Is it worth upgrading from 7.1.1?

[setspeed]

I spent a good few years rooting my Android phones, installing ROMs, etc. Quite a while ago I stopped, due to being pretty happy with the performance of this phone, and lack of time/interest in doing it any more. Consquently my phone is running 7.1.1 and ony has a security patch date of September 2017
I realise this is not a good state of affairs. I'm not a coder or anything like that, and I've forgotten most of what I learned about the specifics of this phone a long time ago. If I want to install a new ROM, it's going to mean a lot of reading to bring myself back up to date.
So, aside from my dire security situation, is there actually anything that is going to make my life better by installing an Android 9 or 10 ROM, over and above 7.1.1? Or is it just window-dressing? I'm looking to keep this phone for a while longer yet, and have just ordered a new battery for it, so I thought a software refresh might also be nice. I just wondered whether anyone wanted to offer an opinion on whether it's worthwhile, given it will involve a lot of work for me since I'm so rusty!

 

[350Rocket]

Why not just upgrade to stock pie and wait for the Android 10 update coming next year. You don't need to root to get more up to date software.

I've decided it's not worth rooting anymore because I want working Google pay, no bugs, etc. There isn't really anything I need root for and the stock oxygen os is perfect in my opinion.

 

[setspeed]

Why not just upgrade to stock pie and wait for the Android 10 update coming next year. You don't need to root to get more up to date software.

I've decided it's not worth rooting anymore because I want working Google pay, no bugs, etc. There isn't really anything I need root for and the stock oxygen os is perfect in my opinion.

Just re-read my initial post and I wasn't clear. My phone is rooted/ROMd already. This is why I'm so far behind with software updates, because I got sick of flashing updates all the time. I have a couple of apps that require root, such as an ad-free Youtube with background play (which I'd really like to keep), and Titanium Backup. Aside from those, my phone doesn't really need to be rooted I guess.

 

[350Rocket]

I pay a monthly fee to have those features on YouTube. I couldn't go without background play anymore. I would almost root just for that.

As far as if it's worth it, security updates are probably a good idea. I don't recall any major things that Android 9 has that 7.1.1 didn't when I first got the phone a couple of years ago.

I have my banking info to worry about though so I stay stock and keep updated (over the air updates the easy way).

 

[daniel_loft]

setspeed, I don't know what ROM you are rocking there but for me, on official, pure Oxygen OS I don't find it at all hard to update:
- I download the ROM, Magisk uninstaller, latest Magisk, latest TWRP (I noticed that some blu spark version works best with decryption).
- boot into TWRP
- flash ROM, magisk uninstaller, Makist, TWRP
- boot into sys and re-download whatever Magisk modules I had installed
OxygenOS is only updated every month or so, this procedure takes 10 - 20 minutes at most, so this is not really too much for me to do.

I cannot pin point you the exact big improvements being introduced since 7.1.1, but you can trace the important ones on Wikipedia.
On another note, not having security updates since September 2017 is like walking in front of the shooting range and expecting not to get shot.

 

[vanzant83]

I spent a good few years rooting my Android phones, installing ROMs, etc. Quite a while ago I stopped, due to being pretty happy with the performance of this phone, and lack of time/interest in doing it any more. Consquently my phone is running 7.1.1 and ony has a security patch date of September 2017
I realise this is not a good state of affairs. I'm not a coder or anything like that, and I've forgotten most of what I learned about the specifics of this phone a long time ago. If I want to install a new ROM, it's going to mean a lot of reading to bring myself back up to date.
So, aside from my dire security situation, is there actually anything that is going to make my life better by installing an Android 9 or 10 ROM, over and above 7.1.1? Or is it just window-dressing? I'm looking to keep this phone for a while longer yet, and have just ordered a new battery for it, so I thought a software refresh might also be nice. I just wondered whether anyone wanted to offer an opinion on whether it's worthwhile, given it will involve a lot of work for me since I'm so rusty!

Man, i'm basically in the same situation and i make a post just today for the same reason. I want to update and unroot. What can i do? i'm at oreo 8.1.0 and os 5.1.1. Maybe is better first lock the bootloader and then make the OTA? but even if all go smooth which i doubt, how can i restore my backup without titanium without the root? is a f...ing mess

 

[daniel_loft]

Just dirty flash the latest Oxygen OS (full zip). Then wipe the cache and you should be good to go. That's basically what I've been doing for quite some time with every update (plus Magisk).

 

[vanzant83]

Just dirty flash the latest Oxygen OS (full zip). Then wipe the cache and you should be good to go. That's basically what I've been doing for quite some time with every update (plus Magisk).

that's probably the worst suggestion i've ever heard. You suggest to dirty flash from nougat/oreo to pie and do it straigh away...maybe even with a twrp 2 years old. Sounds good man..then i good to go..to a store and buy a new phone