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Great custom ROMs in 2021

So, you have an Android smartphone, and the same old UI has begun to bore you. So, it’s time to dive into the world of custom ROMs. Installing Custom ROMs is one of the easiest ways to deal with overdue OEM updates and introduce a plethora of new features to your Android smartphone. Let’s take a look at the best Android Custom ROMs for 2021 that you can try.

Since Android OS is open-source, the overly enthusiastic community-at-large is constantly working on their own versions of the OS, which is why Android is so popular. However, flashing a custom ROM necessitates unlocking the bootloader and installing a custom recovery, so be sure to read our article on the topic.

Custom ROMs:

1. LineageOS 18.1 (LOS ROM)

You’ll not find a custom ROM list on the internet that doesn’t include LineagOS. LineageOS is the new age successor of the CyanogenMod ROM. Following CyanogenMod discontinuation in 2016, LineageOS took center stage and has not looked back since. This most popular custom ROM for Android cements its reputation purely on the sheer number of users and downloads that it has gotten over the years.

Above all, LineageOS is the base of most of the other custom ROMs in the community (Example: Resurrection Remix). Stability is a stronghold, with the UI presenting itself as akin to Google’s very own Stock Android.

It doesn’t provide a lot of customization options but, in the Android community, personalization isn’t everything. Nevertheless, it does play a huge role when it comes to the Android Custom ROM world and still remains one of the best Android custom ROMs for 2021.Download LineageOS Custom ROM

2. Paranoid Android (PA ROM)

Paranoid Android ROM is one of everyone’s personal favorites when it comes to Custom Firmware. Being one of the oldest ROMs available, AOSPA has come a long way. While being one of the few ROMs based on CAF, PA packs a punch in terms of stability, security, and performance.

Additionally, Ambient Display first made an appearance as part of PA Custom ROM with a feature name called Peek and was later ported into an APK. Certainly, the fact that even tech giants have looked up to this project to inspire innovation speaks for itself. Download Paranoid Android Custom ROM

3. crDroid

Based on LineageOs, crDroid is one of the very few feature-rich yet stable custom ROMs that you’ll find today. The ROM gains new features with every update and the security patches and main updates are also rolled out pretty quick

The latest crDroid release (7) is supported on more than 63 devices from 12 manufacturers. Out of all the OEMs, Xiaomi/Redmi and OnePlus devices are the most loved devices in the crDroid community. The last time I installed crDroid was on my OG OnePlus 3T and I quite liked the stability and customizations that it bought to the table. Download crDroid Custom ROM

4. Havoc OS

Havoc OS has been pretty popular since the release of Android Oreo. This custom ROM is known for its all-around performance but, one area where it stands out is in the battery performance. Havoc OS is no slouch when it comes to customization options. Unlike other OSes that compromise one thing for the other, Havoc OS is a no-compromise ROM best suited for everyday usage.

Initially, the Havoc team concentrated on providing the best of all worlds, tailoring a pleasant experience for the user. Now, things are very much different as the Havoc OS project is bringing new features that are attracting other developers in the Custom ROM realm.Download Havoc OS Custom ROM

5. Pixel Extended

As the name suggests, Pixel Extended ROM is a derivative of Pixel Experience ROM which you’ll read about later in the article. It aims at solving the lack of customizations in the Pixel Experience ROM and, it does that very well with fewer caveats/compromises in areas like stability.

While it doesn’t offer a lot of customizations compared to other contenders on this list like MSM-Xtended, it does strike a great balance of providing Pixel-exclusive features and significant customizations than the stock Pixel Experience ROM.Download Pixel Extended Custom ROM

6. Corvus OS

Corvus is yet another AOSP-based custom ROM that takes heavy inspiration from the OG Dirty Unicorns ROM. It comes with a lot of customization options and is best suited for people who value customizations more than anything else. As of writing this article, more than 42 devices are officially supported. The ROM has been downloaded over 300000 times.

It is also one of the best ROMs when it comes to performance. Hence, if you’re looking for a Custom ROM for gaming, flash CorvusOS without any second thoughts.

7. ArrowOS

In contrast to all the Custom ROMs mentioned in the list, Arrow OS provides less customization. As a result, this AOSP-based ROM is heavily oriented towards stability and battery life while offering a buttery smooth experience as a whole. Still, less doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad. This ROM targets users that prefer better battery life and stability than overwhelming customization options.

Apart from that, this ROM also gets timely security updates and OS updates. The device support is also pretty broad.Download ArrowOS Custom ROM

8. Pixel Experience

Say hello to one of the most simple and cleanest ROMs in the community, the Pixel Experience ROM. Derived from Google’s stock ROM on its Pixel devices, it delivers Pixel features right out of the box. Unlike the other ROMs in the list and precisely as the name suggests, the main purpose of the inception of this fantastic ROM is to provide a stable and secure Pixel-like experience rather than focusing on the area of customizability.

Although the Pixel Experience ROM holds some of the basic tweaks you would expect, tailoring every aspect of your device is not its goal. Another unique feature of the ROM is that it is CAF-based. For starters, a CAF-based ROM is an AOSP-based ROM that the chipset manufacturer Qualcomm uses to test their particular chipsets. CAF ROMs are tailored to offer incredible stability.Download POSP Custom ROM

9. POSP (Potato Open Sauce Project)

Yup. You read that right. Certainly, Custom ROM developers can’t go wrong with crunchy names, right? Well, that holds true, at least in the case of POSP as many of the users might agree. Serving up a delicious-looking website with a cheerful undertone, this brilliant Custom Rom serves its purpose quite well.

This Popular Custom ROM provides ample choices for tweaking your device in the manner of your choice. Furthermore, the POSP Custom ROM now supports a wide variety of devices. Recently, the developers launched v4 adding several new features to the custom ROM. Finally, like it or hate it, these potatoes rock!Download POSP Custom ROM

10. EvolutionX

EvolutionX is yet another custom ROM based on vanilla AOSP, similar to Pixel Experience. It is one of the most customizable custom ROMs in the Android community.

Developers rolled out EvolutionX ROM based on Android 11 as soon as the official Android 11 came out. The custom ROM is especially popular due to its performance and stability and is preferred by users who don’t often hop custom ROMs. Be it CPU-intensive tasks or GPU-intensive, EvolutionX nails it in every aspect.

Sure the customizations are less than other custom ROMs like HavocOS but, it strikes a perfect balance between performance and simplicity via stock Android experience.

Download EvolutionX Custom ROMDownload EvolutionX Custom ROM

11. AOSIP/Derpfest

AOSIP (Android Open-Source Illusion Project) is hands down one of my favorite custom ROMs when it comes to delivering a Pixel-like experience and a lot of miscellaneous features. Based on AOSP with Pixel Experience as a base, it delivers a lot of features and, at the same time, keeps the experience simple.

Derpfest is an unofficial, community ROM based on AOSIP. Apart from a few added features here and there, there’s not much of a difference between the two. Everything from the monthly security patches to receiving new version updates is also quick on AOSIP.Download AOSIP Download Derpfest Custom ROMs

12. Syberia Project

Syberia ROM is yet another AOSP and CAF-based custom ROM known for its stability, customization features, and timely updates. A week that I spent with this ROM (Android 10.0) on my OnePlus 6, felt pretty great for daily usage.

Apart from the Pixel experience and customization, what blew me away was how stable the ROM was. The Syberia OS community loves Xiaomi devices so, there’s a high chance that your Xiaomi device is/will be supported.Download Syberia Custom ROM

13. MSM-Xtended

Are you searching for a custom ROM that helps tweak every last bit of your Android experience? Meet MSM-Xtended – A highly customizable, yet another AOSP-based custom ROM whose tweaking abilities are off the charts.

I tried it on my older Xiaomi Mi A1 and honestly, I think the customizations are a serious overkill here. Nonetheless, I know there are a lot of people who want just that. Apart from that, it was pretty stable and always stayed up-to-date. Hence, it is one of the best android custom ROMs for 2021 for customizations.Download MSM-Xtended Custom ROM

Wich one is the best?

Before you start yelling at me for not having your favorite custom ROM on this list, please understand that this is a very subjective list. These custom ROMs are just the tip of the proverbial proverbial iceberg.

Finally, it is strongly advised to peruse the XDA Forums to keep track of what works and user input. Certainly, the developers and maintainers of ROMs for your particular devices play a significant role. Get some fun blinking.

April 18, 2021
Clean your phone – 6 best apps that really clean your Android device

Most people just consider cleaning up their phone when something goes wrong. While Android devices are intelligent enough that routine maintenance isn’t needed, it’s still a good idea to perform a digital tune-up every now and then. Don’t underestimate the power of keeping digitally organized—-it might just keep your phone running longer.

The trick is to find phone cleaner applications that deliver on their promises. A bad cleaner app, at best, wastes storage space; at worst, it can infect you with malware and flood you with ads. However, not all Android cleaner apps are worthless, so we’ll help you find the ones that are.

1. Files by Google

Google’s official Android file manager includes simple tools, making it the first Android junk cleaner someone can try. To access these options, launch the app and navigate to the Clean tab at the bottom.

Here you’ll see several areas that the app identifies as wasting space. These include Junk files, Duplicates, Backed up photos, and Unused apps. Select an option to look at what’s taking up the most space, check what you want to remove, and confirm to have the app take care of the rest.

While you can also use the Browse tab to explore your phone’s storage manually, letting the app weed out the biggest space hogs is more efficient.

As we’ll see, many of the apps on this list have useful cleaning features but also have RAM optimizers and other nonsense you don’t need. Files is a nice solution to these problems; it’s one of the easiest ways to clean up Android with an easy, free app that isn’t bloated with unnecessary extras.

Download: Files by Google (Free)

2. Droid Optimizer

Droid Optimizer is one of the best-known Android cleaner tools, with over a million downloads on the Google Play Store. It’s simple to use, especially for newbies, with an introduction screen that walks you through permissions and features.

It includes a “rating scale” to encourage you to keep your device in good working order. Droid Optimizer is the perfect Android cleaner for you if you don’t mind making your own smartphone shame you into better habits.

One tap is all you need to begin a phone cleanup. You’ll see your stats at the top of the screen; free space and RAM show next to your “rank” score, where you receive points for your cleanup actions.

If you’d rather set it and forget it, Droid Optimizer lets you schedule routine, automatic cleaning. This auto-cleanup will clear your cache, disable background apps, and remove any unused files. It also includes a “good night scheduler” to save energy by automatically disabling features like Wi-Fi while not in use.

Droid Optimizer can also mass-delete apps—useful if you’re looking to quickly make some space.

It’s not the most attractive app, but it works. If you’re looking for the best Android phone cleaner app and don’t want to do much of the work yourself, Droid Optimizer should be on your shortlist.

Download: Droid Optimizer (Free, in-app purchases available)

3. CCleaner

The same well-known desktop app for reclaiming disk space is also available on Android. We’ve discussed why CCleaner isn’t an essential app for Windows anymore, as it’s gone downhill somewhat since Avast acquired the service. And while the Android app isn’t perfect either, it’s better than a lot of the other spammy cleaner apps for Android.

Indeed, CCleaner on Android is a multifunctional app that does its best to analyze and clean up stray files taking up your precious space. The main function is the cleaner feature that can wipe cache data from apps, purge empty folders, and delete various histories.

It also has an App Manager, which offers a simple interface that lets you pick multiple apps for uninstallation. Lastly, the System Info page monitors your phone’s resources (CPU, RAM, device details) so you can see what’s going on at a quick glance.

There is no need for root, and it is completely free, but you can upgrade to the Pro subscription for a few extras. It may be lacking in functionality, but it does the job if all you need is a fast way to reclaim storage space on your devices.

Download: CCleaner (Free, subscription available)

4. All-in-One Toolbox

Cleaning your phone of unwanted files is just one step in the process. What about keeping track of your battery, CPU temperature, or those annoying mobile ads? The All-In-One Toolbox, as the name suggests, will do it all.

It will clean your Android device’s temporary files, wipe your cache, and delete empty folders and orphaned files. It only takes one tap to examine your system, followed by another to uninstall, and you’re done. It’s the same mechanism in other parts of the app.

The Boost function cleans your system cache and closes background apps, again with two taps. You can set this automatically with the Boost+ function if you’d prefer, but doing so requires an in-app purchase. If you’re running out of juice, the Battery Saver section is another background task killer (see below for a warning on this), but it also provides your current battery statistics.

If that wasn’t enough, there’s also a mass app deleter, advanced file cleaning tools, and Wi-Fi analysis. As its name promises, All-In-One Toolbox tries to do it all. Like Droid Optimizer, there’s also a ranking system to encourage regular use.

Download: All-in-One Toolbox (Free, in-app purchases available) | All-In-One Toolbox Pro ($15.99)

5. SD Maid

SD Maid claims to be “at your service” as the digital cleaner for your Android phone. It keeps the experience simple—opening up the app gives you four quick action features you can use to “tidy up” your device.

The first, CorpseFinder, searches for and erases any orphaned files or folders left over from deleting an app. SystemCleaner is another search-and-delete tool, this time looking for common files and folders that SD Maid believes it can safely delete.

If this sounds appealing, AppCleaner does the same thing with your games. To use this feature, you must first upgrade SD Maid Pro. There’s even a Databases section to further simplify any app databases in use—-in our test, this cleared 40MB from Spotify.

There are also tools for storage analysis (to help you find and delete big files) and mass app removal if you’re looking at a bigger phone tune-up.

Download: SD Maid (Free, in-app purchases available) | SD Maid Pro ($4)

6. Norton Clean

Aside from CCleaner (owned by Avast), none of these cleaner apps come from top-tier security firms. The search for the best cleaning app for Android can’t conclude without mentioning Norton Clean, the Android little brother of the famous Norton Antivirus from Symantec.

Norton says that it will “clear the clutter” from your Android computer. It will scan for and wipe your cache, delete any junk files, and assist you in quickly removing any unused applications you have installed, just like the other entries. The Manage Apps section lists all of your apps and allows you to group them by last use, installation date, or storage use.

The software takes a straightforward approach. Norton Clean has one of the cleanest, strongest, and most modern-looking user interfaces as compared to the other entries. Anything you need is just a few taps away, so you don’t need to be an Android expert to find it out.

It’s lacking in functionality, consisting only of a file cleaner and app remover, with popular advertisements for other Norton applications. If you’re concerned about space, Norton Clean is simple enough to use to help you reclaim it. There are no in-app purchases or subscriptions to think about.

Download: Norton Clean (Free)

Keeping Android Clean and Tidy

Regular maintenance isn’t vital for most Android users, but it can help to keep your device running smoothly. Yes, it’s true—your device should keep running even if you don’t spend time clearing out junk. Most modern Android devices have plenty of RAM and device storage to cope with anything you have installed or saved. You shouldn’t need to spend your days clearing app cache, either.

That said, if you notice there’s a problem with your Android device, an Android cleaner could perk it up a little. If that doesn’t work, you might need to try manual cleaning next.

April 14, 2021
Customize chat list gestures in Telegram
They’re useful for triaging messages and reminders that you don’t want or need to focus on, whether they’re used for navigating the operating system as implemented in Android 10 or for quickly performing tasks in apps like Gmail or Twitter. Swipe gestures are also useful if you, like me, choose to use your phone with one hand. That’s why I was ecstatic when Telegram revealed that users could now customize the swipe gestures available on the messages home screen. If you want to see what choices are open to you and learn how to customize Telegram chat list swipe movements, keep reading!

Customize chat list swipe gestures in Telegram

In Chat Settings, Android users can assign a specific action to swiping left in the chat list – like mute, pin, delete, archive or mark as read.

By default, iOS users can swipe right to pin or mark as read, and swipe left to mute, delete or archive. #TelegramTips pic.twitter.com/2lBmNEn3lN
— Telegram Messenger (@telegram) March 24, 2021
1. Open the Telegram app.
2. Tap on the settings menu in the top left corner (three lines).
3. Tap on Settings.
4. Tap on Chat Settings.
5. Scroll down until you see the Chat list swipe gesture options.
6. Scroll through the options including Archive, Mute, Delete, Pin, and Read.
7. Tap to select your preference, and then go back to the app’s home screen.
Now when you go back and swipe on a chat, the new swipe behavior should be reflected.
April 8, 2021
Nokia’s new phone lineup – simplicity and longevity

If you’re perplexed by Nokia’s phone lineup and its penchant for decimal points, there’s some good news. HMD Global has redesigned the Nokia phone lineup for 2021, and it’s significantly simpler and more oriented — if not exactly what you were hoping.

The Nokia phone lineup for 2021 is divided into just three categories, all of which are based on longevity. The X-series is the flagship model, with more advanced features, a two-day battery life, three years of OS updates (including regular security updates), and an extended warranty. The mid-range G-series shown above is intended to be more affordable, with three days of battery life, two years of OS updates, and three years of monthly security fixes. The C-series targets newcomers with a “all-day” battery and two years of quarterly security updates, but no OS enhancements are promised.

The Nokia X10 and X20 (pictured at middle) headline the 2021 models, although they’re low-to-mid-range phones. Both use 5G-capable Snapdragon 480 chips and sport 6.67-inch 1,080 x 2,400 displays. The X10 starts things off with a 48MP main camera, a 5MP ultra-wide cam, a 2MP macro cam, a 2MP depth sensor, and an 8MP hole-punch selfie shooter. You’ll also get between 4GB and 6GB of RAM, with 64GB to 128GB of expandable storage. Spring for the X20 and you’ll upgrade to a 64MP main camera, a 32MP front cam, and configurations that scale up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.

The Nokia G10 and G20, meanwhile, are decidedly more modest entries to the 2021 line. Both use MediaTek processors (G25 in the G10, G35 in the G20) and revolve around 6.5-inch “HD+” screens. The G20 boasts a camera setup similar to the one in the X10, albeit in a teardrop notch for the front cam, while the G10 makes do with a 13MP primary camera and drops the ultra-wide sensor. You’ll get 4GB of RAM and up to 128GB of expandable space on the G20, but the G10 starts with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.

The C10 and C20 (below) run Android 11 Go edition and are clearly designed to occupy the no-frills places in Nokia’s 2021 selection. The displays are largely similar to what you’ll find in the G-series, but you’ll get basic Unisoc quad- (C10) and octa-core (C20) chips, 1GB to 2GB of RAM, 16GB or 32GB of expandable storage, and single front and rear 5MP cameras.

You won’t have to wait long to get your hands on any of the Nokia 2021 smartphones, at least in some parts of the world. The G10 will be the first to arrive in the UK, with a late April delivery date and a price of £109.99. The G20 will be available in May for £129.99. The X20 will be available at the same time, with a starting price of £299.99. The £249.99 X10 (plus a lower-priced version from Three) won’t be available until early June, but the C20 will be available for only £79. There are no plans to ship the C10 to the United Kingdom.

Nokia availability in US.

As you might have noticed, none of the 2021 Nokia phones announced so far are high-end devices. Unfortunately, there’s no equivalent to the 9 PureView or other models that would compete with rival flagships. That’s not necessarily an issue if you’re more interested in raw value than speed. However, we’d add that phones like the Realme 7 5G offer 120Hz displays and other perks for similar money. While Nokia’s battery life and lengthier support are important considerations, they’re not the only factors in your purchase.

April 8, 2021
How to flash Android 12 Developer Preview
Android 12 Developer Preview 1 is here, but it’s not exactly easy to get. Because this first Android 12 version is meant for developers, Google isn’t just making it an opt-in process like later beta versions will be. But, if you’re willing to take the risk (and not get upset if and when things go wrong), here’s where to get it.

Google’s developer site has been updated today with a whole host of Android 12-related details, and among them are a pair of download pages for full factory images and sideloadable OTA files. In the future, installing Android 12 will be a snap: Just register for the Android Beta Program. But right now, that program is closed, so the only way to install this preview is manually by using those files.

Although you can unlock your bootloader and flash the complete factory picture, we don’t recommend it because it’s a hassle, potentially dangerous, can break SafetyNet attestation, and needs wiping your phone. Consider sideloading the OTA file for your computer instead, which does not require an unlocked bootloader and does not necessitate a scrub. However, if you aren’t prepared, you may need to do some preliminary work.

Google’s stock OTA images site has instructions for the process, and the same details apply to these preview releases.

If you are unfamiliar with the method, you can study a comprehensive walkthrough for your computer platform before attempting it on your own. Installing the required software and drivers is a simpler process on some operating systems than on others.

Prerequisites:
1. A computer (PC, macOS, or Linux). Or, if you’re exceptionally adventurous: Another phone with USB OTG functionality.
2. A supported phone to install Android 12 on: Pixel 3 series, Pixel 3a series, Pixel 4 series, Pixel 4a series, or Pixel 5.
3. A known good cable to connect #1 to #2.
The easy way

Google has made DP1 available with the Android Flash Tool, which makes the process pretty simple and linear, with no tools to install. Just fire up the site at the link below, plug in, and follow the instructions:
- Android 12 DP1 flash tool
This is our recommended route. However, as a backup, you can also install it manually.

