The Galaxy S4 is a very powerful smartphone with lots of features and amazing specs. However, when it comes to performance with the stock TouchWiz, the device falls short. If you are not happy with the way your phone performs or you do not like the look and feel of its user interface or are irritated to see the bloat apps in its app drawer, going for a custom ROM might prove a wise decision.
Custom ROMs are developed from user’s point of view and aim at giving you the best possible performance and better battery-life out of you your Android device. If you are new to Android or are busy enough not to spend time on searching for good ROMs or you are just confused about which one to go with, we are here to help you with that.
Before we list some of the best custom ROMs, let us clarify it first that our selection of best custom ROMs for AT&T Galaxy S4 SGH-I337 and Canadian SGH-I337M is based on the following standards:
- Speed and Performance
- Stability
- Features offered by the ROM
- Battery-life
- A balance between stock TW and AOSP based ROMs
Another thing that is worth mentioning here is that the ROMs have been listed in no particular order. That is to say, the ROM listed at number 1 position is not necessarily the best of all.
Disclaimer:
Please note that we are not the developers of any of the ROMs. We have just tried to put together some really good choices for your AT&T Galaxy S4 SGH-I337. Since these ROMs are meant only for the AT&T variant of Galaxy S4, you must not try it on any other device. Flashing custom ROMs and getting involved in similar activities are considered risky and neither the developers, nor we take any responsibility if you get into a mess. However, we’ll always be here to provide any kind of support we are capable of.
Similar Articles:
Best Custom ROMs for Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9500
Best Custom ROMs for Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE GT-I9505
Best Custom ROMs For Verizon Galaxy S4 SCH-I545
Best Custom ROMs for T-Mobile Galaxy S4 SGH-M919
Having done with the introduction and formalities, let’s get started.
1. GoldenEye
Developer: iB4STiD
ROM Review:
GoledenEye is a Samsung TouchWiz based ROM that offers all the stock features you enjoy on your phone. The ROM is compatible with both, the US (I337) and Canadian (I337M) version of AT&T S4. It is based on the latest Android 4.2.2 XXUBMH1 firmware for GT-I9505 and therefore it has features like the Apps to SD, semi-transparent status bar, improved camera picture quality. As seen on most custom ROMs, GoldenEye has extended reboot menu and supports APN editing. To give you a cleaner app drawer that is devoid of superfluous apps, most bloat apps have been removed, and thus you get more free RAM on your device. Besides, the ROM features various mods and performance tweaks to have better stability and speed.
If you would like to stick with the stock ROM so that you can enjoy all default features with better performance and battery backup, GoldenEye might be a good ROM worth giving a shot.
Download:
Special Notes:
For AT&T US S4:
Before installing GoldenEye on your AT&T Galaxy S4 (GT-I337/M), make sure that your phone has UCUAMDL as baseband. You can check this from Settings> More> About. In case it is different, install the following firmware file using ODIN first:
SGH-I337-ATT-I337UCUAMDL-1367050591.zip
For Canadian S4:
Download and install the ROM using CWM or TWRP and if you get WiFi connectivity issue, download the following WiFi Fix mod and install it via recovery.
How to Install:
If are never installed a custom ROM on your S4, read this installation tutorial.
2. KangaBean
Developer: iB4STiD
ROM Review:
TouchWiz being terrible in user experience, many Galaxy users turn to so AOSP based ROM for better performance. The flavor of stock Android really tastes well! If you want to enjoy it on your AT&T Galaxy S4, what could be better than the original Android 4.3 ROM from the Google Edition Galaxy S4? Less bloats, less weight and clean Holo UI, and speedy experience combine together to give you overwhelming experience when they are supported by the whopping specification of our S4.
KangaBean is based on the Google Edition Android 4.3 ROM and thus it lets you enjoy the latest Android on your S4. As some extra pudding on the top, the ROM also comes pre-injected with various system mods and tweaks.
Download and install the ROM zip file and then flash one of the Faux Kernels from below depending on your device model.
How to Install:
Read this installation tutorial.
3. Infamous S4™ ROM
Developer: Jamison904
ROM Review:
Infamous S4™ might not be a very famous ROM, yet it is a deserving candidate to be included in an article like this. Again, here is a TouchWiz based ROM that has a highly tweaked kernel for amazing performance. The ROM features a host of mods and optimizations. Infamous S4™ is powered by 3Minit framework and thus it pack unlimited options to theme and play with internal System UI settings of your device. However, to be able to get those customization options, you will have to install the 3Minit Settings S4 app from the Play Store.
Its performance is marked by proficiency and stability. Tweaks like turbo six-sigma like tweaks are very dexterous and intuitive as it shows all the ongoing system activities with transparency. Ad for battery-life, Infamous S4™ is probably the best ROM for the Galaxy S4 SGH-I337 and Canadian SGH-I337M.
4. Carbon ROM
Developer: Team Carbon
ROM Review:
If I have to choose just one AOSP ROM out of all custom ROMs available for the Galaxy S4, Carbon will definitely be my first choice. This ROM combines various open source features from other ROMs and yet successfully asserts its uniqueness. It is loaded with candies like PIE, Halo notifications, AOKP Ribbons and theme support. What I like most about Carbon is the extensive options for customization. The ROM’s performance is lightning fast and it is battery-friendly too. To read our detailed review of the Carbon ROM, read this article.
