Android 12 Custom ROM List: Unofficially update your Android smartphone!

Ever since Google announced the arrival of Android 12‘s stable release and dropped the source code to AOSP, the tinkering party is underway here at XDA. But unless you own a current-generation device like the OnePlus 9/9 Pro or the Samsung Galaxy S21, there’s a very good chance that you will have to wait for a few months to have your OEM send across the latest dessert onto your phone.

But of course, this is XDA, home to the largest community collection of custom ROMs and many other aftermarket developments. While OEMs are restricted by several factors which limit their ability to provide a timely update, our community members can do a fantastic job at giving other enthusiasts a chance to try out the latest Android release on their phones, right now! Granted, the early works from developers working with inadequate (and often non-existent) official resources can’t possibly give us bug-free ROMs. But they do highlight how groups of like-minded individuals can achieve something great when they all put their minds to it.

With the large number of unofficial builds of Android 12-based custom ROMs popping up, we felt it would be a good idea to create an index of devices that have Android 12 ports available for them. Do note that these are unofficial builds and will very likely contain bugs. Please read the first few posts of each linked thread so you know the current status of the build before flashing it on your phone.

Note: In this article, we will only be providing a link to the first Android 12 custom ROM that we come across for a particular device. This does not serve as an endorsement of that particular build, nor are we suggesting that the work of others should be ignored. We are limiting what we link to in order to prevent this article from becoming too lengthy. Please visit the XDA forums for your device to see if there are other, possibly more complete, builds available.

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List of devices with Android 12 Custom ROMs:

This is the current list of devices that have received an Android 12 custom ROM:

1. OnePlus
   1. OnePlus 5
2. Xiaomi
   1. Redmi K20 Pro/Mi 9T Pro
   2. Redmi Note 8 and Redmi Note 8T
   3. Redmi Note 10 Pro and Redmi Note 10 Pro Max

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1. OnePlus

Sr. No.	Device, Device Forums, Codename	Android 11 Custom ROM	Date Added
1.	OnePlus 5 (cheeseburger)	AOSP 12.0	October 8, 2021

1.1. OnePlus 5 (cheeseburger)

For those of you eagerly awaiting Android 12-based custom ROMs for your OnePlus 5, we have some good news for you: a vanilla AOSP 12 ROM is now available for this device. If you would like to try it out, head on over to the forum thread below.

AOSP 12.0 for the OnePlus 5

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2. Xiaomi

Sr. No.	Device, Device Forums, Codename	Android 11 Custom ROM	Date Added
1.	Redmi K20 Pro/Mi 9T Pro (raphael)	AOSP 12.0	October 5, 2021
2.	Redmi Note 8 (ginkgo) Redmi Note 8T (willow)	AOSP 12.0	October 8, 2021
3.	Redmi Note 10 Pro (sweet/sweetin) Redmi Note 10 Pro Max (sweetin)	AOSP 12.0	October 8, 2021

2.1. Redmi K20 Pro/Mi 9T Pro

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 855-powered Redmi K20 Pro (sold as the Mi 9T Pro in certain regions) is the first phone to receive an Android 12 custom ROM. Grab the latest build of the ROM from the thread below and give it a shot.

AOSP 12.0 for the Redmi K20 Pro/Mi 9T Pro

2.2. Redmi Note 8 and Redmi Note 8T

The Redmi Note 8 and the Note 8T have received a unified Android 12-based AOSP ROM. If you are ready to ignore some minor glitches, the ROM appears to be in pretty good shape for something that is being based on a brand new OS version that was launched this week.

AOSP 12.0 for the Redmi Note 8/8T

2.3. Redmi Note 10 Pro and Redmi Note 10 Pro Max

An unofficial build of AOSP 12.0 brings vanilla Android 12 experience to the Redmi Note 10 Pro. The ROM is also compatible with the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max. If you would like to try it out, head on over to the forum thread linked below.

AOSP 12.0 for the Redmi Note 10 Pro/Pro Max

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Android 12 Google Apps

Apart from the ROMs mentioned above, we are going to be seeing a lot of custom builds of Android 12 released in the coming weeks. However, not all custom ROMs ship with pre-installed Google apps. In case you’re looking for a suitable GApps distribution, then you’ll be happy to know that the maintainers have already laid the groundwork to support the latest version of Android.

