The package arrived in a bubble mailer that smelled of ozone and stale warehouse air. Inside lay the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, a relic of 2018 with its curved "Infinity Display" gleaming like polished obsidian.
For most, this was a backup phone. For you, it was a battleground.
Under the hood sat the Exynos 9810 chipset. In the States, people touted the Snapdragon for its raw power, but in the world of custom development, the Exynos was the "chosen one"—blessed with an unlockable bootloader that didn't require a hacker's miracle to crack.
The transformation began at midnight. The glow of your monitor washed out the room as you downloaded the tools of the trade: Odin, TWRP, and the holy grail—a build of LineageOS.
The first hurdle was the "Download Mode" screen, a teal warning that felt like a digital "Keep Out" sign. With a click, you bypassed it. The progress bar crawled forward, a thin blue line rewriting the phone’s soul. You weren't just installing software; you were stripping away the "Samsung Experience," the bloatware, and the tracking, returning the hardware to its purest form. Then, the Bootloop.
The Samsung logo pulsed. Once. Twice. Then the screen went black. A cold sweat broke. This was the "brick" moment—the silence where a $200 piece of glass becomes a paperweight. You dove back into the forums, scrolling through threads from 2021, finding a lone developer’s comment about a specific vendor image mismatch. One fix, one re-flash, and then: the spark.
The LineageOS arc-and-circle animation spun across the screen. The S9 Plus breathed again. It felt faster, lighter, and stripped of its corporate shackles. You held a device that the manufacturer had declared "end of life," yet it was now running the latest version of Android with a smoothness it never had on launch day.
The hardware was old, but the spirit was new. You didn't just own the phone anymore—you commanded it.
Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus (Exynos variant) , codenamed , remains a highly active device in the custom development scene in 2026. While official manufacturer support has ended, community-driven projects like offer modern Android versions, including ports of Android 14, 15, and 16 Top Custom ROM Recommendations (2025–2026)
The choice of ROM depends on whether you prefer the original Samsung experience ( ) or a clean, Google-like experience ( Samsung One UI Experience (Best for Feature Retention) Noble ROM (Recommended)
: Developed by AlexisXDA, this is widely considered the gold standard for Exynos S9+ users. Latest Versions : Recently updated to Noble ROM 5.2 , providing a stable One UI 7 (Android 15) experience ported from the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Highlights : Retains core Samsung features like Secure Folder Bixby remapping Samsung Dex Performance samsung s9 plus exynos custom rom
: Includes "Hardly Debloated" tweaks and custom kernels for improved smoothness and battery life. : An alternative port of
that offers a full installation guide specifically for the S9+ Exynos 9810 chipset. Stock Android & Performance (AOSP/Pixel-like) Install Android 16 LineageOS 23 ON Galaxy S9 Plus
For the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus (Exynos), custom ROMs are the primary way to access modern Android versions and updated features long after official support ended. As of April 2026, the development community remains active, with recent ports bringing Android 15 and 16 to the aging flagship. Top Custom ROMs for S9 Plus Exynos (2025–2026)
The choice depends on whether you prefer the familiar Samsung One UI experience or a clean "Pixel-like" stock Android feel. Noble ROM (Recommended for One UI fans):
Current Version: Noble ROM 5.x/6.x based on Android 14 & 15 (One UI 6.1 / 7).
Features: Ports official Samsung features from newer flagships, including modern UI elements and updated Samsung apps. Pros: Familiar interface; includes One UI 7 features.
Cons: Higher battery consumption and slightly slower performance compared to AOSP-based ROMs. LineageOS (Recommended for performance/longevity):
Current Version: Unofficial builds now reaching Android 16 (LineageOS 23) as of early 2026.
Features: A clean, bloat-free experience that prioritizes stability and speed.
Pros: Significant performance boost; lightest weight; offers the latest security updates. The package arrived in a bubble mailer that
Cons: You will lose Samsung-specific features like VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling. Duhan ROM:
Current Status: A newer contender providing updated builds based on Android 15.
Focus: Aimed at users who want a balance of new features and better battery optimization than Noble ROM. Key Benefits & Trade-offs Feature Stock ROM (Official) Custom ROM (AOSP/Lineage) Custom ROM (One UI Port) Android Version Android 10 (Dead) Android 13–16 Android 13–15 Performance Sluggish over time Very Fast/Smooth Battery Life Heavy Drain Samsung Pay/VoLTE Broken Broken Camera Quality Good (requires GCam) Near Stock Installation Requirements Before flashing, you must prepare your device:
Unlock Bootloader: Only possible on the Exynos variant (SM-G965F/DS).
Custom Recovery: You need TWRP Recovery or a ROM-specific recovery to flash the files.
Backup: All data will be wiped during the mandatory Format Data step.
Files Needed: The ROM zip file, GApps (if not included), and potentially a "repartitioner" script for larger One UI ports. Critical Warnings
Warning: This will void your warranty (if any remains) and wipe your data.
Samsung implements a hardware fuse called Knox.
Title: [ROM][STABLE][Android 14] LineageOS 21 for Samsung S9 Plus Exynos (star2lte) – Daily Driver Ready Part 4: Step-by-Step Installation Guide Warning: This will
Body: After 3 months of testing, here is my review of LineageOS 21 on the S9+ (Exynos).
Working:
Bugs:
Why upgrade from Stock Android 10?
Download: [Link to official LineageOS builds - Note: As of my knowledge cutoff, check XDA for latest builds]
Flashing order:
Thanks to the XDA dev community for keeping Exynos alive.
If you are looking to flash a new operating system, these are the community favorites currently available:
1. LineageOS (The Daily Driver)
2. crDroid (The Feature King)
3. Pixel Experience / PixelPlus UI
4. One UI Ports (Project Infinity / Noble ROM)