[T-Mobile Galaxy Note 4 General] shonkin:
In Search of the N7 Rom to End All N7 Roms for our N910T (T-Mobile) Note 4

This file is NO LONGER under constant revision. Last change to TWIZtd rom section... June 27 2017. From now on, new info will be posted as the newest posts. Still some good info here, however...

ODDS and ENDS Before we start....

If you are looking for an N910T datafix (needed sometimes, not always, for N7 roms ported to our phones), look at these two pages for clues. (In fact there are also other models represented here.)

https://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=72388883&postcount=2218

https://xdaforums.com/note-4/general/snapdragon-note4-modem-bootloader-t3273816

And one more thing... I don't always make clear whether or not gapps must be flashed separately from the rom. In these roms' cases, the rule is that *usually* the gapps file is included within the rom file itself. If the rom's direction indicate needing gapps, here:

http://opengapps.org

[*****WARNING****** Updated May 25: A trojan has turned up in the first rom I talked about here, the petbede Norma v17 rom. The devs say they knew it was there and it isn't harmful. I can't chance recommending a rom that virus checkers report as having a virus. It is, say the devs, repairable by deleting the system file involved (which breaks the "nrom" app), but I'm disappointed enough that I'm deleting mention of that rom other than to refer here to my post there offering my test results finding it:

https://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=72430061&postcount=2349

A Proper Introduction (sorta)

I cannot claim any authorative statements re one rom being "boss" of all the others. But in light of the time I've wasted playing with the quickly growing crop of Note 7 roms ported to run on our lowly phones (it wasn't a waste because I had fun, actually) here's one man's suggested starting place.

A few issues to get out of the way right away. One of my prime criteria for a "good" rom is one that is easily installed. And right away, this looms large.

The N7 ported roms, after all, require up to five moving parts to work:

* The rom

* The kernel (often the rom's own kernel will not work on our phones, and requires a replacement)

* The gapps (some roms, usually those installed with Aroma Installer, have them internally included, but many do not)

* A datafix (often a rom says it will seamlessly connect our t-mobile phone to the latter provider, but doesn't. A datafix file purports to enable the connection even if the rom fails to make the data connection initially).

* SuperSU (or alternative Magisk -- one or even both of these handle rooting privleges)

Next is the issue of what *order* to flash these files in. Argh. I *think* I have the order correct in my listing here... but - heh - no guarantees. I've encountered issues between a datafix file and the SuperSU file.

Now, are all these files going to play nice with your phone or / and one another?

I'll cut to the chase. My theory here, and it is simple, says that (providing the rom is designed to run on our phone) the fewer files we have to flash the better off the outcome is likely to be.

*THE ROMS*

In no particular order, then...

Let's start off easy with a Note 4 rom - that is, based on the Note 4 Marshmallow Android rom but with Galaxy 8 apps and Touchwiz and launcher. Ramrom v10 takes a few tweaks initially to get right, but is solid as rock once installed. I'd earlier given Ramrom a lackluster review, but after studying this whole galaxy (ha, did you catch that?) of Note 4 roms, went back to try again. [MENTION=5229173]Ram121[/MENTION] is the guy behind it, and he is also behind the RamKernel, preferred by many people using our phone (the last three kernels - RC1, RC2, RC3 - he's done work well in the N910T).

Installing Ramrom required me to flash it -- gapps included within the rom -- and then flash (in this order) the Ramrom RC3 kernel, a datafix for the N910T phone, and reflash supersu (root), even though that last file is installed initially by the rom. But once that was done, I was "in like Flint." And as I say, a rock solid, and slightly more conservative, way to start your adventure in N7/N8/S8 roms. I'm linking both rom and kernels by [MENTION=5229173]Ram121[/MENTION] because even if you don't want the rom, you may well want one of his kernels. A few of the above roms, in fact, are already running a ramkernel:

Ramrom: https://xdaforums.com/note-4/snapdragon-dev/ramromn7-note-7-port-t3535214

RamKernel: https://xdaforums.com/note-4/orig-development/kernel-ramkernel-t3472138

ApocalypseX_MM

Initially, this rom was more of an also-ran. But with Version 6 (beta) it has become -- along with Race Rom -- my go-to. Single file install includes all necessary elements - rom, datafix, gapps, supersu (root) - all (via TWRP and Aroma) installing flawlessly on my N910T phone. Two additional optional files: a Mod file installs Control_X - which unlike nrom that I never really cared for - provides some excellent eye candy and beyond that additional app installs of Adaway, Root Filefolder, and the like. The second file, Ayra Sound, provides sound enhancements which are stunning even through the phone's speaker.