1. BiTGApps

XDA Senior Member TheHitMan has recently released an alpha version of the BiTGApps package. The new branch, tagged as 3.0, focuses specifically on Android 12.

Download BiTGApps

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Have you spotted a custom ROM on our forums for a device we haven’t covered yet? Let us know in the comments below!

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Google Play Store gets Material You dynamic colors on Android 12

Soon after showcasing its new Material You design language at I/O 2021, Google started rolling out design changes to its apps based on the new guidelines. With the Android 12 stable release for Google Pixels right around the corner, the company has significantly ramped up its Material You rollout. We’ve seen Material You updates recently for Google Assistant, Google Photos, Google Duo, and Google Drive. There have also been Material You updates for Google Keep, then Google Messages and Google Podcasts. Now it appears that the Google Play Store is the next to get Material You dynamic color theming on Android 12.

The update for the Google Play Store (via the Google News Telegram group) appears to be rolling out for some people now and supports dynamic colors. It’s apparently a server-side switch and may take a while to roll out to everyone, so the version of your Play Store app won’t make a difference. You can definitely make it more likely for you to get the update by making sure you’re on the latest version of the app, but that’s all you can do. I do not have the update on my Google Pixel 5 running the latest Android 12 beta.

For the uninitiated, Material You’s dynamic colors feature makes use of monet, a new theme engine introduced in Android 12 — and currently exclusive to Pixel phones — to extract colors from your wallpaper and generate a rich palette of pastel colors. Apps can then apply these colors to their UIs in various ways, which is what apps that incorporate Material You typically do. Dynamic color support is one of the most exciting things to come from Material You, as it makes each app’s design feel more personal. It also maintains consistency across apps and makes your smartphone experience feel more cohesive.

If you don’t have the update yet, don’t worry, you’ll likely get it soon.

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Get a 100W Spigen USB Type-C charger for only $37 today

You probably already have a few single-port USB Type-C chargers around your home, but multi-connector wall adapters can be handy, especially when they can deliver more power. Spigen might be best known for its smartphone cases, but the company also produces a few chargers, including a powerful 100W wall adapter that can charge two devices at once. Now you can get the Spigen 100W charger for just $37.16, a decent savings from the usual price of $60.

This is one of many wall modern wall chargers built with Gallium Nitride (GaN) components, which allows the design to be smaller without overheating. As a result, even though this is slightly smaller than the wall chargers Apple ships with MacBooks, it’s smaller and delivers more power. The charger can reach up to 100W on a single port, so it’s perfect for just about any USB Type-C laptop, and both Type-C ports can charge at up to 45W at the same time.

Spigen 100W Charger

This charger can supply 100W on a single port, or 45W on both ports. You need an Amazon Prime account to get the sale price, and you also need to click the Coupon button below the price.

Buy at Amazon

This is an excellent price for a 100W USB Type-C charger, especially one with two ports. For example, you could use it to charge your phone and tablet/laptop at the fastest speeds available without bringing two wall adapters. Anker’s wall chargers are the main competition, but the dual-connector PowerPort Atom PD is more expensive than Spigen’s charger and only reaches 60W.

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Apple’s IronHeart project could expand CarPlay access to control more of your car

Apple first introduced CarPlay back in 2014 as a part of iOS. CarPlay is an iPhone-based car system that allows users to control music, use maps, make phone calls, and more. One of the biggest complaints against this system is how limited it is. Users often find themselves switching from CarPlay to the car’s built-in system to control other parts of their cars. However, Apple is said to be working on fixing this issue.

What’s IronHeart?

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is working on a project internally known as IronHeart. This project aims to take CarPlay to the next level, bringing the biggest upgrades to it since it was first released. According to the report, these potential changes could allow users to access and/or control:

• Inside and outside temperature and humidity readings
• Temperature zones, fans, and the defroster systems
• Settings for adjusting surround-sound speakers, equalizers, tweeters, subwoofers, and the fade and balance
• Seats and armrests
• The speedometer, tachometer, and fuel instrument clusters

Apple is said to be cooperating with automakers to allow these changes to occur.

Other car-centered Apple projects and features

Apple is also rumored to be working on its own electric car, but we aren’t expecting a public reveal any time in the near future. In the meantime, Apple has been working on features that integrate with existing cars, such as CarKey and an advanced version of CarPlay. It’s worth mentioning that this project may never see the light of day, though. Apple removed Siri support from CarPlay with the introduction of iOS 15, since not enough people use it. So, Apple will have to carefully study all factors revolving around project IronHeart and release it (or not) accordingly.

CarKey allows users with supported car models to unlock their vehicles with their iPhones, even if their batteries are dead. iPhones with the U1 chip (iPhone 11 and newer) can also take advantage of this feature without having to take them out of your pockets or bags.

What are your thoughts on project IronHeart? Do you use CarPlay or CarKey? Let us know in the comments section below.

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T-Mobile is giving away free blankets next week as it blankets the country with 5G

The magenta carrier is moving quickly to “blanket” the country with 5G, and on Tuesday, you’ll be able to get a free blanket for yourself too.

As shown in the T-Mobile Tuesdays app, a free fluffy blanket will be available to most T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, and Sprint customers on Tuesday, October 12th. We managed to acquire some exclusive pictures of the blanket as well, shown below.

T-Mobile has offered numerous physical items, deals and discounts, and even 3 months of Stadia Pro, via its Tuesdays app since all the way back in 2016. Sprint plan customers were let into the program after the merger in June of 2020. This year in particular has been filled with physical items, like tumblers, beach towels, plastic lunch boxes, and even a pool float.

According to our sources, the blanket is soft and fluffy, coming in at about 50″ long and 45″ wide.

Customers on any of T-Mobile’s cell plans, Metro by T-Mobile plans, and Sprint plans are eligible to use the T-Mobile Tuesdays app. To claim the freebie, open your app on Tuesday and “Save” the offer. Then, visit any T-Mobile store and ask for the free blanket. You’ll hit “Redeem” in the app, and a timer will start. Show it to the store rep, and that’s it!

In addition to the blanket, this coming Tuesday’s offerings include a $1 Dunkin’ Donuts gift card, $25 off a purchase of $25 or more at Gold Belly, 10 free 4×6 photo prints at CVS, and 10 cents off per gallon of gas at Shell.

The app is available for iOS and Android devices.

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Today only: Grab a Lenovo Smart Clock with Google Assistant for $35

The Lenovo Smart Clock was released in 2019 as the first smart clock with Google Assistant. It’s somewhere between a smart speaker and a smart display in functionality, with a customizable clock face and some touchscreen/video features. It has gone on sale many times since its introduction, and now it’s back down to $34.99 at Best Buy. The sale is only live for the rest of today.

If you’re not familiar with it, the Lenovo Smart Clock is essentially a Google Assistant smart speaker with the addition of a 4-inch LCD touchscreen. It can answer questions, control smart home devices, stream music, tell you the weather, and everything else Assistant is capable of on smart speakers. The display is mainly used for the clock face (which has a few designs to choose from), but it can also stream video from some security cameras. It doesn’t have the video playback functionality of the Nest Hub, so Netflix or YouTube marathons are out of the question.

Lenovo Smart Clock

This clock has Google Assistant and several digital clock faces to choose from. It's on sale for $34.99, $45 below MSRP.

Buy at Best Buy

Lenovo just released the Lenovo Smart Clock 2, which is probably why this original model is going on sale again. At the current sale price of $35, the Lenovo Smart Clock is $10 more than the Nest Mini, and half the price of the new Lenovo Smart Clock 2 (without the dock attachment). That’s not bad, especially considering the clock can act as a USB charger for other devices.

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How do I apply thermal paste to a CPU?

Applying thermal paste is a crucial part of the PC building process. The paste is applied on top of the Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS) of the CPU to make sure there are no air gaps between that and the metal base of the CPU cooler. The air gaps are formed due to the microscopic imperfections on the surface of the IHS and the cooler base. The thermal paste fills those gaps to allow a more efficient transfer of heat. In layman’s terms, thermal paste helps your CPU stay cool at all times.

There are a few different ways of laying down the paste on a CPU. Newcomers in the world of PC building may find it overwhelming, especially because of some horrifying stories that come out as a result of poor application methods. Well, if you are looking for a reliable thermal paste application guide to avoid making a rookie mistake, then you have come to the right place.

Things to keep in mind

Before we begin, it’s important to make sure the surface of both your cooler and CPU are clean. Your components will already be squeaky clean if you’re building a new PC, but they might need some work if you’re replacing the paste or installing a new CPU/cooler. You will then have to carefully remove the old thermal paste from the respective surfaces. We recommend using either a microfiber cloth, cotton swabs, or a paper towel with isopropyl alcohol (at least 91%) for this.

