Custom ROM for Android Tablet

Privacy and Security Get Advice
1

Hey, all. I just bought a Samsung Galaxy Tab A7, and I would like to install a custom Android ROM on it. After a bit of research, my two options are LineageOS and Murena (aka /e/OS).

Does one have any advantages over the other? Or is it simply a matter of preference?

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2

I have the same tablet. Also interested to do this. Following. I’ve heard maybe Lineage or Divest?

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Divest OS sadly does not support this model. However, Lineage and /e/ do.

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What are you leaning towards? I’m not familiar with their differences. Do they both have an easy web installer like Graphene? Installation aside, other aspects of privacy or ease of use stronger in Lineage or /e/?

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I have never user either ROM - or any custom ROM - before in my life. However, I did manually deGoogle an S4 a couple of years ago.

Neither ROM has a WebUSB installer, and this would not work for my device anyway. Samsung do their firmware stuff using their own proprietary tool, called Odin; so someone made an alternative, called Heimdall, which is FOSS.

I am still trying to discern which ROM is better for privacy.

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I have found some information myself:

  • /e/ has microG built-in. LineageOS does not (but this can be installed).
  • /e/ uses Quad9 DNS out of the box. LineageOS uses Google DNS (but this can be changed).
  • LineageOS ships updates from AOSP upstream within 1–2 weeks. /e/ ships within 1–2 months.
  • LineageOS updates its WebView in less than two weeks after AOSP. /e/ typically takes several weeks.

I think I’ll go with LineageOS.

I found this table really useful, by the way:

UPDATE: It turns out that Heimdall doesn’t work for this model, and I would be surprised if Odin works properly under Wine. As such, you will need a machine with Windows 10 or higher in order to flash either ROM.

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I think calyxos & /e/ doesn’t solve any threat model, hence solve nothing.