Again Apolcalypse_X installed *perfectly* on my N910T phone (no screen lock issues as w/ v.4 or some new Norma v18 roms). You can wait for v6 "official" but if like me you want to try the beta (which has been very stable for me):

https://xdaforums.com/note-4/snapdragon-dev/6-0-1-apocalypsexmrom-t3608314

[MENTION=6547189]ILocDogI[/MENTION] 's RaceRom.

This rom comes in various flavors now. First, The S7 port been very recently updated to its latest version (v11), and is a very nice, smooth rom for our N910T phone, clean and fast. One of my favorite things about it is tiny; I love having the six icons across the bottom of the screen instead of the normal five. But more seriously, I'd consider it both a daily "use this" rom and a go-to rom to back up onto your ext sd card after install (via TWRP's backup/restore features). That way, you can experiment with the other roms then restore good ol' Race Rom just how it was before you wiped and reinstalled Uncle Wiggly's Wowzer Rom (and had it totally hang your phone--and no, there is no such rom). A variant offered by RaceRom is multi-language... I've not tried that as I don't need it, but if someone else has and wants to opine, please do.

RaceRom also has a Note 4 stock-based version, and it is the *only* version with both S8 apps and also complete Samsung backup that works. I am very impressed with it, esp. if one wants wifi calling (not available on the N7 ported roms). One problem, oddly, was the camera, which seemed completely non-functional on my phone. I am going to reflash this rom later on and try the N7 ported camera with it.

Both versions of RaceRom offer a very solid experience once it is up and running, and it does install gapps and SuperSU from the single file for whichever rom you choose. *Important* - you *will* have to flash a datafix with this rom if you are using a phone other than the N910F, its default. This means one extra download for us N910T users, or likely the users of any other Note 4 phone apart from the N910F.

https://xdaforums.com/note-4/snapdragon-dev/rom-30-03-2017-raceromn7-portn7-s8-apps-t3581199

TWIZtd

TWIZtd Rom - specifically for our t-mobile N910T - is also in the top three roms for me. But as of late, there isn't just one TWIZtd rom, but a growing number of 'em. One of the most unique is one based, instead of on the N7/S8, the Note 4 standard rom but with tons of N7 app tweaks. Why would we go that route, though? Perhaps because we want our wifi calling back... which does not exist on the N7 roms. And as far as stability goes... well, this one is rock solid. If you can do without wifi calling, the N7 version is also outstanding.

Installation is ultra-simple - at least it was for me. As J. R. R. Tolkien didn't quite write, "One file for quick install, One file to find them; One rom to bring them all and in my Note 4 bind them." Yeah, that's not quite right. But the rom is.

https://xdaforums.com/note-4-tmobil...note-4-nov-t3498755/post72255387#post72255387

Murayoshi (Various N7 roms)

[MENTION=5024465]murayoshi[/MENTION] calls himself more a translator than developer (and frankly, a number of folks providing these Chinese-based ports are in the same category). Nonetheless, he works specifically with our T-mobile N910T model and has translated and tweaked a number of roms. Right now, I'm playing with the A700 rom, which is one of his newest. Bleeding edge stuff maybe, but like I said, it's fun. I really like the rom's smoothness and quickness... maybe one of the quickest. But it is too early for me to tell whether or not it is stable. Install was easy - it needed only the rom, gapps (I used opengapps, pico), and a kernel (I go with ramrom RC2 which seems flawless w/ the N910T). It recognized data without issue and wireless quickly. Will report back if it becomes my daily rom (I've *still* not settled on that one "perfect" rom). Update 5/29 - he's added a translated version of Norma v18 to his rom list; haven't tried it yet:

https://xdaforums.com/note-4-tmobile/development/rom-aurora-note7-port-t3601109

Dr. Ketan

Dr. Ketan rom is a few months older than some of the others, but also has had a tremendous amount of traffic. While it is hard to find the download link (one that works, anyway), once one does find it there is also plenty of help for those with various models of the Note 4. The N910T (Tmobile) phone requires 2 extra files for the rom to function correctly, one (a Dr. Ketan datafix file) flashed right after one flashes the rom itself (and before rebooting), the other an after-rom-installs fix for the messages app which is broken initially. I can say that so far, Dr. Ketan is mighty impressive. And if one wants some additional bang for the buck, a pro version is available per instructions on the rom page:

https://xdaforums.com/note-4/snapdragon-dev/n910g-dr-ketan-custom-rom-t2928568

Fails (so far):

So, , I could list all of 'em I've tried. BlackDog, for instance, completely failed on my phone. Even after I flashed various files in various orders to try and get it to come up. I *really* worked this rom... but... Nope. Maybe you'll have better outcomes:

https://xdaforums.com/note-4/snapdragon-dev/rom-black-dog-910f-n7-port-6-0-1-bpj4-t3593089

This is not short. But not as long as it may get to be, this overview from one man's very existential, non-statistical, viewpoint.

Maybe it will offer a few clues.

Blessings.

Hit "thanks" if useful...