Best Android phones for rooting and modding 2021

The best phones for rooting and modning.

There's still a vibrant community of modders involved in launching new ROMs, even though rooting isn't as popular as it used to be. If you're just starting out or want to get back into the world of modding, the OnePlus 8T is our favorite phone. We've included other top-notch options, so you have the best phones to choose from.

The staff pick.

The 8T is a good choice. Excellent hardware, a flat 120Hz AMOLED display, 65W fast charging, and reliable cameras are what you get. The phone is a great place to root and install custom ROMs, and it's easy to get the bootloader unlocked.



The OnePlus 9 is a great choice if you're looking for a newer option. The phone has outstanding cameras thanks to the new Hasselblad partnership, and you get the latest internal hardware along with a gorgeous new design, 65W fast charging, and 15W wireless charging.



Do you want to see what the world of modding has to offer on a budget? The POCO X3 is the best device. The phone has a large 120Hz panel, insane battery life, reliable hardware, and an easily unlocked bootloader.

$269 at Amazon.



ThePixel 4a is an affordable version of the flagship-tier cameras. The phone has decent hardware and a 12.2MP camera at the back, as well as the promise of three updates. It's very easy to install custom ROMs and unlocked the bootloader.



The S21 Ultra is a great phone to test custom ROMs because of the active modding community. The phone is packed with the latest hardware, has better cameras than last year, and is one of the most feature-packed phones on the market.

These are the best phones for rooting.

Apoorva Bhardwaj is a source.

The best phones on the market offer a lot of features. With the likes of OneUI, MIUI, ColorOS, and OxygenOS, you don't get a vanilla look anymore. You can root your phone and install frameworks like Xposed, which will allow you to have more customization options than on a normal phone. If you want to try custom ROMs, the 8T is the best overall option, as it is easy to mod it.

If you break the device, you won't lose out on the warranty. The active community and the hardware on offer give you a lot of overhead for installing modules, and you'll be able to find information quickly if you run into any issues.

The files that are needed to return the phone to "normal" and a documented and official method to build a custom ROM are provided by the company. It's a good idea to wait for developers to have time to work through things or to buy last year's model because newer models are more locked down than they used to be. We recommend the Pixel 4a because it's still available from online retailers.

The POCO X3 is a great way to save money. It's easy to get unlocked, and there's a modding community that makes it a great choice.

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