LineageOS 24, the custom Android ROM built on Android 17, is now ready for download. A review published on 2026-10-22 by 9to5Google describes it as easier to recommend than any previous version, in part because the cost of new technology keeps climbing while older phones stay perfectly usable.
The release arrives only a few months after LineageOS 23.2. The reviewer notes that Google's delays last year held things up longer than hoped, but the Lineage team kept working and version 24 is now complete.
The biggest change is a new online flash tool. The reviewer calls it the most significant improvement to the flashing process in the history of the project, since everything can be done from a browser window. The traditional steps still apply: download the files and follow the correct order. Users should back up their data first and may want to restore the phone to stock before flashing. The reviewer hopes the tool will one day match the simplicity of the Android Flash Tool.
People who want Google services need to download the MindTheGapps package before flashing. The reviewer left it out to test the ROM as intended. Without it, AI-powered functions such as Circle to Search and Notification Summaries are unavailable unless they are sideloaded and a Google account is linked.
On the design side, LineageOS 24 folds in many changes from the QPR1 update that Pixel phones received in September 2026. App bubbles are the headline addition, though they appear limited to the default launcher. They work like floating chat heads that can be parked on either side of the screen, with the same limit of four to five apps seen on Pixels. Custom icon options let users change shapes and styles and turn off app labels, while the lockscreen still offers a single clock style with adjustable text thickness. An Expanded Dark theme also carries over, darkening apps that lack their own dark mode, though results may vary.
Several built-in apps have been improved. The system update page now shows key information at a glance. Canvas, the default gallery, gains basic cropping, rotation and markup tools, though the reviewer finds it barebones. The Jelly browser can now create PWA-like apps through its Install shortcut tool, which works for services such as Instagram and Spotify, although not every time. The screen recorder can capture HEVC video from its floating panel, an option missing on Pixel phones.
One complaint remains. Hiding the gesture bar can leave some interface elements squeezed against the bottom edge, so the reviewer suggests keeping the hint visible.
The reviewer says rising technology prices have changed how they see LineageOS. They plan to install version 24 on their parents' older phones, which are close to the end of official support, for the security updates and possible performance gains. In the reviewer's view, extending the life of the devices you own is a good way to push back against big tech, and they expect to use the ROM across many devices in the coming years.
