Abstract
Were you aware that the average consumer opts to buy a new device every 2 years? Consequently, most Android device OEMs prefer to cut Android support after 2 years, alongside the end of app support coming with newer API levels.
What if I tell you that we, as Android developers, can decrease the vast e-waste caused from such frequent device upgrades. With the ever-growing community of AOSP enthusiasts, it’s not unreasonable to promote flashing unofficial firmware on your phone now, or further down in your device’s lifecycle. I have learnt from my experience that thanks to this development, there exist many benefits of what’s to come from the Android Open Source Project.
Encountering different situations under different phones and OEMs, made me believe that our devices can last longer than we imagine, to cater for a safer and a more useful experience. So, where do we start?