I flashed LineageOS on a forgotten Moto G5 Plus a few years ago, and suddenly that creaky phone felt usable again. Battery life improved, bloat vanished, and security patches jumped ahead by almost a year. Now with LineageOS 21 rolling out to more devices, including the Samsung Galaxy A71, OnePlus Nord N10, and Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro, I should be thrilled.
Instead, I’m mostly annoyed that in 2026 we still rely on volunteer devs to give capable hardware basic software respect.
LineageOS 21: Android 14 the OEMs won’t give you
LineageOS 21 is based on Android 14, which means these older phones are getting the same core platform version shipping on current flagships. For the Galaxy A71, that’s a jump beyond Samsung’s official support window. The phone shipped with Android 10 and a Snapdragon 730 and topped out officially at Android 13.
On paper, that hardware is still absolutely fine for 2026 basics: a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED, 6GB RAM, and plenty of people just using social media and video. However, without current security patches and platform features, that hardware becomes artificially obsolete. This is exactly where LineageOS 21 steps in.
The new release brings the usual AOSP-based UI with light customization, material theming, and privacy controls closer to modern Pixels. It also includes updated Android 14 permission changes, like tighter background access and improved per-app language controls. In daily use, that means slightly better battery behavior and fewer creepy apps hoarding data.
Newly supported phones: solid hardware, abandoned early
Here’s the part that stings: these newly supported phones were not cheap disposable gadgets when they launched. Many are still fast enough to handle 2026 apps without choking.
The Samsung Galaxy A71 launched as an upper mid-range phone, regularly selling above $400 in some regions. Its Snapdragon 730, 8nm process, and 4500mAh battery are still serviceable for light gaming and streaming. Yet Samsung moved on, while LineageOS is now doing the maintenance work.
Then there’s the OnePlus Nord N10 5G, powered by the Snapdragon 690, with a 90Hz IPS display and 6GB RAM. Carriers pushed this phone hard as an affordable 5G option. However, software support was short, leaving people stuck on older Android versions while the hardware still chugs along just fine.
The Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro is maybe the most insulting case. This was a flagship with a Snapdragon 865, UFS 3.0 storage, 108MP main camera, and LPDDR5 RAM. It launched north of $900 in some markets. In raw performance, it can still match many current mid-range phones powered by Snapdragon 7 Gen 3.
Meanwhile, official MIUI updates slowed, got heavy, and introduced more ads and system clutter. LineageOS 21 strips all that down to near-stock Android, while keeping the underlying performance intact. However, as usual, you give up some OEM camera enhancements and proprietary extras in exchange.
Pros, cons, and the hassle of going custom
On the positive side, LineageOS 21 brings monthly security patches, longer life for your hardware, and a privacy-first approach. You ditch Samsung, OnePlus, and Xiaomi bloat, you get a cleaner UI, and often better responsiveness on mid-range chips. For example, a Snapdragon 730 or Snapdragon 690 feels less congested without a dozen preinstalled services.
You also get features like advanced per-app permissions, privacy dashboard, and better control over background processes. For people who care about tracking and data, this is a meaningful upgrade. Additionally, custom kernels and tweaks can sometimes squeeze more hours from a 4000–4500mAh battery than stock ROMs ever did.
However, there are trade-offs. You usually lose OEM camera processing, especially on phones with advanced multi-sensor setups like the Mi 10 Pro’s 108MP camera. GCam mods can help, but they are rarely as consistent as official tuning. Also, banking apps, Widevine DRM for HD streaming, and contactless payments can be a headache if SafetyNet or Play Integrity fails.
Then there is the actual flashing process. You need to unlock the bootloader, which often wipes data and can void warranties. You also sometimes jump through vendor-specific hoops, like Xiaomi’s unlock wait times or Samsung’s VaultKeeper antics. For average users, this complexity is enough to never even consider custom ROMs.
So while LineageOS 21 technically saves these phones, OEM behavior still pushes most normal buyers toward new hardware instead.
What this says about Android updates in 2026
The big picture is depressing. On one side, Google and some partners brag about 7 years of OS updates on newer flagships like the Pixel 8 series and recent Galaxy S models. On the other, many mid-range and older flagships still get just two or three years before being tossed aside.
The Galaxy A71, Nord N10, and Mi 10 Pro all had the performance to keep going longer. Instead, official support dried up, pushing people toward upgrades they probably did not need. Meanwhile, a community project, funded by donations and spare time, is shipping Android 14 to them.
This is the missed opportunity: Android vendors could own this extended lifespan story. They could lean on a near-stock Android base, reduce skin complexity, and commit to 5+ years of updates across the board, not only on $1000 flagships. However, many are still stuck in the old cycle of aggressive turnover.
Notably, LineageOS 21 showing up on hardware like the Snapdragon 865-powered Mi 10 Pro makes current mid-range pricing look a bit silly. You can buy a used Mi 10 Pro for far less than $400 today, flash LineageOS, and get Android 14 performance comparable to some new devices.
The bottom line is that LineageOS keeps exposing how much life is being artificially drained from Android hardware. The more it supports devices like the Galaxy A71 and Nord N10, the more obvious OEM underdelivery becomes.
To sum up, LineageOS 21 support for the Galaxy A71, OnePlus Nord N10, Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro, and others is a win for enthusiasts and tinkerers. It gives Android 14, security patches, and cleaner software to phones that still have plenty of power left. However, it also highlights how little responsibility big Android brands take for long-term support.
Until more companies treat extended updates as a baseline, projects like LineageOS 21 will keep doing the work they should have done in the first place.