Optimize your Android device's performance and power usage with the help of these popular kernels.
Android is an inherently-customizable operating system, but what does that even mean? Does that mean that you can replace the default system apps and get access to lower-level functions, or is it something more?
Sure, if you are a tinkerer, you probably have experimented with various Android ROMs, but have you ever tried replacing your kernel? Lets back up a bit, what’s a kernel? In a nutshell, it is one of the most crucial parts of the OS, and manages both your hardware and software functions.
This is why changing the kernel can bring about a big change in your device’s capabilities, in both good or bad ways. Just as it can bring about a good change, improper installation can mess with your device, and may leave it permanently bricked.
Always, before you install any kernel, you must verify not only that your hardware is compatible with it, but also your software, since the kernel is a central part of your software. Even then, it is not guaranteed that your installation will go without a hitch.
Well, if we have not scared you off by now, what exactly can a kernel do for you? Well, a kernel can massively improve performance, or battery life or both. Sometimes this is done by efficiently managing the processor speed of your device through governors. Those who customize the kernel apply various tweaks in order to make their device run better.
But kernels aren’t well known, and aren’t as abundant as ROMs. Also, most are compatible with only a few devices, since firstly customizing kernels itself is a bit difficult, and porting them to various devices with different processors is even more difficult.
With that in mind, here are some popular Kernels you can install on your device:
Franco Kernel
This is one of the biggest kernel projects on the scene, and is compatible with quite a few devices, including the Nexus 5, the OnePlus One and more. It sort of reaches the middle ground between performance and battery life, and even has easily customizable settings to switch between power-saving, normal and performance modes.
Using efficient governors and with some other tricks up its sleeve, Franco can help improve battery life without compromising on performance.
ElementalX
This is another project that promises compatibility with a wide-variety of devices, and so far it has maintained that promise . It is more focused on performance and a lean kernel. It offers lots of customization options and has a few cool features, such as the ability to overclock, control voltage, double tap to wake and sleep features. It also has exFat and NTFS support.
Linaro Kernel
This kernel doesn’t make big changes to the stock kernel, but it has a set of small but useful tweaks that make it worthwhile. It is based on the Franco Kernel, and shares a few features, but has its own set of unique features that may intrigue you, such as sound tweaks, processor specific optimizations and more.
There you have it, the most stable and the most widely compatible kernels. Try them out, and if you like them, you can try out bigger tweaks with kernels specifically made for your device. As always, make sure to flash correctly, else you can brick your device.
Main image via Flickr (Ben & Asho)
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