It’s 2025, and if you thought your Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge was done and dusted—think again. These iconic devices just got a massive revival, and it’s all thanks to the incredible work of developer @Eylemu. With his latest custom ROM based on Evolution X v11, these nearly decade-old phones can now run Android 16 like it’s nothing.
Yeah, let that sink in. A phone released back in 2016 is now running the latest Android version, with fresh features, modern customization, and even the July 2025 security patch. It’s moments like these that really show how alive and passionate the Android community still is.
A Fresh Pixel-Like Experience But With Power to Tweak
From the moment you boot it up, Evolution X v11 feels clean, snappy, and refreshingly modern. It borrows a lot from Google’s Pixel aesthetic, so you’re met with that minimal, elegant interface Android fans love. But the real treat? It doesn’t stop there.
This ROM gives you the power to customize your phone on a whole new level. Want to change the look of your quick settings, lockscreen layout, or tweak the status bar just how you like it? It’s all possible. Despite the S7’s age, everything feels surprisingly smooth. It’s not just a ROM it feels like your device has been reborn.
There Are a Few Hiccups… But Nothing Major
Let’s be real. No custom ROM is 100% perfect, especially when we’re pushing modern software onto hardware from nearly ten years ago. There are a couple of bugs to keep in mind. The brightness slider doesn’t work quite right, and adaptive brightness is missing. But here’s the good news these issues already have a hotfix floating around, so it’s more of a temporary inconvenience than a dealbreaker.
And really, when you’re getting Android 16 on a phone Samsung stopped updating years ago, it’s hard to complain.
Is It Worth Flashing?
That’s the big question. And honestly? If you’re still hanging onto your Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge, or maybe just have one lying around as a backup phone, this ROM is totally worth it. Evolution X v11 doesn’t just give your device a modern makeover it makes it feel like it still belongs in 2025. It’s stable (aside from those small bugs), surprisingly responsive, and most importantly, it’s secure.
It’s kind of wild seeing a 2016 phone run Android 16 with a July 2025 patch. That’s the magic of custom ROMs and the kind of passion developers like @Eylemu bring to the community.
Just remember, custom ROMs do come with a bit of risk. You’ll need to unlock your bootloader, flash carefully, and maybe troubleshoot a little. But if you’re up for the adventure, the reward is a completely revitalized device you’ll actually enjoy using again.
A Thank You to the Modding Community
It’s easy to forget how long these phones have been around. And yet here they are, defying expectations in the best possible way. Big shoutout to @Eylemu for keeping the Galaxy S7 series relevant, and to every dev who refuses to let good hardware go to waste.
The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge may be old but they’re far from obsolete.