People into rooting and modding should check out these Android phones

Rooting isn't as popular as it used to be, but there's still a vibrant community of modders involved in launching new ROMs. If you're just getting started or are looking to delve back into the world of modding, the OnePlus 8T is our favorite pick. We've included other top-notch options as well, so you have the best phones for rooting and modding to choose from.

Tinker away

OnePlus 8T Android Smartphone

Staff Pick

The OnePlus 8T is a solid choice in 2021. You get excellent hardware, a flat 120Hz AMOLED display, 65W fast-charging, and reliable cameras. The phone is the ideal canvas for rooting and modding, and OnePlus makes it as straightforward as possible to unlock the bootloader and install custom ROMs.

$590 at Amazon $600 at OnePlus

The 5G option

OnePlus 9 Android Smartphone

If you're looking for a more recent option, the OnePlus 9 is a great choice as well. The phone has outstanding cameras thanks to the new Hasselblad partnership, and you get the latest internal hardware along with a gorgeous new design, 65W fast charging, and 15W Qi wireless charging.

$729 at Amazon $729 at Best Buy $729 at OnePlus

The Budget pick

POCO X3 NFC Android Smartphone

Want to test out what the Android modding world has to offer on a budget? There's no better device than the POCO X3. The phone offers standout value, featuring a large 120Hz LCD panel, insane battery life, reliable hardware, and an easily unlockable bootloader.

$278 at Amazon

Pixel for less

Google Pixel 4a Android Smartphone

With the Pixel 4a, Google is bringing flagship-tier cameras to a much more affordable price point. The phone combines decent hardware with an outstanding 12.2MP camera at the back and the promise of three Android updates. Google also makes it very straightforward to unlock the bootloader and install custom ROMs.

$350 at Amazon $350 at Best Buy

The flagship choice

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Android Smartphone

Samsung has a very active modding community, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra is a great phone to test custom ROMs. The phone is packed with the latest hardware, has much better cameras than last year, and is currently one of the most feature-packed phones you'll find on Android.

$1,200 at Amazon $1,200 at Best Buy

These are the best Android phones for rooting

The best Android phones already offer an exhaustive array of features out of the box. Still, with the likes of One UI, MIUI, ColorOS, and even OxygenOS offering a skinned interface, you don't get a vanilla Android look anymore. Rooting your phone gives you the ability to do just that, and you get to install frameworks like Xposed — which allows you way more customization options than on a normal phone. The OnePlus 8T is still the best overall option if you want to try custom ROMs, with OnePlus making it as easy as possible to mod its devices.

There is a wide selection of ROMs available for the device, and should you break anything, you won't lose out on the warranty. The hardware on offer with the OnePlus 8T gives you a lot of overhead for installing customized modules, and the active community means you'll quickly find information should you run into any issues.

If you are looking to save some cash, the POCO X3 is a great alternative. It's easy to unlock, and there's a healthy modding community for Xiaomi devices that makes it a great choice.