Custom ROMs in the Android ROM development scene have remained the big thing right since the first Android device went on sale. However, over the last couple of years, the popularity of custom ROMs have gone down largely due to Xposed framework.
The framework in itself does little, but once combined with all the community developed modules, Xposed framework is capable of offering features that many custom ROMs lack. Xposed framework might not be able to replace custom ROMs completely, and it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it sure is worth a try. Why? Read below to find out what makes Xposed framework a better choice than custom ROMs for many.
#5 Simple installation procedure
Compared to installing a custom ROM, the procedure to install Xposed framework on an Android device is relatively simple — provided your device is already rooted. With root access, the only thing you need to do is download the Xposed framework ZIP file and flash it using the custom recovery installed on your phone. You don’t have to factory reset your phone, which is a must while installing a custom ROM. This means that your phone will remain as it is, with all your apps and games installed and settings intact. So once you install Xposed framework, you can start playing around with modules, instead of first having to set it up.
#4 No need for hunting for correct files
The very first thing that you need to do if you plan on installing a custom ROM on your handset, is to find the correct ZIP file of the ROM for your handset. This might seem simple, but it is actually a very tedious process and someone who is new to the Android development world can easily feel overwhelmed. Worse, in some cases, you need to actually downgrade/update the firmware that your Android device is already running before you can install the desired custom ROM on it.
In comparison, there is no such hassle with Xposed framework. Barring Samsung devices, there is only one ZIP file of Xposed framework for each version of Android and CPU type that works across a bunch of devices. So, for example, Android devices with a 64-bit chipset and running Marshmallow like the LG G4, HTC One M9, Nexus 6P, and Nexus 5X all use the same installation ZIP file.
Download: Xposed framework
#3 Less Frequent Updates
Unlike custom ROMs that receive updates almost week or once a fortnight, the actual Xposed framework only receives an update every once in a while. Plus, whenever an update drops, the size of the framework itself is less than 30MB, so it does not consume much data to update to the latest version of the framework right away. The modules might receive more regular updates, but they are usually less than 5MB in size.
As for custom ROMs, the size of the update varies depending on the update, but it is usually more than 200MB. Plus, there is always a chance of something breaking while installing a custom ROM update, which is not the case with Xposed framework updates.
#2 Easy uninstallation procedure
The ease of installation is one thing, but the process to uninstall a custom ROM or Xposed framework from your device should also be relatively easy. Going back to a stock firmware or stock ROM after installing a custom ROM on an Android device is a nightmare and headache-inducing process. It involves hunting down the correct firmware for your device and then flashing it using a special tool, which will first require you to install a plethora of drivers to work properly.
With Xposed framework, all you need to do is download the uninstaller ZIP file and flash it via recovery. That’s it. To make sure that your phone does not enter into a bootloop, it is recommended that you first uninstall all the modules before uninstall the framework itself. The whole process might be lengthy if you have a lot of modules installed, but it is still significantly easier than reverting your Android device back to its original firmware/ROM.
#1 Customisations
With custom ROMs, you will have to hunt and find a ROM that matches your taste i.e. it has the right mix of features and stability. This usually involves jumping between multiple ROMs that can get frustrating pretty quickly. With Xposed, you get to add the features that you want by installing the necessary modules. So, if you only want to have a specific feature, you can install a module that adds that feature and you are done. No extra features or customisation options will be added to it.
Similarly, you also have the option of easily uninstalling ‘features’ that you don’t want. This is sadly not possible in a custom ROM, where you have to just learn to live with all the unnecessary features that the ROM developer has included in it.
Have you switched to Xposed framework yet? Or are you still using a custom ROM on your Android device? Drop in a comment and let us know!
