Last Updated on December 11, 2022 by Mathew Diekhake
The Samsung Galaxy A51 is one of the best Android smartphones you can buy today on a budget. It was released in December of 2019 and came with Android 10 out of the box, though is upgradable to Android 12. That means we are now entering the sweet spot for checking out custom ROMs since very soon this smartphone will no longer be supported by new official Android firmware updates.
We have scoured the internet for the best custom ROMs for the Samsung Galaxy A51 and have complied them in a list below.
Notes:
- You need to unlock the Samsung Galaxy A51 bootloader before installing a custom ROM on the device.
- You may want to root the Samsung Galaxy A51 on Android 12, Android 11, or Android 10 before installing a custom ROM on the device.
ElementaryOS
The ElementaryOS custom ROM for the Samsung Galaxy A51 is an experimental OneUI Core 3.1 ROM. The developers of this ElementaryOS have created a ROM that stays close to the stock ROM but have simplified it from the original. Sometimes when a ROM is debloated it can ironically create bugs but the ElementaryOS ROM has gone to a lot of effort to ensure there are none.
Features:
- Debloated without bugs
- Capture screen of any restricted app
- Extra camera functions
- No permission check so you can install third-party apps without needing to give permission
- KnoxGuard is removed
You can check the full list of features and download it via the link below.
Download: ElementaryOS
RefinedUI v2.0
The RefinedUI v2.0 custom ROM for the Samsung Galaxy A51 is based on OneUI3.0 and Android 11. The second version of this ROM comes with the updated base OneUI 3.0. There are also the RefinedUI v1.5 and RefinedUI v1.0 ROMs based on Android 10 which are earlier versions of the same ROM.
Features:
- Debloated
- Removes the permission check for third-party apps
- High-Performance Mode
- Numerous Aroma features
- Added Galaxy Note 10/20 and Galaxy S21 live wallpapers
- Had additional camera functions without bugs
You can check the full list of features and download it via the link below.
Download: RefinedUI v2.0
OneUI 4.1
The OneUI 4.1 custom ROM for the Samsung Galaxy A51 has been ported from the Samsung Galaxy S20 smartphone. The OneUI 4.1 is for the A515F model number variant of the Galaxy A51. The XDA senior member, jagpanzer, has attached many screenshots for you to look at before you install this one. You need to clean flash this custom ROM. There are also other instructions you can read via the download link below.
If you’re interested, there is also a OneUI 3.1 port from the S20 as well.
Download: OneUI 4.1
LineageOS 17.1
You can install an unofficial LineageOS 17.1 custom ROM on the Samsung Galaxy A51, meaning this has not been developed by the official LineageOS team for this device. XDA senior member, Yillié, says this ROM works fine but we recommend reading all the comments from the download link.
Download: LineageOS 17.1
Pixel Experience Plus Android R
The Pixel Experience Plus custom ROM for the Samsung Galaxy A51 is based on Android 11. XDA senior member, hacker812c, is the person who posted this ROM, though the ROM’s developer is actually Braialindo. Pixel Experience Plus Android R is an unofficial ROM, meaning the official developers of this ROM are not responsible for developing it for this device yet. There are a few features not working on this ROM so read carefully before installing. You can read everything from the download link below.
Download: Pixel Experience Plus Android R
AOSP Extended R Treble ROM
The AOSP Extended Android R 11.0 custom ROM For the Samsung Galaxy a51 is another good ROM to check out. However, there are quite a number of features that aren’t working, so be sure to read the list of unworking features carefully from the download link below. The same XDA senior member as the Pixel Experience ROM above, hacker812c, is respsoncible for creatung this thread.
Download: AOSP Extended R Treble ROM
HAVOC OS (GSI)
The HAVOC OS is a GSI rather than a Custom ROM for the Samsung Galaxy A51 and has been posted by XDA senior member, GrandmaGotGuns, but there isn’t much to report on this one.
Do note that technically GSI’s are not custom ROMs.
Download: HAVOC OS
SuperiorOS
The SuperiorOS custom ROM for the Samsung Galaxy A51 is based on Android 11. Once again, it has been posted by hacker812c, and looks like one of the more stable ROMs out there for the Galaxy A51, but its features are listed as basic. You can read more about it via the link below.
Download: SuperiorOS
July 6, 2022 @ 09:36
Is there a ROM for the Galaxy A51 that will force-stop apps? I don’t use apps for anything serious and assume it would be a great way to stop unnecessary battery usage.
July 6, 2022 @ 10:28
I don’t think so. It’s probably best to stick with the idea you see coming from the developers themselves, for the most part, because they have likely thought about these things, and, most importantly, implemented the best solutions with their knowledge.
I’m reading a thread online now that suggests that force-stopping apps can result in more battery drained. While this threat may not be correct, it’s the kind of thing only a developer can solve best.
That said, one of the common reasons for installing a custom ROM is to maximize the battery peformance. This is done by debloating the ROM. So when you see the ROM has been debloated in its list of features, you know that it is optimized for battery performance. This is because every feature you add to a ROM has no choice but to use battery in order for it to run. Thus the more barebones the ROM is the more battery efficient it will become. And perhaps most importantly, it achieves this not by altering the code that was already developed well but by reducing it.
July 6, 2022 @ 09:32
I’m surprised there isn’t an official LineageOS ROM for the Galaxy A51. Do you think this is because the A51 is still too new or for another reason? I thought this was one of the more commonly owned Samsung devices. Hopefully ROM makers don’t just make ROMs for the more expensive smartphones. I assume that is not the case because I can’t think of a reason why it would be if the development of the custom firmware is done generally for free.
July 3, 2022 @ 13:46
Does anyone know how I can get root without entering recovery mode? I want to install a custom ROM so I can update the firmware. Many of the apps I use crash because the version of Android my device is running is outdated, and the apps want a newer version of Android, which I cannot get from official builds.