Paranoid Android (operating system)

Paranoid Android
DeveloperParanoid Android Team
OS familyAndroid (Linux)
Working stateActive
Source modelOpen source with proprietary components
Latest releaseUvite / 20 September 2023 (2023-09-20)
Latest previewUvite / 20 September 2023 (2023-09-20)[1]
Repositorygithub.com/AOSPA
Marketing targetFirmware replacement for Android mobile devices
Update methodOver-the-air (OTA), ROM flashing, ADB Sideloading, Fastboot package
Package managerAPK-based
Supported platformsarm, arm64
Kernel typeMonolithic (Linux)
Default
user interface
Paranoid Launcher
License
Official websiteparanoidandroid.co

Paranoid Android is an open-source operating system for smartphones and tablet computers, based on the Android mobile platform. The latest official version is Uvite, based on Android 14, released on 20 September 2023.

In September 2015, PC Advisor called it the most famous ROM along with CyanogenMod,[2] and The Economic Times called it the second-largest custom Android ROM in the world with over 200 000 users.[3]

History

Paranoid Android was founded by Paul Henschel.[3] According to a Reddit AMA session with the lead developers, the ROM was named after the Radiohead song of the same name.[4]

In February 2015, OnePlus hired a handful of key members from the Paranoid Android team to work on its new OxygenOS.[5] This caused delays to the release of Paranoid Android 5.1 builds.[6]

In October 2015, team member Matt Flaming told Android Authority that the project would go on hold.[7] In June 2016, the Paranoid Android team announced that they were back with new team members.[8] This announcement coincided with the release of a new version of Paranoid Android, which was based on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, with the May security patch, and included new customization features.[8] On June 8, 2016, Paranoid Android supported Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus 5, Nexus 4, Nexus 7 2013, Nexus 9, OnePlus One, OnePlus 2, and OnePlus X.[9]

On May 31, 2017, the team announced that they released the Nougat flavour of Paranoid Android. This version was based on Android 7.1.2 Nougat, with the most notable feature being the return of Pie Controls. Supported devices include the OnePlus 3 and 3T, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Pixel, and Pixel XL.[10]

On 12 May. 2018, the Paranoid Android Google+ account posted an update on the status of the project. The developers had run out of funds causing their website and Gerrit to shut down and ceasing all work on Oreo builds. The team stated that they were close to release but weren't able to continue without funds and looked to the community for donations.[11]

On 27 August 2018, the Google+ page was updated with a new post titled "Being more transparent".[12] The team apologized for a lack of communication and shared info about current activities. The team decided to finish device trees and release sources before discontinuing Oreo MR1. Basic builds were released for the OnePlus 3, 3T, 5 and 5T, as well as the Sony Xperia X, X Compact, XZ Premium, XZ1 and XZ2. The next goal was Android Pie, with the post saying builds were almost stable, though at the time of the post only two commits under the Pie branch were released on the team's Gerrit.a They also released concept art for an upcoming feature named "Blink Navigation" based on gestures and Pie navigation, as well as a rundown of a new versioning system.[13]

The project was relaunched with a new set of stable releases named "Quartz"[14] (based on Android 10) on 16 April 2020, for a limited set of devices. The Quartz release coincides with supporting additional devices such as the Xiaomi Mi 9.[15]

Features

According to The Economic Times, the two most notable features of Paranoid Android are the Halo and the Pie.[3] The Halo (not included in version 5.0 or greater) is a floating bubble that lets users see notifications without leaving the current screen, and the Pie is a replacement for onscreen navigation buttons that stays off screen and lets users swipe in from the edge to see the buttons.

Paranoid Android also features Substratum theme support alongside their own Color Engine, accidental touch rejection, Pocket Lock (which prevents buttons being pressed in a user's pocket) and the ability to take a screenshot by swiping three fingers.

List of supported devices

The following is a list of devices that are supported by Paranoid Android:[16]

