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Best custom ROMs for the Galaxy S6

AndroidPIT Galaxy S6 install custom ROM
© nextpit

While we await the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update for the Galaxy S6, I've been checking out the best Galaxy S6 ROMs to pass the time. There are many benefits to using a custom ROM on your Galaxy S6, including de-bloating the pre-installed apps, tweaks and customizations, better battery life and faster performance. Here are the best custom ROMs for the Galaxy S6.

Note: Before you flash any of these ROMs, make sure you have the right software version for the ROM you want to flash, and that your Galaxy S6 model is supported. Note that some of these ROMs work on both the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge.

As always, read the thread in XDA and follow the flashing instructions properly. The XDA community will be able to assist if you encounter any problems.

AndroidPIT Samsung Galaxy S6 bootloader
The best custom ROMs for the Galaxy S6 can really mix things up. / © ANDROIDPIT

In order to flash any of these custom ROMs, you will need to have an unlocked bootloader, root access and a custom recovery installed. If you're missing any of those, you just need to install a rootable kernel and then get TWRP, which you can flash via Flashify once you're rooted.

If you have an SM-G920F on Android 5.1.1 like me, you can flash the Unibase kernel through Odin (in the AP box) and then grab Flashify to get TWRP.

AndroidPIT Galaxy S6 xtrestrolite rom app drawer
The XtreStroLite custom ROM provides a very de-bloated version of TouchWiz. / © ANDROIDPIT

Best Galaxy S6 ROM for the TouchWiz purist

XtreStoLite Deodexed Mod Edition 2.4

XtreStoLite is basically the stock version of TouchWiz that every Samsung owner should want: streamlined and completely free of bloatware. At just 480 MB – less than a quarter of the size of the standard TouchWiz on the Galaxy S6 – XtreStoLite is tiny, but it still comes with some nice additions.

AndroidPIT Galaxy S6 xtrestrolite rom shutter sound camera
XtreStroLite delivers very nice features like disabling the camera shutter sound. / © ANDROIDPIT

XtreStoLite adds a more advanced reboot menu, KNOX is removed, you'll get SuperSU and BusyBox, call recording feature, the option to remove S-Finder and Quick Connect buttons from the notifications shade and several optional extras: modified camera app, 3MinIt battery mod, shutter sound toggle and a built-in fix for the 'no deep sleep' bug.

Best Galaxy S6 ROM for customization

AllianceROM

If customization is more your thing, AllianceROM is a great option. AllianceROM comes with a bunch of system-wide themes. You won't lose any TouchWiz features, so will retain all of its functionality, but plenty to be gained in additional options.

AllianceROMForGalaxyS6
AllianceROM has stock, Black Glass and AOSP theme options on install. / © AllianceROM

Besides the theme manager and backup engine, Alliance has tons of other additions and tweaks that are worth checking out. Alliance ROM also comes with the Aroma installer so you can add and subtract the elements of the ROM that you do and don't want. Take a look at the XDA changelog for the complete list of features.

Best Galaxy S6 ROM for battery life

Tyrannus ROM

Tyrannus ROM was designed to be fast and provide excellent battery life. It features many of the same features as the previous two ROMs: deodexed, zip-aligned, bloatware-free, Aroma installer, 'no deep sleep' fix, SuperSU and BusyBox, Viper4AndroidFX, build.prop edits, call recording and more, but the real benefits of Tyrannus ROM are in battery life, speed and general performance.

There's a wide range of other tweaks and options outlined in the XDA thread, so read up on those before deciding if this is the ROM for you.

AndroidPIT Tyrannus ROM Galaxy S6
Tyrannus ROM looks good and delivers great features and better battery life. / © Tyrannus ROM

Remember, before you try to flash any of these ROMs, read the documentation in XDA Developers thoroughly, and check out the latest feedback. If you're not already familiar with the flashing process, do some reading and make sure you're comfortable with the risks involved before proceeding. Neither the ROM developers nor AndroidPIT will be held responsible if anything bad happens to your phone, so proceed at your own risk.

Have you come across a solid Galaxy S6 ROM? What do you look for in a custom ROM? Tell us in the comments.

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Kris Carlon

Kris Carlon
Senior Editor

Kris is a former AndroidPIT Editor who came to the team via a lengthy period spent traveling and relying on technology to keep him in touch with the outside world. He can usually be found juggling three phones at once and poring over G+ posts, Reddit and RSS feeds.

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3 comments
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  • Josh Milner 1
    Josh Milner Feb 22, 2016 Link to comment

    What about Renegade..?..


  • Dwarfer66 25
    Dwarfer66 Dec 11, 2015 Link to comment

    XtreStoLite is no longer being made for the S6 or S6 edge as he now has a S6 edge+.

    Also what about CarHDRom and Echoe Rom, they are way better than the ones you show here.


  • 6
    Paulo Santos Dec 10, 2015 Link to comment

    You should consider WETA rom on xda too

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