}</ref>

==='''3. Updates after the manufacturer abandons the device'''===

Low-end devices usually receive only a few years or even months of security updates.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Android Update Matrix |url=https://www.androidupdatetracker.com/update-matrix |access-date=2025-08-23 |website=Android Update Tracker |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251206020040/https://www.androidupdatetracker.com/update-matrix |archive-date=6 Dec 2025}}</ref> Since most custom ROMs are built by the open-source community, installing one of these custom ROMs allows users to receive security updates for the Android system and default components, such as web browser engines and PDF readers, for a significantly longer period than with the manufacturer's OS.

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 ==='''2. Expanding Device Lifespan'''===
-Most custom ROMs are free of bloatware and can thus be used to extend the longevity of phones that have become unusable due to the default system growing larger with each manufacturer update. Especially on low-end phones, these updates often exhaust the built-in storage after as little as two years. This renders the devices slow and unstable, leaving no room for user data. Custom ROMs are typically much smaller than the manufacturer's software. Consequently, many old phones can run even faster with a custom ROM than they did when new, thus often more than doubling their useful lifespan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=By how much do custom roms really extend Phone lifespans? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidQuestions/comments/gdq2rc/comment/fpj11ay/ |access-date=2025-08-23 |website=Reddit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223033349/https://old.reddit.com/r/AndroidQuestions/comments/gdq2rc/by_how_much_do_custom_roms_really_extend_phone/fpj11ay/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-10 |title=Xiaomi Redmi 8a - olivelite with Dual Sim |url=https://community.e.foundation/t/xiaomi-redmi-8a-olivelite-with-dual-sim/29192/12 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-23 |website=/e/OS Community |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250907145946/https://community.e.foundation/t/xiaomi-redmi-8a-olivelite-with-dual-sim/29192/12 |archive-date=7 Sep 2025}}</ref><!-- Please provide better sources than forums and reddits. You can read the citation guide on this wiki for more tips -->
+Most custom ROMs are free of [[bloatware]] and can thus be used to extend the longevity of phones that have become unusable due to the default system growing larger with each manufacturer update. Especially on low-end phones, these updates often exhaust the built-in storage after as little as two years. This renders the devices slow and unstable, leaving no room for user data. Custom ROMs are typically much smaller than the manufacturer's software. Consequently, many old phones can run even faster with a custom ROM than they did when new, thus often more than doubling their useful lifespan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=By how much do custom roms really extend Phone lifespans? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidQuestions/comments/gdq2rc/comment/fpj11ay/ |access-date=2025-08-23 |website=Reddit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223033349/https://old.reddit.com/r/AndroidQuestions/comments/gdq2rc/by_how_much_do_custom_roms_really_extend_phone/fpj11ay/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-10 |title=Xiaomi Redmi 8a - olivelite with Dual Sim |url=https://community.e.foundation/t/xiaomi-redmi-8a-olivelite-with-dual-sim/29192/12 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-23 |website=/e/OS Community |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250907145946/https://community.e.foundation/t/xiaomi-redmi-8a-olivelite-with-dual-sim/29192/12 |archive-date=7 Sep 2025}}</ref><!-- Please provide better sources than forums and reddits. You can read the citation guide on this wiki for more tips -->
 ==='''3. Updates after the manufacturer abandons the device'''===
 Low-end devices usually receive only a few years or even months of security updates.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Android Update Matrix |url=https://www.androidupdatetracker.com/update-matrix |access-date=2025-08-23 |website=Android Update Tracker |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251206020040/https://www.androidupdatetracker.com/update-matrix |archive-date=6 Dec 2025}}</ref> Since most custom ROMs are built by the open-source community, installing one of these custom ROMs allows users to receive security updates for the Android system and default components, such as web browser engines and PDF readers, for a significantly longer period than with the manufacturer's OS.<!-- Source? -->