How To Update OnePlus One To Android 5.1.1 Lollipop With SlimSaber Custom ROM

OnePlus One owners can now update their smartphone to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop OS using the custom ROM. SlimSaber (aka SlimLP) has released a custom build ROM based on the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.

The custom ROM is fast, smooth, stable and comes with enhanced performance. The SlimLP ROM is completely bloatware free, which means it comes with lots of features and doesn't required much storage space on the phone.

SEE ALSO: OnePlus 2 Listed in Benchmark, With Better Performance Than HTC One M9

Furthermore, the custom build is compiled with a custom toolchain Sabermod for more performance and better battery life. Added patch files to fix GCC, added ARM v7 for more smoothness and more memory optimization, fixed some AOSP and KitKat bug and memory leaks.

Key Features of SlimLP custom ROM

Wi-Fi: patch for DHCP, to fix Wi-FI disconnections.
Frameworks optimization
LCD Density
Fix notification
Bluetooth sync
Fix CameraNextMod

SEE ALSO: How To Update Samsung Galaxy Note 3 To Android 5.1.1 With CyanogenMod 12.1 Nightly Custom ROM

[Disclaimer: This procedure is highly technical. If the smartphone brick or damaged during the installation process, GizBot cannot be held responsible for any kind of damage for the smartphone. Hence, the user has to perform the installation on their own risk.]

For those who have installed custom ROM on Android devices, than installing SlimSaber will on OnePlus One is no different. But for beginners, read all the points and installation steps carefully before updating the handset. Also note that, installing the custom ROM or custom recovery will void the warrant of the device and will not get any official updates including security update from OEM or Google.

SEE ALSO: How To Install Android M Developer Preview On Nexus Devices

Points To Remember

This tutorial is only to installing SlimLP custom ROM for the European variant of OnePlus One (aka bacon). Installing the custom ROM on other variants of OnePlus One or on any other devices could brick the device. Please verify the model number in the device Settings >> About Device.

The smartphone should be rooted with the latest ClockworkMod (CWM) or TWRP recovery tool before installing the custom ROM and its bootloader is unlocked.

Backup all the important data, additional files, apps and settings. Installing custom ROM on the OnePlus One will wipe all the data.

Use CWM or TWRP recovery tool to create a complete image of the existing phone setup. To create backup in recovery tool, choose Backup and Restore and tap Backup.

Ensure the smartphone have at-least 80 percent of battery charge to avoid power off during installation process.

Make sure USB drivers of OnePlus One have been installed on the PC.

Before starting the installation process, download required files to your computer. Links provided below.

Android 5.1.1 Lollipop SlimLP Custom ROM (File name: SlimSaber-bacon-5.1.1-20150604.zip)

Google Apps (File name: BaNkS-dynamic-gapps-L-6-6-15.zip)

Slim Apps

You can downloaded any one from both the apps package zip files (Google Apps or Slim Apps). But it is recommended to install Google Apps for the device.

Complete Step-by-step Installation Guide

Step 1: Connect and mount the smartphone to the computer.

Step 2: Copy and past the downloaded files (Android 5.1.1 Lollipop SlimLP custom ROM and Google Apps or Slim Apps) to the SD card root. Do not copy the files to phone's internal memory or in any other folder.

Step 3: Turn off the smartphone and disconnect from the PC.

Step 4: Now, boot the smartphone to Recovery Mode. To get into recovery mode, press and hold Volume UP + Home + Power keys together for few seconds.

Step 5: Perform full data wipe by selecting 'wipe data/factory reset' option in the recovery mode. Use Volume keys to navigate and Power button to select, while operating in the recovery mode.

Step 6: Clear cache memory of the OnePlus One by selecting 'wipe cache partition'

Step 7: Go back to main menu of recovery mode and select 'advance' and choose 'wipe dalvik cache' to perform complete wipe.

The step 7 is optional but it is recommended to clear dalvik cache to avoid boot loops and other errors during installation.

Step 8: Again return to the main menu of the recovery mode and select 'install zip from SD card'. Navigate to the phone's SD card and select the zip file (SlimSaber-bacon-5.1.1-20150604.zip), which you copied earlier to the root folder of phone's SD card.

Step 9: Repeat the step 8 to install Google Apps (BaNkS-dynamic-gapps-L-6-6-15.zip) or Slim Apps .

Step 10: Once the custom ROM and Google Apps installation completes, go back to main menu of recovery mode and reboot the device by selecting 'reboot system now'.

Now the smartphone will take about 5 minutes to boot for the first time with custom ROM installed. Wait till the device starts. Now the OnePlus One must be running the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop custom ROM SlimSaber / SlimLP.

Source: XDA