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Best custom ROM for the HTC One M8: our favorites

htc one m8 front camera
© nextpit

Custom ROMs unlock huge potential in your Android device, but you need to be prepared to get your hands dirty with some flashing and rooting if you want to try them out. The HTC One M8 has been around for a while, but that hasn’t stopped some clever developers from continuing to make impressive ROMs for the device. Here are the best custom ROMs for the HTC One M8.

SkyDragon

Released in March 2015, SkyDragon claims to be the first Lollipop-based ROM for the HTC One M8, and also is the first to integrate the Sense 7 UI. The latter is a particularly impressive feat considering Sense 7 hasn't been fully released for the HTC One M8 at the time of writing (though apparently it was released earlier than planned due to it leaking online).

The UI is bloat-free, it has fantastic battery life, as well as offering a ton of customization and performance tweaks.

androidpit skydragon htc one m8
The SkyDragon ROM runs on Lollipop and supports the Sense 7 UI. / © SkyDragon

ViperOneM8

ViperOneM8 comes from veteran modders Venom and is one of the most widely adopted ROMs available for the HTC One M8. Venom’s interface is highly customizable, but it's also highly themed, providing a brand new, stylish interface.

Three-finger gestures are supported, many custom backgrounds and transparency options are available, buttons can be remapped, and the lock screen notifications can be edited. Oh and you are given the ability to skip songs with the volume button. Nice.

androidpit htc one m8 viper rom
The Venom team are known for making slick and stylish software. / © venomroms.com

MaximusHD

MaximusHD boasts a fast and stable build with extended battery life over the standard HTC One M8 experience. It’s working off of Android 5.0.1, is completely Deodexed and Zippaligned, and allows removal of all those unnecessary apps that come with the HTC One M8.

It supports a number of M8 devices, and offers improvements to the audio, camera, battery and overall performance and allows for the installation of other mods. What more could you ask for? androidpit htc one m8 maximus rom

MaximusHD was developed by notable leaker and Android pro LlabTooFer. / © LlabTooFeR

Android Revolution HD

Android Revolution HD is another favored HTC ROM among the Android community. Android Revolution HD gets rid of bloatware and optimizes RAM and virtual memory, giving you speedy performance and uncluttered interface. It’s almost like Stock Android, ensuring a stable build as well as giving you the ability to customize the look and feel of the interface as you see fit.

Android Revolution HD provides possibly the best version of the HTC One M8, and should not be overlooked.

androidpit revolution htc one m8 rom
Android Revolution HD/ © mike1986

What do you think is the best HTC One M8 ROM? Let us know in the comments below. 

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Scott Adam Gordon

Scott Adam Gordon
Editor

Originally from the UK, Scott graduated in Popular Music Studies at Newcastle University and attributes much of his success there to his beloved Samsung Galaxy S2. His current aim is to write cool things about Android. And he loves it.

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21 comments
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  • Darren Davis 1
    Darren Davis Aug 31, 2015 Link to comment

    I have had Samsung Galaxies up until the S4 and can confirm they are easy to root and by far the simplest to flash.
    I now have the HTC One M8 and it seems more work involved getting it rooted, unlocking the boot loader and gaining S-off, which you now have to pay for.
    Just a shame Samsung cannot take a leaf out of HTC's book with the all metal premium feeling phone.


    • Chris Crosby 1
      Chris Crosby Sep 11, 2015 Link to comment

      Darren,

      I thought I needed to be S-OFF'ed to be able to flash ROMs but you don't. If you Google HTC One M8 Tool Kit you'll be able to unlock the bootloader and flash a custom ROM within 10 minutes.


  • ken “str8str” lecuyer 2
    ken “str8str” lecuyer Jul 22, 2015 Link to comment

    This is a pure example of people that should definitely have rooted phones. And also why there should be an option when you purchase a phone whether it's unlocked or not. The people that mess up their devices simply don't take the time to read and research properly then find themselves in a mess. The m8 couldn't be easier to root.

    Damon Fryauff


  • Stefan A. 2
    Stefan A. Jun 16, 2015 Link to comment

    Sky Dragon for sure! Sense 7 & 5.1.x soon ;)

    Nicolas Herouvim


  • Zeljko Jankovic 1
    Zeljko Jankovic Jun 16, 2015 Link to comment

    Do not miss great roms like LeeDroid,Insert coin and Renovate. Each of them ig great in its own way.


