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The Android platform has garnered immense popularity in the developer community due to its open-source fashion. You can quickly develop Android apps and themes to customize phones exactly how you want them. For extreme customization, you can install custom ROMs.
Odexed and Deodexed are two types of Android ROMs that can be installed to change the outlook of your device. They provide similar benefits to users; however, their modus operandi to deliver these benefits is different. This article will cover everything you need to know about Odexed and Deodexed ROMs for Android.
What are Odexed ROMs?
Optimized Dalvik Executable File (ODEXed) ROMs are Android firmware designed to load up applications quickly. The stock firmware Android comes out of the box and follows the ODEX format.
Odexed ROMs extract and save app data in a .odex file they turn to whenever they use an application. The data contained in this file is a pre-compiled bytecode. Therefore, the system does not have to compile each time an application is launched. As a result, apps skip compile-time and launch quickly. However, you get less customizability with apps due to the same reason.
If you open the /system/app folder on your Android device, you will notice your apps are split into .APK and .ODEX. These are two halves of the apps that a system uses to run them. With Odexed ROMs, the APK file is free from the load as .ODEX files load up all data for a quick launch.
What are Deodexed ROMs?
Deodexed ROMs are Android firmware designed to focus on providing customizability to the user. These differ from the stock Android firmware, following a different coding type.
To save app data, Deodexed ROMs combine .APK and .ODEX files into one and save them as classes.dex. The data contains all the required data to launch and run the entire app. Therefore, ROMs that follow this format take more compile time as they must run the code thoroughly.
Users of Deodexed ROMs can customize and hack into apps entirely as they get to alter app bytecodes completely. These customizations could be anything from theme changes and custom fonts.
Odexed vs. Deodexed ROMs
Several factors can differentiate Odexed and Deodexed ROMs. Here are a few of them:
1. Customizability
Stock Android OS follows the Odexed ROM format, separating app data in .APK and .odex files. As the data is separate, the customization options are limited as the focus is primarily on speeding up app loading times. You can still make certain adjustments with ROMs that follow the Odexed structure; however, extreme changes like changing the app layout are not something you can expect here.
With Deodexed ROMs, the app data is completely packaged into one file. Therefore, the focus is entirely on customizability, allowing users to change how apps look on their devices completely.
2. Loading times
Odexed ROMs are optimized to ensure apps run seamlessly. As this format separates apps into .APK and .odex, apps can skip the compiling phase and launch immediately. On the other hand, Deodexed ROMs need to compile apps each time. With larger apps, the difference in loading times is noticeable.
3. Performance
Odexed ROMs follow the conventional Android format that it comes with out of the box. Therefore, it offers the most stable performance experience. Apps are loaded quickly, and switching between them is seamless.
As Deodexed ROMs focus on customization, users might likely mess up with code, resulting in performance issues. Apps in this firmware also take longer to load, resulting in more RAM usage and decreased performance levels. However, it can perform better if used rightly.
4. Battery life
Odexed ROMs are typically better for battery life as they load apps faster. They are also conventionally built for stock Android, offering better compatibility with devices out of the box. However, if a Deodexed ROM is coded and used correctly, it can provide a better battery backup.
5. App handling (storage)
We have discussed how Odexed and Deodexed ROMs run codes differently, affecting customization and loading times. But they also handle apps differently regarding storage, as one contains a single file while the other includes two. With Deodexed ROMs, you can delete app data quickly.
This video will further clarify the differences between the two:
How to choose between Odexed and Deodexed ROMs?
Odexed and Deodexed ROMs provide different functionality. Both of them outclass the other in one area or another. Additionally, it can vary how well a particular ROM is built, devoid of which format it follows.
Choosing between these ROM formats boils down to personal preference. It doesn’t get better than Deodexed firmware if you want customization. If loading times and performance are the priority, go for Odexed ROMs. In either case, double-check the credibility and stability of the ROM before installing them to get the best experience.
Conclusion
Getting into the custom ROM business is like being in a candy store. It is hard to choose one as each offers a different experience. Thankfully, there are many ways to simplify things before installing one. One way to distinguish ROMs is by classing them as Odexed and Deodexed.
Odexed is the format followed by stock Android, offering faster app loading times. With Deodexed, the apps load slower, but you get more customization. In the article above, we discussed everything you need to know about the two ROMs.