The older way
1. Install the Android SDK tools (i.e., ADB) and USB drivers (if you’re using Windows).
2. Download the Developer Preview OTA image for your device.
3. Connect your phone to your computer.
4. Reboot into recovery (via ADB/USB debugging or the key combination) and enter sideloading mode. Power+volume up opens the Recovery menu, scroll via the volume keys to “apply update from ADB,” and select it with a tap of the power button.
  1. Check that and prior steps worked by entering “adb devices” (no quotes) in a shell or command prompt. If ADB is installed and your phone is in the correct mode, you should see an identifier for your phone and a “sideload” state reported.
5. Flash the OTA via a shell or command prompt, using “adb sideload your_file_name_here.zip” with no quotes, where the filename is the name of the OTA image you downloaded earlier. On some platforms, you’ll need to precede adb commands with “./” for them to work correctly.
6. Stare anxiously at your phone while it slowly installs.
7. Reboot when done.
Once you have the preview installed, future Android 12 updates and releases will be delivered like any other normal system update, without requiring that you hit all these steps again, and your phone will automatically end up in the beta track later.
April 7, 2021
Android 12 DP2 a bug-fixing update
Android 12 DP2 just picked up its second bug-fixing update, bumping things numerically to DP2.2. This latest release includes a lot more fixes than DP2.1 did, including a fix for video encoding issues that I ran into, a crash tied to the Bluetooth section of Settings, disappearing widgets, and a failure to save Wi-Fi passwords, among others.
```
Android 12 Developer Preview 2.2 (April 2021)

If you’re already running a Developer Preview build, you will automatically receive an over-the-air (OTA) update to Developer Preview 2.2.

This minor update to Android 12 Developer Preview 2 includes the following fixes:

-Fixed an issue that sometimes caused the Settings app to crash when a user tried to access Bluetooth settings. (Issue #180962266)
-Fixed an issue that caused widgets to be removed from the home screen after a user installed an OTA update.
-Fixed an issue that caused notifications to be sent about low Bluetooth call quality even when call quality was currently unaffected.
-Fixed an issue that caused WiFi network passwords to not be saved in some cases.
-Fixed an issue that caused the notification shade to be activated when typing on the on-screen keyboard.
-Fixed an issue with Codec 2.0 that could cause apps to crash on some devices.
-Fixed an issue that could cause videos to be encoded incorrectly when shared.
-Android 12 Developer Preview 2.1 (March 2021)

This minor update to Android 12 Developer Preview 2 updates WebView to fix an issue that caused some apps to crash.-
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Some say that a problem with gesture navigation that was supposed to be resolved in a previous release remains in DP2.1, but no note was made of whether or not another patch for that issue is included in this release. It’s also likely that some unnamed changes slipped into this update — that happens from time to time, so we’ll keep an eye out.

The update is already rolling out via the traditional means for those that have installed a prior Android 12 Developer Preview. Compatible phones remain the same: The Pixel 3 series, 3a series, 4 series, 4a series, and Pixel 5. OTA images are also available for manual sideloading/deconstruction if you prefer to install it yourself.

If you’re doing it for the first time, we still recommend you wait until the Android Beta Program starts, but we have instructions here if you’re willing to assume the risks.
April 7, 2021
Free and on-sale apps and games for this Wednesday
After a busy weekend, it looks like sales have slowed down for the middle of the week. Luckily we still have a few standout titles. As always, we’ve highlighted all of the interesting titles in bold green text in order to make discovery easier. So without further ado, here are 14 temporarily free and 19 on-sale apps and games for the middle of the week.

Free

Apps
1. Dark screen filter – Blue light – Night mode $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 1 day
2. HD voice recoder pro $2.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 5 days
Games
1. Dragon Raid (Hardcore – idle rpg) $2.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 6 days
2. Galaxy Attack: Alien Shooter (Premium) $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 6 days
3. Sword Knights : Idle RPG (Magic) $1.49 -> Free; Sale ends in 6 days
4. Tap Town Premium (idle RPG) – Magic $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 6 days
5. War 1944 VIP : World War II $2.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 6 days
6. Warriors’ Market Mayhem VIP : Offline Retro RPG $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 6 days
7. Buff Knight Advanced – Retro RPG Runner $1.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 7 days
8. Defense Heroes Premium: Defender War Tower Defense $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 7 days
9. Mystic Guardian PV: Old School Action RPG $3.49 -> Free; Sale ends in 7 days
10. Theme Solitaire Tripeaks Tri Tower PV $3.49 -> Free; Sale ends in 7 days
11. WindWings: Space shooter, Galaxy attack (Premium) $1.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 7 days
Icon packs & customization
1. GIN Icon Pack – Get It Now $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 4 days
Sale

Apps
1. Smart Notify Unlocker $3.99 -> $2.49; Sale ends in 2 days
2. Music Player Pro (Paid – No Ads) $4.49 -> $1.49; Sale ends in 5 days
3. NoteLynX Pro Outliner Mindmap Wiki $2.99 -> $1.99; Sale ends in 6 days
4. Password Manager Pro $4.49 -> $1.99; Sale ends in 6 days
5. Scalar Pro — Most Advanced Scientific Calculator $2.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 6 days
6. Bass Engineer $2.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 7 days
Games
1. Castles of Mad King Ludwig $7.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 11 hours
2. Slaughter 3: The Rebels $5.00 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 6 days
3. 7Days: Offline Mystery Puzzle Interactive Novel $3.99 -> $1.99; Sale ends in 7 days
4. Buff Knight – Offline Idle RPG Runner $1.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 7 days
5. Super8Pro (NE$/FC Emulator) $2.99 -> $1.99; Sale ends in 7 days
6. Underworld Office: Offline Mystery Visual Novel $6.99 -> $2.99; Sale ends in 7 days
7. Boom: Block Puzzle $5.00 -> $1.00; Sale ends in ?
Icon packs & customization
1. Flat Pie – Icon Pack $1.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 2 days
2. AlineT Icon Pack – linear icons + transparent fill $1.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 4 days
3. Pixly Vintage – Icon Pack $2.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 6 days
4. X Launcher Pro $1.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 6 days
5. MIU! 12 Circle Fluo – Icon Pack $2.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 7 days