  • 2
    Nicolas Herouvim Jun 16, 2015 Link to comment

    I agree wholeheartedly with having SkyDragon ROM on this list. All variants of this ROM are very well made. The updates are always first class, and user interaction with the Dev is incredible!!! #1

    Stefan A.dragonesdenano


  • Maurizio Cecchini 3
    Maurizio Cecchini Jun 16, 2015 Link to comment

    One of the best Rom that I have tried is Sky dragon with Sense 7, run fine and fast, optimum battery life.
    There's also a variant called Redbulled, based on Sky Dragon with less applications and tweaked for more.speed and battery life.

    Stefan A.dragonesdenanoNicolas Herouvim


  • dragonesdenano 2
    dragonesdenano Jun 16, 2015 Link to comment

    Nice article!
    SkySkyDragon is first when posting stocky with customization, plisplus leak roms.
    I did Sense 7 rom before also m9 roms.
    Then we got kanged by some so called Recognized kangers XDA, why? They care their paypal only.. We just share endeless fun to all for free. No payed keys, no nothing.
    I have Sense 7 and Android 5.1 rite now. But thanks to kangers... Must wait to August for it.

    Thanks AndroidPit!

    Stefan A.Nicolas Herouvim


  • Danny S (zlebors) 1
    Danny S (zlebors) Jun 15, 2015 Link to comment

    you missed out S.ROM & BadBoyz ROM


  • 7
    Ruturaj Hagawane Jun 15, 2015 Link to comment

    I would rather go for gpe rom, vanilla Android and faster updates.


  • 1
    Martin McBride Dec 22, 2014 Link to comment

    u probably didnt flash the rom properly...trust me i have had 2 m7's do it and i managed to fix it...a boot loop is not bricked...and i have my m8 rooted working great with no probs...patience will always prevail.


  • Northernbaygirl 10
    Northernbaygirl Aug 25, 2014 Link to comment

    What precisely is lame about not wanting to risk turning a £500+ phone into a paperweight?


    • Bojan M. 23
      Bojan M. Aug 25, 2014 Link to comment

      Because it's virtually impossible to brick your phone just by rooting it. It's easily fixable.

      Kristian DuarteStefan A.Nicolas HerouvimMartin McBrideRandy Walshpatrick bath


      • 2
        Gavin Dec 21, 2014 Link to comment

        I have an m8 and I rooted my phone and ended up bricking it leaving it in a boot loop. I luckily had a custom recovery and installed the viper one rom from team venom and it somehow unbricked it.

        J Gabri-El


      • Josh Morris 3
        Josh Morris Jul 27, 2015 Link to comment

        You didn't brick it then... You just got a bootloop which isn't even a big deal. Literally, you just messed up the installed rom and reinstalling the same rom or a different one will always fix it. A hard brick is when your phone won't even turn on. No recovery. And it is nearly impossible to do it.

        Damon FryauffKristian DuarteBojan M.


      • 1
        Kristian Duarte Aug 26, 2015 Link to comment

        If u backup ur firmware like u should this is not a problem .... I have a rooted custom recovery and running arhd43 with elementx kernel and xposed with zero problems and if I want to go back to stock I can...


      • 1
        Kristian Duarte Aug 26, 2015 Link to comment

        True ..... If someone doesn't understand the basics of modding why would u even attempt it ..... Read and research a little and increase ur understanding before u do anything like this


  • 5
    David Soto Aug 25, 2014 Link to comment

    Android Revolution HD hands down the best ROM for the M8. That ROM should be the standard to other developers.

    Kristian DuarteJ Gabri-ElMartin McBride


  • Northernbaygirl 10
    Northernbaygirl Aug 24, 2014 Link to comment

    After managing to 'brick' my Samsung S3 mini there is no way in the world I'll be attempting to root my M8


    • 1
      ron chaput Nov 5, 2014 Link to comment

      htc one m8 is very easy to root


    • Josh Morris 3
      Josh Morris Jul 27, 2015 Link to comment

      Samsung devices are extremely easy to brick and a pain in the ass to fix. I've had my M8 for almost a year now and it's the easiest and safest device to tinker with that I've ever had.

      Kristian Duarte

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