[Samsung Galaxy S 5 Unified Development] OldButNotObsolete:
LOS 18.1 Clean Install Success

This is entirely as a result of the huge amount of info / tips shared on this site by others, so thanks to them.

I was guided most by "S5 LineageOS Super Clean Install" by @curiousrom. Kudos.

1) Prep.

I have a SM-G900F (klte) and started with TWRP recovery and LOS 16.1.

I used:

TWRP, twrp-3.5.2_9-0-klte

to do:

a wipe of System, Cache, Dalvik / Art Cache.

a FORMAT of Data (and of course Internal Storage).

a manual deletion from External SD of any Android-related folders (overkill maybe?).

then into Download Mode.

2) Flashed Stock.

Noticed the updated Samsung Stock ROM, dated November-2020 (yep, only last year).

Used:

Odin3 v3.14.1

G900FXXU1CTK2_G900FOXA1CTK2_BTU.zip (Stock from Sams Mobile; the name is perhaps confusing)

Which resulted in:

CTK2 BootLoader

CQK3 Modem (Baseband)

Bounced it a couple of times.

Comms were good, including LTE / 4G.

Note: I use a UK Cell provider called Lebara, which runs on the Vodafone network.

3) Flashed LOS 18.1.

Waited a couple of weeks to see how the new builds were received, and opted for the third Build.

Used:

TWRP (as above)

lineage-18.1-20210509-nightly-klte-signed.zip

MindTheGapps-11.0.0-arm-20210412_124103

Success, and a VERY stable build.

No hiccups, no problems, not even any glitches; a really EXCELLENT ROM.

4) Performance & Apps

The phone loses roughly 0.5% battery per hour overnight (which is GREAT), and easily lasts 2 days between charges (for me, and my typical usage).

For Performance I used the:

--> Settings, Accessibility, Remove animations = On

Thanks @curiousrom for your "Remove Animations UI Speedup Test - Taming Google & Apps" post.

I also reviewed:

--> Dev Options, Running Services

But all looked good.

Plus,

--> Dev Options, Apps, Background Check;

and disabled FlipFlap & Exchange Services, as I use neither.

And I must say, it definitely feels quicker / smoother than LOS16.1, which is amazing.

Question) In LOS16.1 I could review apps that "start at boot" & "run in background", but now, apart from the above, I can't see similar detail anywhere. Can anyone point me in the right direction, or is this how it’s now done in LOS18.1?

5) Security / Root

I DO NOT need Magisk.

My UK Pub apps complain about a Custom ROM, but carry on regardless (Spoons & Hungry Horse).

My UK Bank app works a treat (Nationwide).

Netflix likewise (surprisingly)

And even NFC & Google Play work without a hitch!!

6) FYI

a) I found the option to disable SmartCover was not visible until AFTER I had set a Screen Lock Pattern:

--> Settings, Connected Devices (Bluetooth, NFC), Connection Preferences, Smart Cover = Off

b) I too miss the ScreenShot option from the Power button (Single Handed) like others have mentioned, but am getting used to the Power-&-Vol-Down Short-Press and Long-Press combos, or using it thru Task Switcher.

c) Unlike LOS16.1, I have had ZERO problems with the Phone using LTE/4G when out & about, passing thru Dead Zones / 3G-Only Zones, which is brilliant considering I could only use 2G/3G before, because it would fail to re-connect to 4G in LOS16.1 for me.

My Settings are:

--> Settings, Network and Internet, Mobile Network:

Roaming = Off (Don't expect this makes a difference for me).

Preferred Type = GSM/WCDMA/LTE

Auto Select Network = On

The APN settings in LOS18.1 appear to be the same as they were in the new Stock.

Essentially all as-is fresh out of the box; I didn't change a thing and it Works!

I wondered if this was simply down to improvements in LOS 18.1; or perhaps because of the new re-release / re-package of CQK3 Modem (Baseband) that came with the new Stock ROM, all but one of which were TimeStamped 26-Nov-2020 (aligned with the Package Production date perhaps?), except, the 2G modem.bin, which had retained its much older 14-Nov-2017 timestamp of the previous Stock ROM, which doesn't really add-up, as you'd expect them ALL to either:

carry the same (Package Date) TimeStamp for all files, or,

carry their own original dates which differ between the previous Stock ROM, @FitTomes package (Cheers), this new Stock Package.

Weird, but its working better than it ever has, so I'm more than happy!

Note: For me in the UK, the previous Stock ROM was: G900FXXU1CRH1_G900FOXA1CRH1_BTU.zip (Sams Mobile).

Thanks again to everyone's hard work and many contributions.

It IS much appreciated.