These are my notes from trying to renovate a Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 (SM-G7102) with a newer Android ROM and more freedom to customise the device.
Device and tools
- Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 SM-G7102
- 1.5 GB RAM and 8 GB storage
- Samsung Android 4.4.2 TouchWiz ROM
- A Windows computer and data cable
- Odin, CWM or TWRP, and the required ROM files
ROMs tested
CyanogenMod 12
Android 5 looked good and generally worked, but switching between applications could become very slow. The camera worked, although panorama did not.
CyanogenMod 13
Wi-Fi, the camera, and applications appeared to work, but the SIM card was not detected. That made it unsuitable as a daily phone.
GenNext (Note 4 port)
The SIM card worked and the interface looked good, but Wi-Fi could not be enabled.
Resurrection Remix
Wi-Fi and the SIM worked, but important applications such as the Play Store and Messenger crashed frequently.
Returning to the stock ROM
After testing the alternatives, I returned to the rooted stock ROM. It did not provide a dramatic visual change, but all hardware and software worked reliably and performance was acceptable.
- Download and extract the correct stock ROM for the device.
- Install the necessary Samsung USB drivers and open Odin.
- Boot the phone into download mode with Volume Down, Home, and Power.
- Connect the phone and select the ROM file using Odin's AP/PDA control.
- Keep only Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time enabled, then start the flash.
- Wait for Odin to report a successful pass before disconnecting the device.
Flashing firmware can erase data or make a device unusable. Verify every file against the exact model and keep a backup before proceeding.
Recovery installation
I first installed TWRP with Odin, then used it to install CWM. When installing a custom recovery, disable automatic reboot and boot directly into recovery after flashing; otherwise Android may restore the stock recovery.
The experiment reinforced a useful lesson: the newest or most customisable system is not always the best daily system. Reliability, working hardware, and predictable performance matter more than novelty.