LineageOS is one of the most popular Custom ROMs available. It is a custom project that came in 2016 and provided a stock Android experience. LineageOS started after the termination of CyanogenMod. This Custom ROM has brought out the LineageOS 18.1 Reviews at the end of March this year. The new update brings the Android 11 experience to a variety of old devices.
The installation process of LineageOS is like any other custom ROM. The only difference is that LineageOS provides its own recovery software. After installation, the setup process is like a Pixel device if you have used a Gapps installer. If you want to use Google apps and services, you follow a similar signup process to an Android device.
Table of Contents
Android 11 Experience
The LineageOS 18.1 gives you the stock Android 11 experience with some extra tweaks from LineageOS. The LineageOS comes with password protection for apps. You can also use icon packs that will give you custom icons on the home screen and launcher. Unlike OxygenOS, the custom icons are not present over the whole system.

The LineageOS 18.1 has taken advantage of the security overhaul in Android 11. The apps will have to ask for temporary permissions. This will let you enforce better control over the apps. Your apps won’t access sensitive data like location in the background. LineageOS 18.1 also comes with the scoped storage model introduced with Android 11.
The scoped storage model only allows apps to access specific cache files. This prevents the misuse of sensitive data present on your device. Earlier, apps would have unrestricted access to all the files present on your phone. This was a clear security threat which the scoped storage has solved.
System Features
The LineageOS 18.1 keeps the previous add-on features like notification bar customisation. You can set different types of clocks and choose the layout. LineageOS 18.1 also comes with customisation for navigation buttons. You can change the functions of the three-button setup to perform custom actions.
LineageOS 18.1 brings a feature resembling the shortcuts app on iOS devices. You can set some automated actions based on the completion of a specific action. This was available in older versions of CyanogenMod as system profiles. System profiles on LineageOS 18.1 are limited to system settings, and you can’t set automation to any apps.
LineageOS has all the basic apps like a calculator, a calendar, an audio fx app, and much more. The default apps provided are like the apps found in older LineageOS. The Gallery app is a bit outdated compared to gallery apps found on other phones. You don’t have the option to sort the photos according to months and years. This is a problem as you will face difficulty while searching for old photos.
The Camera app in LineageOS is pretty basic, and you will get worse quality pictures. LineageOS has given its users the choice to use modded GCam apps as an alternative to the default camera app.
The LineageOS 18.1 has provided the LineageOS, which is a great web browser. It provides a great experience, but it lacks many features found in newer browsers. It does not support notifications and offline caching.
The Calculator app is pretty much the basic Android 11 app. The Music app found in LineageOS is great and provides all the basic functions. You can sort offline music through an album or artist, and the player is also great.
LineageOS does not have any email app, but Android supports third-party email apps like K-9 Mail.
Major Issues
The LineageOS is much better than other Custom ROMs and has a lot of extra features, but it comes with some issues. One of these issues is the SafetyNet tests. Google’s SafetyNet tests don’t let Custom ROMs pass, which creates a lack of functionality in LineageOS. Even if you install the Google apps package, many apps will not work on your device. Apps like Prime Video or Netflix don’t work on devices that fail the SafetyNet test.
Users have found that their video stops or the camera don’t work sometimes. The camera quality also dips in the default camera app. The gallery app does not have any functions other than basic storage. Users need to manually search for photos and videos, which is a particular burden. The default app lock does not work at all, sometimes even with the correct password.
Faulty app lock is a big issue that needs to be fixed at the earliest. Users on the XDA developers forum have reported issues with the MAC address. The MAC address seems to be fixed, and there is no device-specific MAC address. There are also problems while using Chrome browser, like issues with the video player. Widevine L1 has also been rebuked since August 2020.
There are also some issues with encryption which don’t work at times. These issues are not solved yet, and you may need to look through various developer forums to find some working solutions.
