These are less common and often unstable, but adventurous users have ported interfaces from Xiaomi or Samsung tablets to run on the M5 Lite hardware. These are generally not recommended for stability.
For minimalists, a pure AOSP GSI offers the raw Android experience without extra customization features. This is often the most stable option for daily drivers.
Before diving into ROMs, it is crucial to understand the hardware fragmentation of the M5 Lite. Huawei released several variants, and Custom ROMs are not universal across them.
Important: Flashing a ROM designed for the 8-inch model on the 10-inch model will result in a hard brick. This guide focuses primarily on the standard 8-inch MediaPad M5 Lite (BAH-L09), which has the most active development. Huawei Mediapad M5 Lite Custom Rom
Because the MediaPad M5 Lite supports Project Treble (out of the box with Android 8), you are not limited to device-specific ROMs. You can flash GSI builds of Android 12, 13, or even 14 (using phhusson's AOSP builds).
Warning: Rooting and flashing your device carries the risk of bricking. Back up all data before proceeding. This process requires an unlocked bootloader.
To quantify the upgrade, here are real-world tests performed on the SHT-W09 (3GB RAM model): These are less common and often unstable, but
| Feature | Stock EMUI 9.1 (Android 9) | LineageOS 18.1 (Android 11) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Boot Time | 45 seconds | 28 seconds | | Geekbench 5 (Single/Multi) | 280 / 940 | 310 / 1050 | | UI Jank (Scrolling in Chrome) | Frequent stutters | Smooth 60fps | | RAM Usage at Idle | 1.8 GB used | 1.2 GB used | | Netflix Resolution | HD (Widevine L1) | SD (Widevine L3) |
Note the Netflix issue: Once you unlock the bootloader, you permanently lose Widevine L1 certification. You cannot stream DRM content in HD. If you watch Netflix/Amazon Prime daily, do not flash a custom ROM.
Android Version: 11 Stability: 8/10
LineageOS is the successor to CyanogenMod and is the most mature option. For the M5 Lite, the unofficial build by recognized developer surdu_petru on XDA Forums is the leader.
After searching XDA-Developers, 4PDA, and Telegram groups: