The Pros and cons to rooting an android device

Rohiggidy

The Big League
Joined
Jun 8, 2012
Messages
6,576
Reputation
70
Daps
2,431
Reppin
New York
your Android device comes out the box with the option to change everything on your device without root.

What is "Rooting?"

The Android phone that you have learned to love and enjoy is running an operating system that was designed for commercial and private use. Like most any operating system, several features have been disabled, either for future use or to prevent the casual user from causing permanent damage to the operating system. "Rooting" is the process in which the limitations are removed and full-access is allowed. Once rooted, the Android phone owner will have more control over many settings, features and performance of their phone. Basically, "rooting" means to get to the root of the operating system and to have the ability to make global changes.

Disadvantages

There are two main disadvantages to rooting and Android phone;

Rooting immediately voids your phone's warranty-Once rooted, don't try to bring your phone back for service or warranty work. You are on your own!
Rooting involves the risk of "bricking" your phone-In essence, a "bricked" phone is no better than carrying around a brick in your pocket. The phone is dead when it has been "bricked."
Other potential disadvantages, though less severe, are still worthy of consideration;

Poor performance-Though the intention of "rooting" a phone is to give the phone more performance, several users have found that, in their attempts to speed up the phone or add additional features, that their phones lost both performance speed and features. Remember that when you "root" your Android phone, you are making changes to the stock operating system.
Viruses-Yes, even phones can get viruses. A common practice that people do with "rooted" phones is to flash their ROM's with custom programs. Whenever you make changes to the code of a software, you run the risk of introducing a virus.
Advantages

"Rooting" your Android phone does afford you numerous benefits, including;

Running special applications-Superuser is an app that can only be run on a rooted Android phone. This allows you to control which apps have access to the "root" system. Another popular application that "rooting" affords is the ability to tether a computer to your Android phone so that the computer can access the Internet using the phone's data connection. Another program can allow your Android to be used as a WiFi Hotspot without having to pay your provider for the feature.
Freeing up memory-When you install an app on your phone, it is stored on the phone's memory. "Rooting" allows you to move installed applications to your SD card, thus freeing up system memory for additional files or apps.
Custom ROM's-This is the most powerful feature of "rooted" phones. There are hundreds of custom ROM's that can do anything from speeding up the processing speed of your phone to changing the entire look and feel of your phone.
Summary

The decision to "root" your Android phone is one that should not be rushed into. Though the allure of having an unlocked phone is powerful, having a "bricked" phone is, trust me, not very much fun.
 

Rohiggidy

The Big League
Joined
Jun 8, 2012
Messages
6,576
Reputation
70
Daps
2,431
Reppin
New York
I unrooted my phone and install verizon jelly bean update. If your phone runs fine then leave it alone. If you are having issues with it rooting doesnt fix it. Custom roms are buggy.
 

xXMASHERXx

Superstar
Joined
May 15, 2012
Messages
9,087
Reputation
1,333
Daps
34,124
I've had multiple android devices and have rooted every single one. Every single custom rom I've used has been better than what originally came with the device.
 
Joined
May 7, 2012
Messages
27,790
Reputation
4,712
Daps
103,449
I unrooted my phone and install verizon jelly bean update. If your phone runs fine then leave it alone. If you are having issues with it rooting doesnt fix it. Custom roms are buggy.

I came to this conclusion after rooting my OG Droid.

niccas always tell just half the story when they're bragging about custom roms. I'm not a developer, I don't want those developer problems.... just give me the phone that works great out the box.

I'm loving my unrooted Galaxy Nexus :ahh:
 

head shots101

North Bronx Blocks!!!
Supporter
Joined
May 1, 2012
Messages
24,301
Reputation
2,639
Daps
50,045
Reppin
Bronx Blocks
I decided not to root...Jelly bean is running great on my Gnex and I found a way how to use Verizon's hotspot feature without paying
 

Jutt

All Star
Joined
Apr 30, 2012
Messages
6,482
Reputation
790
Daps
8,500
Reppin
Boston
I always root..i like having custom ROMs, custom kernels etc
 

TruStyle

All Star
Joined
May 15, 2012
Messages
2,975
Reputation
-290
Daps
7,963
I remember reading the courts ruled it illegal for the carriers to charge you extra to use your phone as a hotspot. You should be able to do it now right out of the box. I know I tried it when I read the article and it worked.:ahh:
 

Panther

Byrdgang
Supporter
Joined
May 1, 2012
Messages
20,177
Reputation
3,435
Daps
38,067
Reppin
ByrdGang
Never experienced a virus

Isnt it pretty difficult to brick a phone these days?

And if you need to take your phone back just unroot it :yeshrug:
 

Mr. Somebody

Friend Of A Friend
Joined
May 10, 2012
Messages
28,262
Reputation
2,041
Daps
43,611
Reppin
Los Angeles
I remember reading the courts ruled it illegal for the carriers to charge you extra to use your phone as a hotspot. You should be able to do it now right out of the box. I know I tried it when I read the article and it worked.:ahh:

When was this ruling. I tried last week and it prompted me to tmobiles website to upgrade my plan. Im really going to have to root this phone that costs as much as a desktop. No tethering? Disgusting, friends. These companies are so greedy.
 

TruStyle

All Star
Joined
May 15, 2012
Messages
2,975
Reputation
-290
Daps
7,963
When was this ruling. I tried last week and it prompted me to tmobiles website to upgrade my plan. Im really going to have to root this phone that costs as much as a desktop. No tethering? Disgusting, friends. These companies are so greedy.

My bad. The FCC made the ruling and it may be just Verizon

Tom's Hardware US
 
Top