LineageOS 18.1 Reviews – Official builds for supported devices
S.No:. | Device Name | Codename | Maintainer |
1 | Essential PH-1 | mata | haggertk, intervigil, npjohnson, rashed |
2 | F(x)tec Pro1 | pro 1 | bgcngm, intervigil, mccreary, npjohnson, tdm |
3 | Google Nexus 6 | shamu | Elektroschmock, npjohnson |
4 | Google Nexus 7 2013 | flox | npjohnson, surblazer, Elektroschmock |
5 | Google Pixel 2 | walleye | Eamo5 |
6 | Google Pixel 2 XL | taimen | Eamo5 |
7 | Google Pixel 3a | sargo | cdesai, npjohnson |
8 | Google Pixel 3a XL | bonito | cdesai, npjohnson |
9 | Google Pixel 4 | flame | cdesai, Eamo5, npjohnson |
10 | Google Pixel 4 XL | coral | cdesai, Eamo5, npjohnson |
11 | Google Pixel 4a | sunfish | PeterCxy, cdesai |
12 | Google Pixel 4a 5G | bramble | aleasto |
13 | Google Pixel 5 | redfin | aleasto |
14 | LeEco Le Max2 | x2 | tortel, ThEMarD |
15 | LeEco Le Pro3 / Le Pro3 Elite | zl1 | codeworkx, mosimchah |
16 | LG G2 (AT&T) | d800 | aleasto |
17 | LG G2 (Canadian) | d803 | aleasto |
18 | LG G2 (International) | d802 | aleasto |
19 | LG G2 (T-Mobile) | d801 | aleasto |
20 | LG G5 (International) | h850 | aleasto, npjohnson, x86cpu |
21 | LG G5 (T-Mobile) | h830 | aleasto, npjohnson, x86cpu |
22 | LG G5 (US Unlocked) | rs988 | aleasto, npjohnson, x86cpu |
23 | LG V20 (AT&T) | h910 | aleasto, npjohnson, x86cpu |
24 | LG V20 (Global) | h990 | aleasto, npjohnson, x86cpu |
25 | LG V20 (Sprint) | ls997 | aleasto, npjohnson, x86cpu |
26 | LG V20 (T-Mobile) | h918 | aleasto, npjohnson, x86cpu |
27 | LG V20 (US Unlocked) | us996 | aleasto, npjohnson, x86cpu |
28 | LG V20 (Verizon) | vs995 | aleasto, npjohnson, x86cpu |
29 | Motorola Moto G6 Plus | evert | Jleeblanch |
30 | Motorola Moto G7 | river | erfanoabdi, Npjohnson, SyberHexen |
31 | Motorola Moto G7 Play | channel | SyberHexen, deadman96385, erfanoabdi, Npjohnson |
32 | Motorola Moto G7 Plus | lake | Jleeblanch, npjohnson |
33 | Motorola Moto G7 Power | ocean | SyberHexen, erfanoabdi, Npjohnson |
34 | Motorola Moto One Power | chef | Rohan Hasabe (Hasaber8) |
35 | Motorola Moto X4 | payton | erfanoabdi, ThEMarD |
36 | Motorola Moto Z2 Force | nash | erfanoabdi, npjohnson |
37 | Motorola Moto Z3 Play | beckham | Jleeblanch |
38 | Nextbit Robin | ether | javelinanddart, npjohnson |
39 | Nokia 6.1 (2018) | PL2 | npjohnson, theimpulson |
40 | OnePlus One | bacon | npjohnson |
41 | OnePlus 3 / 3T | oneplus3 | dianlujitao |
42 | OnePlus 5 | cheeseburger | codeworkx, jrizzoli, xingrz, amartinz, jumoog, trautamaki |
43 | OnePlus 5T | dumpling | amartinz, codeworkx, trautamaki |
44 | OnePlus 8 | instantnoodle | uLtRaNoOb |
45 | OnePlus 8 Pro | instantnoodlep | npjohnson |
46 | OnePlus 8T | kebab | LuK1337 |
47 | Razer Phone | cheryl | mikeioannina, javelinanddart |
48 | Samsung Galaxy S4 (SGH-I337) | jflteatt | arco, npjohnson, side |
49 | Samsung Galaxy S4 (SCH-R970, SPH-L720) | jfltespr | arco, npjohnson, side |
50 | Samsung Galaxy S4 (SCH-I545) | jfltevzw | arco, npjohnson, sidearco, npjohnson, side |
51 | Samsung Galaxy S4 (GT-I9505/G, SGH-I337M, SGH-M919) | jfltexx | arco, npjohnson, side |
52 | Samsung Galaxy S4 Active | jactivelte | arco, npjohnson, side |
53 | Samsung Galaxy S4 Value Edition (GT-I9515/L) | jfvelte | arco, npjohnson, side |
54 | Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e (LTE) | gts4lv | bgcngm, LuK1337 |
55 | Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e (Wi-Fi) | gts4lvwifi | LuK1337, bgcngm |
56 | Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (Wi-Fi) | gta4xlwifi | Linux4 |
57 | Sony Xperia 10 | kirin | LuK1337 |
58 | Sony Xperia 10 Plus | mermaid | LuK1337 |
59 | Sony Xperia XA2 | pioneer | LuK1337, Stricted, cdesai |
60 | Sony Xperia XA2 Plus | voyager | LuK1337 |
61 | Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra | discovery | LuK1337 |
62 | Xiaomi Mi 5 | gemini | bgcngm, defer, h2o64 |
63 | Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus | natrium | LuK1337 |
64 | Xiaomi Mi 8 | dipper | infrag |
65 | Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite | platina | SebaUbuntu |
66 | Xiaomi Mi Mix | lithium | balika011, blunden |
67 | Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S | polaris | bgcngm |
68 | Xiaomi Mi Note 2 | scorpio | LuK1337 |
69 | Xiaomi Poco F1 | beryllium | bgcngm, warabhishek |
70 | Xiaomi Redmi 7 | onclite | Dhina17 |
Conclusion
LineageOS was started to provide older phones with new features and give the user more control over his/her device. LineageOS 18.1 has achieved both objectives and delivered an excellent Custom ROM. The developers of Lineage OS 18.1 has taken care of device safety and is compatible with phones going back to the Samsung Galaxy Note 4.
The ROM aims to carry on the FreeAndroid experience, which Google has abandoned. It provides the user with a great overall OS with all the essential default apps. Customization on this custom ROM is also great. LineageOS 18.1 is an excellent choice for your device if you want an Android 11 experience and want to de-Google your device. This is our complete LineageOS 18.1 Reviews and List of Devices that will get the official update of LineageOS 18.1.