Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Android VS LineageOS

Compare Android VS LineageOS and see what are their differences

Android logo Android

Android is an open source mobile operating system initially released by Google in 2008 and has since become of the most widely used operating systems on any platform.

LineageOS logo LineageOS

Operating system for smartphones and tablet computers, based on the Android
  • Android Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-14
  • LineageOS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-26

Android features and specs

  • Customization
    Android offers extensive customization options, allowing users to personalize their device appearance and functionality.
  • Diverse Hardware Options
    Android is available on a wide range of devices from various manufacturers, giving users numerous choices in terms of size, design, and price.
  • Google Services Integration
    Android provides seamless integration with Google services like Google Search, Maps, Gmail, and Google Assistant.
  • Open Source
    Android is based on an open-source platform, encouraging innovation and allowing developers to modify and improve the system.
  • App Variety
    The Google Play Store offers a vast selection of apps and games, often with a greater variety than other platforms.
  • Multi-Tasking
    Android supports robust multi-tasking capabilities, letting users switch between apps and use them simultaneously with features like split-screen.

Possible disadvantages of Android

  • Fragmentation
    Due to the diversity of devices and manufacturer customizations, Android fragmentation can lead to inconsistent performance and delayed software updates.
  • Security Risks
    The open-source nature of Android can make it more vulnerable to malware and security breaches if users download applications from untrusted sources.
  • Bloatware
    Many Android devices come with pre-installed applications (bloatware) that can be difficult to remove and consume storage and resources.
  • Inconsistent User Experience
    The user experience may vary significantly across different devices and manufacturers, leading to inconsistency in performance and features.
  • Ads and In-App Purchases
    Many free Android apps rely heavily on advertisements and in-app purchases, which can sometimes diminish the user experience.
  • Battery Life
    Some Android devices may suffer from poor battery optimization, leading to shorter battery life compared to other platforms.

LineageOS features and specs

  • Open Source
    LineageOS is open source, which means the source code is publicly available for review and modification. This enhances transparency and allows developers to contribute to the project.
  • Privacy
    LineageOS focuses on privacy and does not include any proprietary software from Google, reducing the amount of data collected on users.
  • Customization
    It offers a high level of customization, enabling users to personalize their devices extensively compared to stock ROMs.
  • Regular Updates
    LineageOS provides regular updates, including security patches and new features, ensuring that devices remain up-to-date and secure.
  • Extended Device Support
    It extends the life of older devices by providing updates and support long after manufacturers have ceased official updates.

Possible disadvantages of LineageOS

  • Complex Installation
    Installing LineageOS can be complex, requiring technical know-how and sometimes voiding warranties. Rooting and flashing a custom ROM can be intimidating for non-technical users.
  • App Compatibility
    Some applications may not be fully compatible or behave differently on LineageOS due to the absence of proprietary Google services and apps.
  • Potential Stability Issues
    Custom ROMs like LineageOS might introduce stability issues or bugs, particularly on less commonly used devices that have less community testing and support.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    Not all devices are supported by LineageOS. Users need to ensure their device is compatible before proceeding with installation.
  • Warranty Considerations
    Installing custom ROMs may void the warranty on some devices. Users need to be aware of this risk before proceeding.

Android videos

Android 10 Review: This is Android in 2020! [Android Q]

More videos:

  • Review - Google Pixel 4 and 4 XL review: the best Android experience
  • Review - iPhone User Spends 17 Days on Android | Galaxy S10 Plus Review

LineageOS videos

LineageOS 15.1 Features Overview

More videos:

  • Review - LineageOS 16 Review - Best Custom ROM Ever?!
  • Review - LineageOS 17 On Redmi K20 Pro [17/11/2019 Build] Full Review!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Android and LineageOS)
Mobile OS
31 31%
69% 69
Mobile SDK
31 31%
69% 69
Operating Systems
65 65%
35% 35
Roms
25 25%
75% 75

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Android and LineageOS

Android Reviews

Top 5 Mobile Operating Systems 2023 (Alternatives to Android)
Planned essentially for touch-screen phones and tablets, Android is first created by Android Inc. that Google purchased later in the year 2005. Android Operating System was revealed in the year 2007, and then the first Android device was launched in September 2008.
Best Open Source Android Alternative OS for Smartphones
As most of the trade and technology-loving persons already heard about the US-China Trade War and Huawei-Google fight. Now, so many Huawei device users and Android enthusiasts are wondering what will be the next Android alternative OS (Operating System) for smartphones. Without Google and its services, the Android platform is difficult to run properly on a smartphone. But we...
Android Alternative: Top 12 Mobile Operating Systems
Android has become the de-facto operating system for smartphones, IoT devices, cars, TVs, and other electronic devices. The open-source project is being deployed almost everywhere because of the vast app support, lightweight profile, compatibility with a variety of hardware, huge developer support, etc. Apple’s iOS is putting up a good fight, but it’s nowhere close to...
Source: beebom.com
12 Best Android Custom ROMs For 2020 That You Must Try
Well, say hello to one of the top tier customization Kings of the Android Custom ROM World. Resurrection Remix has been around for almost the same time as any of the ROMs we’ve mentioned below. Starting its development in the early days of Android 4.0, RR has never failed to impress me with its feature-packed settings menu to tailor the Android smartphone to your heart’s...
Source: fossbytes.com
Open Source Mobile OS Alternatives To Android
It’s no exaggeration to say that open source operating systems rule the world of mobile devices. Android is still an open source project, after all. But, due to the bundle of proprietary software that comes along with Android on consumer devices, many people don’t consider it an open source operating system.
Source: itsfoss.com