6. Pixly 3D – Icon Pack $2.49 -> $1.19; Sale ends in 7 days
April 7, 2021
Realme Narzo 30A: A buyers guide in 2021

Realme launched the latest addition to its series of flagship phones on February 24. The Realme Narzo 30A is a mid-range device for those consumers that want a premium flagship device on a tight budget. This device joins the plethora of mid-range devices under $137.74.

Consumers will find smartphones with robust batteries, above-average cameras, and even some devices that run on Android in this price range. A device that has all of these features is quite hard to come by however some smartphones come close. The Realme Narzo 30A is one of those devices; it offers a perfect equilibrium of features and performance under a reasonable price.

Design

Realme Narzo 30A does not have a hefty price tag hence the design is not something out o this world but t is impressive. It has a vibrant look and looks quite different than its predecessors. The back of the device has some sort of pattern with the bottom two-thirds having diagonal lines, while the upper section is plain. The pattern aids in gripping the phone easily.

This time around Realme has opted for a square-shaped camera module which is similar to Realme Narzo 20. The device even has a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner that is easy to access. The side-mounted power and volume buttons are conveniently placed as well. Whereas, the Realme Narzo 30A has a large 6.5-inch display with a 20.9 aspect ratio. The large display does make single-hand usage difficult. The SIM tray is on the left side of the frame and has two Nano-SIM slots and a devoted slot for storage expansion.

It is worth noting that this device is no lightweight, it weighs around 207g but Realme has rounded the sides to hide the thickness of the device and help in holding the phone. One pro of such a robust device is that it packs a 6,000mAh battery which provides amazing battery life. Additionally, the Realme Narzo 30A has a USB Type-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a loudspeaker at the bottom. It also comes with a bundled 18W charger in the box. This particular device is available in two color options: Lazer Black and Lazer Blue.

Software and Specifications

The smartphone company has leveled up with this device. The Realme Narzo 30A gets major upgrades as compared to the Realme Narzo 20A. It has a more potent MediaTek Helio G85 SoC that’s paired with either 3GB or 4GB of LPDDR4X RAM, this depends on which variant you opt for. The variants support 32GB and 64GB of storage respectively. The storage can be furthered expanded to 256GB by a microSD card.

If we look at the price tags, Realme has priced the normal variant quite harshly while the higher variant still has a reasonable price. The device supports dual-band Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5, and three satellite navigation systems. Moreover, the phone is shipped with UI v1.0, based on Android 10. The company assures its, users, that the UI v2.0 update is coming soon. The interface is quite easy to use since the Realme Narzo30A runs on the older Android skin. There are a few preinstalled applications on the device but they can be easily uninstalled or disabled.

Performance

The Realme Narzo 30A‘s performance was quite impressive during our testing. It is an excellent device for daily usage such as getting rid of duplicate photos. It is capable of handling occasional gaming as well. The rear-mounted fingerprint scanner was quick at authentication, and face recognition too did not need more than a single attempt to unlock the smartphone. It even has an HD+ resolution display.

The display looks almost flawless indoors but once exposed under direct light it becomes extremely average. While the battery life is quite impressive, the phone lasted two days before needing charging. This is the ideal phone if you binge-watch videos on your device. The 18W charger in the box can charge the Narzo 30A to 15 percent in half an hour, and up to 33 percent in an hour. However, even with the fast charging, the device takes two and a half hours to fully charge the battery.

Cameras

The device sports a 13-megapixel primary camera and a monochrome portrait camera with an undetermined resolution. Whereas, there is an 8-megapixel camera at the front for selfies. The camera app was not that difficult to navigate through since it was more or less the same. There are multiple shooting modes available, along with a camera AI that can automatically tune the color settings based on the scene or object you’re pointing at.

During our testing we discovered, the photos taken in daylight looked good on the phone’s display but they are not that impressive upon closer investigation. Text in the photos from a long distance was visible bur the picture overall lost its sharpness. There is a ‘Chroma Boost’ toggle that increases the contrast slightly and improves details in the shadows. The close-ups were good as well but the camera struggled to focus on smaller objects.

Additionally, Portrait shots turned out quite well with good edge detection. Whereas the low-light camera performance is a bit underwhelming, there are delays between the shot and the result is quite blurry. There is even a Night Mode but it is not one of the standout features of the device but it does get the job done.

Video recording tops out at 1080p for the primary camera and lacks stabilization, resulting in unsteady footage. Overall, a major letdown in some aspects.

Verdict

The Realme Narzo 30A is an impressive mid-range device. The overall performance is good even with the occasional bit of gaming. The battery is a major selling point, however, the camera is a letdown. It is one of the better devices in this price range and is ideal for those who have a tight budget and have moderate usage.

March 24, 2021
Black Shark 4 and 4 Pro – shoulder buttons and 120w fast charging

Gaming phones are becoming increasingly common, and Xiaomi is keeping up with its Black Shark series. The Black Shark 4 and 4 Pro, the most recent version, have appeared on the Chinese market. You can pre-order one today, and the phones will be available in China on Thursday, November 25th. An international release date has yet to be determined.

Black Shark 4 Pro

The no-holds-barred Black Shark 4 Pro is operated by Qualcomm’s largest and baddest processor, the Snapdragon 888. It’s paired with either 8GB or 12GB of ultra-fast LPDDR5 RAM, and both versions have 256GB of storage. But those aren’t exactly difficult to come by these days. The dedicated mechanical shoulder buttons on the side are the more obvious giveaway that this is a gaming phone: slide the locks away to allow them to pop-up. They, like the Black Shark 3’s shoulder buttons, can be bound to touch areas on the screen for incorporation with virtually any game.

