Root [Verizon] What ROM should I upgrade to?

[beowulf7]

My VZW SGS4 is still at Android 4.2.2 VRUAMDK that it came with, except I rooted it almost immediately. I'd like to upgrade to a newer Android version to get the latest bug fixes. Ideally, I'd like 4.3 that was recently released; however, I don't want to permanently lose root, which is apparently what's happening with 4.3 What ROM (OS) should I upgrade my phone to? Should I go with the newest 4.2.2 (I believe MI1)? I'd like to keep my phone's OS relatively stock-ish, outside of debloating it. TIA.

 

[wtherrell]

My VZW SGS4 is still at Android 4.2.2 VRUAMDK that it came with, except I rooted it almost immediately. I'd like to upgrade to a newer Android version to get the latest bug fixes. Ideally, I'd like 4.3 that was recently released; however, I don't want to permanently lose root, which is apparently what's happening with 4.3 What ROM (OS) should I upgrade my phone to? Should I go with the newest 4.2.2 (I believe MI1)? I'd like to keep my phone's OS relatively stock-ish, outside of debloating it. TIA.

Not quite 4.3 yet, but will be soon. I have tried many roms on my GS4 but sbreen's Hyperdrive (currently release 10.2) has been the most satisfactory. It is a TW based ROM but with Apex launcher & a few tweaks you can get almost any look you want. Very Stable. There's a good thread over on XDA.

 

[gimpy]

Might also try Nitro's eclipse mj7 rom.

 

[Digital Controller]

I just added a few more ROM's to the S4 list in the Verizon S4 Root guide thread.

Feel free to check them out. If you're a first time rooter I would suggest to go for something simple like CyanogenMod.

 

[beowulf7]

Thanks for the input, everyone. My 4.2.2 MDK is pretty good, but there are a couple bugs that I figure newer stock OS would resolve. I'd like to stay stock-looking. This is the 2nd time I've rooted a phone (the other one being a Droid 3 earlier this year). But I'm still not comfortable on doing anything too extreme or bizarre. I definitely don't want to lose root, which is why I disabled Verizon's auto-update. I'm also wondering if I should wait a bit longer until KitKat comes out for our phone and the folks at XDA make a rooted version of it.

 

[Digital Controller]

Just be familiar with the fact that Knox will be on the new bootloader for kitkat for samsung devices which makes rooting a lot more difficult as well as making your phone apparent that it has been unlocked and the warranty voided.