LineageOS Reviews

12 Best Android OS for PC (64 bit/ 32bit)- 2023
Install LineageOS on PC by creating a bootable media, preferably through Rufus, and then installing it on a separate partition.
12 Best Android OS for PC ( 64Bit/32Bit ) in 2023
Android-x86 is similar to LineageOS and was originally a port of the Android mobile platform to x86 processors(now also x64 processors). It was a port project for Android open-source project, formerly known as patch hosting.
Android Alternative: Top 12 Mobile Operating Systems
On top of that, LineageOS comes clean without Google services. You can, however, sideload the GApps package and get Play Store and other services running. It supports more than 200 devices and continuously brings the latest updates to outdated hardware. Even many custom ROMs fork LineageOS to add more functionality and features due to its rock-solid base. LineageOS has even...
Source: beebom.com
15 Best Custom ROMs for Android in 2022
LineageOS is an inheritor to by far the most famous custom ROM, CyanogenMod ROM. It was built using Google’s AOSP code as its primary base and with its own added custom code. Lineage OS operates as the source code for a lot of other custom ROMs as well. It has focused on openness, community development, and improvement of the stock Android experience, CyanogenMod supported...
15 Best Custom ROMs for Android You Can Install
Next is the biggest name in the custom ROM scene – LineageOS. While many of you might not be familiar with the name, LineageOS is actually the same custom ROM that started as CyanogenMod. Back in the fall of 2016, Cyanogen Inc. announced that it was discontinuing development and shut down the infrastructure behind the project. Since then, the developer community has kept the...
Source: beebom.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, LineageOS seems to be a lot more popular than Android. While we know about 250 links to LineageOS, we've tracked only 11 mentions of Android. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Android mentions (11)

  • What is the best wearos watch according to google? :)
    Of course it's the Watch 5 Pro. Go to android.com it's even used in a promote video lol. Pixel Watch is just a joke. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Surface Duo 2 November Update Build 2022.817.23
    I've been running with it for a short-while now. Need to go to android.com and see what fixes they made. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Jetpack Compose: Horrifically slow in text input?
    As a follow-up, if jetpack can be used to build real and performant apps, does anyone have a good recommendation for a tutorial? I was trying to follow the demos linked of android.com, but it seemed as if there were vast differences between what they were saying to do, and what was in a newly bootstrapped project and the gradle files. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Anyone else having Malwarebytes say Google.com is malware?
    This seems to be effecting all of Google's products. I can't get into any of my G-Suite sites, GMail accounts, google.com, android.com, etc. From any device that has Malwarebytes installed. The constant popups from Malwarebytes are annoying, but on a positive note, it is letting me see just how many apps on my computer phone in to Google. NZXT is the biggest offender, and seems to be constantly hitting up... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Why do none of the major distros have KDE Plasma as default?
    I wish I could go to android.com download the latest ROM and install it myself, like I do with Linux, I hate waiting for phone manufacturers to release OS updates and security fixes. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

LineageOS mentions (250)

  • The Global Surveillance Free-for-All in Mobile Ad Data
    LineageOS[0] (and/or other non-Google OS)+F-Droid[1] (and/or other third-party app stores) allow you to avoid Google altogether. Which is nothing new. Is that possible with IOS? I think not. [0] https://lineageos.org/ [1] https://f-droid.org/en/. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • It Started as Fun, Turned Into a Calling...
    The ability to root my phone allowed me to customize it in ways I had never imagined. I found myself diving into the world of custom ROMs, experimenting with different operating systems for my device. CyanogenMod (now LineageOS) quickly became my favourite, offering a level of control and customization that felt almost magical. To flash these new systems, I had to install ClockWorkMod Recovery (CWM), a process... - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Ask HN: Non-duopoly smart phone in Sweden?
    Sailfish OS is a non-duopoly option. There are community builds for a wide range of devices, and official licenses which support a smaller number of devices but include extras including an Android compatibility subsystem so you can run Android apps which don't have Google dependencies (ie, a majority of them). https://sailfishos.org/ Lineage OS offers a Google-free Android operating system that also runs on a... - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • I am not able to unlock the bootloader on my phone. I need to install LineageOS!!!
    Remember, If it's not lineageos.org -- it's not official. Source: about 1 year ago
  • Apple Confirms Governments Using Push Notifications to Surveil Users
    I'm sure you did your research. I'm writing for other readers who are interested. There are a few alternatives, more can be found but this is a selection of the most prominent offerings. /e/OS: https://e.foundation/e-os/ GrapheneOS: https://grapheneos.org/ LineageOS: https://lineageos.org/ CalyxOS: https://calyxos.org/ PostmarketOS (based on Alpine Linux rather than Android): https://postmarketos.org/ (for some... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Android and LineageOS, you can also consider the following products

Ubuntu Touch - Read more about Ubuntu Touch. Our free and open source mobile OS is made and maintained by UBports! We care about your freedom and privacy.

GrapheneOS - GrapheneOS is an open source privacy and security focused mobile OS with Android app compatibility.

CalyxOS - Privacy-focused operating system for smartphones based on Android and microG

CopperheadOS - Secure Android built for encrypted and secure phones by a privacy focused company. Available as security-centric and privacy focused Google-free Android for the latest devices. Fully integrated with the latest IDS and MDM enterprise technologies.

iOS - iOS is the operating system associated by default with all Apple mobile devices.

Ubuntu - Ubuntu is a Debian Linux-based open source operating system for desktop computers.