Here are some of the salient features of the ROM:
- Comprehensive speed enhancements and CPU-specific optimizations
- Carousel lockscreen
- Customizable lockscreen buttons and sliders
- Customizable hardware and software keys
- Transparent Navbar and status bar
- Navbar ring can be customized
- Navbar arrow keys
- Navigation bar widgets
- Quick settings panel customization support
- Statusbar mods including center clock and color
- LCD Density
- Theme engine
- Volume rocker music controls
How to Install:
Read detailed instructions here.
5. HyperDrive ROM
Developer: Sbreen94
HyperDrive is a very nice custom ROM for the AT&T Galaxy S4. It brings the Galaxy Note 3 user interface to the S4 and is known for system tweaks, optimization and fast performance. With this ROM installed on your phone, you can expect a decent battery life. Here are some of the striking features of HyperDrive:
- Kernel: Talexop 4.3 v1.3 Stock Kernel
- Custom AROMA Installer 2.70RC2
- Runs on Verizon, ATT and T-Mobile Galaxy S4
- Deodexed & Zipaligned
- Memory Optimizations
- Enabled All Languages
- Hyperdrive Tweak
- Hyperdrive HUB
- HyperdriveOTA
- Custom Wallpaper Picker
- Custom Remapped Settings Layout
- 10 way Toggleable Power Menu
- Choice of Stock or HypeRed or HyperBlue Theme
- 26 Total Extended Quick Notification Toggles
- Floating Multiwindow & 4 Way Multiwindow
- Unlocked Tethering Provisions
- Removed Debugging code (.line) for better performance
- Supercharged & Patched services.jar- No launcher redraw
- Many others…
Downloads:
Hyperdrive RLS12 S4 Final.zip [mirror link]
Install the compatibility pack after installing the ROM.
Not one of the mentioned roms are available.
I was running SHOstock3 with Jeboo kernel on my S2 after doing a crap ton of research pointing to that being the best kernel/ROM combo for that phone (I know best is subjective, but basically streamlined, stable, etc.) I had bought the phone used and I think it had problems from the beginning, but I also had problems that I believe were ROM specific. I would always get error message “Unfortunately the clock has stopped running” and occasionally “Unfortunately Google search has stopped working.” In cases with the latter, it would then immediately go into Google search, so Idk what was up with that. I would also constantly get the error message “insufficient storage available” whenever I would update apps (this issue seems to be inherent with Samsung Galaxy. I did find a workaround, but it was still a pain in the arse.) Anyway, I’m going to be upgrading to the SGS4 and will mos def be installing a custom ROM (mainly because I want to get rid of the bloatware, but also because I know that that is the best way to get a stripped down, streamlined version of the Android OS, which is the foundation on which I want to build my smart phone ecosystem.) A smart phone should be a tool to improve one’s life, not a shackle on a wall in a prison. I’m hoping the S4 running Pierce Brosnan will be more of the former…
I just downloaded GoldenEye that is one nice smooth rom on S4 I337M Canada no junk on it very fast will post later as to Bat life congrats to the DEV I like it short on APPS but good.
Al.
That’s really a good ROM and that’s why probably it comes first in our list of best ROMs. 🙂
Just wish it had a few more apps not cluttered but a few more
EmmanuelLopez1 Did you install this file: http://www.mediafire.com/download/76tzgjy11t0chxz/ATT+Hyperdrive+Compatability+Pack+4.3+RLS12.zip
I found a video on YouTube and followed the instructions on how to install the hyperdrive ROM using safestrap. Everything goes good, but at the end of the install it’s having trouble finding an aroma kernel or something? I don’t understand.
EmmanuelLopez1 copy the ROM zip file to phone, Install the SafeStrap, open it, use the install option, navigate to the ROM file and install it.
Will the hyperdrive ROM work on the at&t galaxy s4 on mk2 baseband? If so, how do I install it.
Hi, I am using Unlocked version of SGH-I337 outside USA. Please recommend which is the best ROM for me.
Also, in my home country, 4G-LTE Frequency is 2.3GHz (Band 40), is it possible to tweak the kernel parameters to make use of 4G-LTE.
Just out of curiosity, are you currently running a custom ROM or stock? I had an S2 and ran stock for awhile, but then switched to custom ROM. When I was on stock Android and I was using data, an icon appeared showing I was utilizing the 4G network (I’m in the US, but I’m with a company that is a reseller for ATT, so the phone uses that network.) When I installed the custom ROM (SHOstock3 with Jeboo kernel) I would get H+ when I used data. I found out from a girl in the Philippines that H+ is basically somewhere between 3G and 4G, but I didn’t get any more info than that.
How about Wanamlite, by far it’s the best for battery life of any custom roms. It give you some rom control and keeps the UI and start up screens nearly completely stock, it’s one of the most solid roms I have used on this device or any other device I have had in the past. Also in my experience, while I hate touch wiz it almost always has better battery life then any of the aosp roms I don’t know why?
At the time of writing/updating the post, WanamLite was not available for I337. I agree with the you on the battery performance of TW.
You should also mention Sho Stock and Clean Rom Based on the latest At&T version available MF3. Very stable and have the white dialer which i like better than the original grey
I’ll do it for sure. 🙂