Once you’re done cleaning the surface, it’s time to make sure your CPU is locked in place and you’re ready to install the CPU cooler. The thermal paste application is essentially the last step in your cooler installation process that comes before mounting your heatsink or waterblock. If you apply the paste, place your cooler, and then realize you forgot the backplate, your only option is to wipe it down and start again.

How to apply thermal paste

As we mentioned earlier, there are a few different ways to apply the paste on the IHS of the CPU. Don’t get confused if one person asks you to apply just one dot and the other one asks you to go for a line of paste. This largely depends on a few things like the size of the CPU die, the quality of paste being applied, etc. Just make sure you get full coverage and the paste is spread evenly on the surface.

You’ve done a good job if :

• There’s enough paste to cover the CPU die.
• The paste is not spilling out.
• You haven’t created a thick layer that reduces the efficiency due to the metal surfaces being too far apart.

Which application method to use

You may have seen people using what’s popularly known as the ‘Dot Method’. It’s a simple method that involves squeezing a small amount of paste — the size of, say, a small grain of rice — onto the center of the CPU. Some people prefer making a dot the size of a transistor on the board. While this method will do the trick for most consumer-grade CPUs, we’re going to try a different method in this guide.

Make a simple line

This method is fairly self-explanatory, isn’t it? Apply a line of paste directly onto the center of the IHS. Avoid manually spreading the paste and let the cooler pressure do the work as you secure it in place. Any good quality thermal paste with a good consistency will settle evenly on the CPU. You can also make a ‘%’ pattern by applying a line directly down the center and making two small dots on either side.

Less is more

Less is more when it comes to applying thermal paste. There’s no need to dump an absurd amount of paste on the CPU thinking it will magically reduce your CPU temperatures. We’re merely trying to fill the surface imperfections on the IHS and the cooler with the paste, remember? If you are doing this for the first time, then now would be a good time to remove the cooler again to see if your method provides an even spread.

Feel free to experiment as long as you keep the amount of thermal paste in check. Everyone has their own way of applying the paste to get the desired results. You can also go with more small dots towards the center if you think what you have already applied isn’t spreading evenly after placing the cooler.

Run stability checks

Congratulations! If you made it this far into the guide and followed each and every step, then you have now successfully applied thermals paste to the CPU. But did it do the trick? If you were simply replacing either the paste, CPU, or the cooler, then you can directly boot into Windows and run some benchmarks to see how hot your CPU gets. We recommend using monitoring software to get temperature readings over a period of time.

If you’re building a new PC, then you can finish putting the rest of the components together and boot into the BIOS to see the CPU temperature before installing Windows. If it’s not alarmingly high for simply sitting in the BIOS menu, then you’re good to proceed further.

We recommend running Cinebench R23 to see how the CPU handles the load. Benchmarking and performing stress tests like this will usually force your CPU to hit the maximum frequency. This means the temperatures will be fairly high during these runs. As long as the system isn’t crashing just a few seconds into the test, you should be fine. Alternatively, you can also let the CPU sit idle and check the idle temperature to see if that’s looking good.

How often should you replace thermal paste?

Thermal paste is not going to wear out as early as you think. However, replacing thermal paste isn’t going to harm your system, and we recommend visiting it every year just for good measure. If you are suddenly noticing a spike in CPU temperature after say a year of building your PC, then it’s likely due to the dust particles choking the components.

But as a rule of thumb, you should always replace the thermal paste after removing the cooler for any reason. Laptops don’t demand this much attention when it comes to replacing the thermal paste. Just make sure you’re buying a good laptop from a reliable OEM and the quality will speak for itself.

Final Thoughts

Now you have successfully applied the thermal paste to your CPU, there are a few things we want to highlight. The process for applying the paste on the GPU is also the same. In fact, you can use the same thermal paste for your GPU as well, even though some might suggest otherwise. The frequency of replacing the thermal paste for the GPU is also more or less the same. The process for that can be tedious depending on the graphics card.

Thermal paste should have the same priority as other components on your shopping list for building a new PC. It deserves the same treatment and we think people should make an informed decision while buying one, similar to how one would search for peripherals like the best monitors or even the best mechanical keyboards. Most people, however, treat thermal paste as an afterthought and pick up whatever meets the eye. Let’s change that and give more importance to it too.

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