Manufacturer Model Code name PA version
Asus ZenFone 9 davinci Topaz (13)
Google Pixel 6 oriole Topaz (13)
Google Pixel 6 Pro raven Topaz (13)
Google Pixel 6a bluejay Topaz (13)
Google Pixel 7 panther Topaz (13)
Google Pixel 7 Pro cheetah Topaz (13)
Google Pixel 7a lynx Topaz (13)
Xiaomi Mi 8 dipper Sapphire (12)
Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro equuleus Sapphire (12)
Xiaomi Mi 8 EE ursa Sapphire (12)
Xiaomi Mi 10 umi Sapphire (12)
Xiaomi 11 Lite NE / Mi 11 LE lisa Topaz (13)
Xiaomi 12X psyche Uvite (14)
Xiaomi 13 fuxi Uvite (14)
Xiaomi 13 Pro nuwa Uvite (14)
Xiaomi 13 Ultra ishtar Uvite (14)
Xiaomi Mi 10T / Mi 10T Pro apollo Uvite (14)
Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S polaris Sapphire (12)
Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 perseus Sapphire (12)
Xiaomi Pocophone F1 beryllium Topaz (13)
Xiaomi Poco X3 / X3 NFC surya Uvite (14)
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro vayu Topaz (13)
Xiaomi Redmi K30 / Poco X2 phoenix Topaz (13)
Xiaomi Redmi K30 Pro / K30 Pro Zoom / Poco F2 Pro lmi Topaz (13)
Xiaomi Redmi K40 / Mi 11X / Poco F3 alioth Uvite (14)
Xiaomi Redmi K40S / Poco F4 munch Uvite (14)
Xiaomi Redmi 7A / 8 / 8A / 8A Dual mi439 Uvite (14)
Xiaomi Redmi 7A / 8 / 8A / 8A Dual mi439_419 Uvite (14)
Xiaomi Redmi 8 olives Uvite (14)
Xiaomi Redmi 9T / Poco M3 juice Topaz (13)
Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G / Poco M6 Pro 5G sky Uvite (14)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S / Note 9 Pro / Note 9 Pro Max / Note 10 Lite / Poco M2 Pro miatoll Uvite (14)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 sunny Uvite (14)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Turbo / Poco F5 marble Uvite (14)
Motorola Edge 30 dubai Topaz (13)
OnePlus 5 Oneplus5 Topaz (13)
OnePlus 5T Oneplus5t Topaz (13)
OnePlus 6/6T Oneplus6 Topaz (13)
OnePlus 7 Pro Oneplus7Pro Topaz (13)
OnePlus 7T Pro Oneplus7TPro Topaz (13)
OnePlus 9/9 Pro Oneplus9 Topaz (13)
OnePlus 9R Oneplus9r Topaz (13)
Nothing Phone (1) phone1 Uvite (14)
Nothing Phone (2) phone2 Uvite (14)
Qualcomm QRD SM8350 lahaina Uvite (14)
Qualcomm QRD SM72xx lito Uvite (14)
Realme X50 Pro 5G / X50 Pro 5G Play Bladerunner Uvite (14)
Realme GT2 Porsche Uvite (14)
Realme GT Neo2 Bitra Uvite (14)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Paranoid Android Uvite Announcement".
  2. ^ Casserly, Martyn (28 September 2015). "How to root Android: The beginner's guide to rooting, risks and benefits. How to install the latest version of Android, and how to install custom ROMs including CyanogenMod". PC Advisor. International Data Group. Archived from the original on 14 October 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  3. ^ a b c Shankar, Shashwati (24 September 2015). "Meet Delhi teen Arz Bhatia, lead designer of OnePlus' operating system OxygenOS". The Economic Times. The Times Group. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  4. ^ "Paranoid Android (Android ROM) AMA!". 16 December 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  5. ^ Petrovan, Bogdan (12 February 2015). "OnePlus hired the key people behind Paranoid Android". Android Authority. Archived from the original on 22 October 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  6. ^ Cervantes, Edgar (7 July 2015). "Paranoid Android finally releases Android 5.1 builds for Nexus devices". Android Authority. Archived from the original on 23 October 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  7. ^ Westenberg, Jimmy (11 October 2015). "Paranoid Android is pretty much over". Android Authority. Archived from the original on 11 October 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  8. ^ a b Petrovan, Bogdan (9 June 2016). "Paranoid Android is back with a big new release". Android Authority. Archived from the original on 9 June 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  9. ^ Crider, Michael (8 June 2016). "Paranoid Android Custom ROM Returns With New Features And Fresh Marshmallow Builds For Nexus And OnePlus Devices". Android Police (Blog). Illogical Robot LLC. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  10. ^ "Paranoid Android 2017 – Nougat Resurrection". Archived from the original on 26 September 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  11. ^ "Post on Google+". Paranoid Android. Archived from the original on 11 March 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  12. ^ "Being more transparent". Paranoid Android. Archived from the original on 11 March 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  13. ^ "A quick follow up and a few golden eggs Welcome! Today we got a few things ..." Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  14. ^ "Paranoid Android Quartz 1". Paranoid Android Blog. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  15. ^ Deakin, Daniel R (3 August 2020). "Xiaomi Mi 9 added to the Paranoid Android Quartz 4 custom ROM list with support for the Mi A3 and Mi Mix 3 in the works". Notebookcheck. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  16. ^ "Paranoid Android Project". paranoidandroid.co. Retrieved 15 February 2026.

Notes

a.^ The commits to the Gerrit could previously be found at https://gerrit.aospa.co/#/q/project:AOSPA/android_device_qcom_common+branch:pie+until:2018-08-27, but have since been removed.

Further reading

Interview with Alex Naidis from AOSPA: The Future of Paranoid Android, Developer Advice and More! (Archived)