The 4 Pro has a 6.67-inch AMOLED 1080p screen with a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz, which outperforms most gaming phones. It also has two pressure response zones (as in the amount of pressure applied, not just touch sensitivity), allowing for more integration into games that can accommodate it. Its battery capacity is 4500mAh, which is fairly standard for a phone of this size, but it supports quick charging at a totally insane 120 watts (with the charger included in the box). Xiaomi claims that it can charge the battery to 90% in just over 30 minutes.

Cameras on the Pro are respectable: 64MP main shooter, 8MP ultrawide, and 5MP macro, with a 20MP centered front camera. In terms of style, the flat black version actually looks fairly button-down—if you don’t notice the side buttons (and the LED triangle logo on the back stays unlit), you’d have a hard time telling it’s a gaming phone. Of course that goes out the window if you get the “So Empty Black” version (that’s auto-translated, so we’re unsure if that’s the official name). Its layered, semi-transparent glass shifts around as you look at it, in a much more flashy but not unappealing way.

The phone is 9.9mm thick, which is enough to accommodate a headphone jack and a side-mounted fingerprint reader. The dual-SIM radio supports 5G, and for the most intense sessions, you can attach the sold-separately cooling module. The Black Shark 4 Pro starts at $4000 for the base edition, which is only available in black, and goes up to $4500 for the 12GB RAM version. That works out to $615 and $690, respectively.

Black Shark 4

What about the non-Pro? The standard Black Shark 4 ditches the pricey Snapdragon 888 for an 870, basically a refreshed version of last year’s go-to flagship chip. It has an identical body, screen, and battery with 120 watt fast charging, but the base model goes down to just 6GB/128GB. Upgrades all the way to 12GB/256GB are available.

You lose that dual-zone pressure sensitive screen and drop the main camera down to “just” 48 megapixels, but the Black Shark 4 keeps those signature shoulder buttons and most of the rest of the hardware. It costs between ¥2500 and ¥3000, depending on your RAM and storage choices.

Both phones are running JoyUI, based on Xiaomi’s MIUI, which has been generally well-received. The phones are launching in China only for the moment, but previous models were made available globally as unlocked devices. With a current boom in gaming phones, it seems likely that the 4 will follow.

March 24, 2021
Top 5 battery saver apps for Android
In this tech-savvy era, we depend heavily on our phones even for the most mundane tasks. Our biggest challenge is making sure the battery lasts almost an entire day, however, it is immensely difficult to find an application that saves you battery since most battery saver measures are manual.

The best way to conserve battery is to first understand what is causing the battery drainage and then take the appropriate measures such as decreasing the brightness on your screen, reducing the frequency that apps sync data, use dark mode, and more. In case you are looking for apps to fix your battery issue then keep reading! We have picked the most effective and reliable battery saver apps for Android.

1.      Battery Guru

Battery Guru is one of the most premium battery saver applications. It aids in battery conservation but not in the way you would think. It does not work like booster apps or service terminators. The app provides you with helpful information such as battery temperature limits and charging limits so you don’t wear out your battery sooner.

Moreover, there are a few battery-saving modes that can help reduce battery drain so you won’t have to charge often. There is even a Doze Mode customization tool that makes the app more aggressive. The app has a free and paid version for $19.99.

2.      Greenify

Greenify is one of the known battery saver applications. It identifies apps that wake up your phone more frequently and gives you the tools to prevent apps from doing this often. The app has some intuitive and interesting features including Android Nougat and beyond with Aggressive Doze and Doze modes.

This particular application has two versions, the free version which has almost all the premium features, and a paid version for $2.99 for support development.

3.     GSam Battery Monitor

GSam Battery Monitor is another popular choice for battery saving. The app itself does not do much on its own to conserve battery but instead provides you with information about the apps draining your battery. Consequently, that information can be utilized to improve your own battery life. Its features providing information regarding wakelocks, wake time, and even CPU and sensor data.

It is worth mentioning that the latest version caused minor issues. However, it still gets the job done. This application has a free version and a paid version for $2.49.

4.      Servicely

Servicely is one of the top battery saver applications. It works by stopping services that run in the background. It helps prevent odd apps from going insane and keeps them from syncing all the time. This is ideal if you do not want your applications to sync all the time. There might be a delay in certain notifications from apps that have been prevented from syncing hence use it with caution.

Additionally, this app works well with wakelock detectors as a potent one-two punch. It’s highly configurable with enough options to make it work how you want. You can opt for the free version of the paid one for $13.99.

5.      Wakelock Detector

Wakelock Detector is another top-notch battery saver app. The main function of this application is to aid in the detection of wakelocks. It can detect both partial and full wakelocks. You can also get a list of all the apps that are causing it. From there, you can take steps to uninstall the apps or find replacements.

There is a free version available and a paid version for $1.99.

Alternative methods to conserve battery:

There are a lot of native features on Android that aid in battery conservation. By enabling Doze Mode your entire device goes into hibernation. Apps can only sync occasionally and in batches as dictated by the OS. Thus, it loads battery life. Whereas, App Standby restricts data usage by apps you don’t use very often for additional savings.

These features are enabled by Android automatically hence there is almost no room for customization. Further methods include;
- Uninstall apps you don’t use
- Lower your screen brightness
- Use black mode, wallpapers, etc on OLED screens
- Avoid playing games
- Avoid using Cellular Data
- Get rid of duplicate photos/videos
- Turn off connections you’re not using such as Bluetooth
- Use battery saving modes on your phone
- Don’t use vibration or haptic feedback
- Don’t use booster apps
- Turn off 5G if you can
Summing Up

All of the above-mentioned applications are ideal for battery conservation. The most preferable manner to save battery to uninstall unnecessary apps and get rid of duplicate functionality applications. Instead of downloading apps to conserve battery, try using Android’s native features such as limiting screen brightness, avoid using cellular data, use battery-saving mode as often as possible, and much more.
March 23, 2021