LineageOS and GrapheneOS extend smartphone lifespans via Android 17

Community-driven custom ROMs, specifically LineageOS 24 and GrapheneOS, are providing a way to install Android 17 on mobile devices that have been abandoned by their original manufacturers. This software alternative addresses the issue of software obsolescence, where devices become vulnerable to security flaws or lose application compatibility once official support ends.

LineageOS 24, based on Android 17, currently supports over 170 different smartphone models from various brands. The distribution is designed to be free of bloatware and advertisements, and while Google services are not installed by default, they can be added via an optional package.

GrapheneOS focuses heavily on hardware and software security, though its strict security requirements limit its compatibility specifically to the Google Pixel lineup.

As the LineageOS project approaches its tenth anniversary, developers note that while the project has expanded into IoT and embedded systems, challenges remain. These include Google no longer publishing certain device trees and binaries in AOSP, as well as manufacturers increasingly locking bootloaders.