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Galaxy S6 Firmware

Hey all, i am thinking of buying a note 4 and in my country they sell both variants the F and the C, I dont care much about custom aosp roms and i would like to ask, the S6 firmware when it comes on what variant it can be ported more easily? If not the whole rom then maybe most of the features?
Thanks

Up!

jasonak0s said:
Up!
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It's possible but I wouldn't expect to see it for some time. First we need the device. Also the Source for said device/kernel. Also the source for your device your porting to. Then there has to be a developer; with both devices, has time to develop, willing to share it, has not left XDA, and is willing to support and fix any problems. Basically flip a coin. Guess heads or tails. That's your answer.

There is a posibility that we'll get the new touchwiz UI in a later update..5.1 maybe.

That is why i am asking, to me as i understand N910C is the more powerful CPU, i don't play many games so for me its my first choice, but in terms of support we all know that the exynos doesn't have any sources, so i am asking if and when the S6 comes, will i get the ported touchwiz hypotheticaly or the snapdragon version is easier way to be ported?

i9505 vs i9506 - Which one should I buy?

Hello!
I am about to buy a Samsung Galaxy S4, but I have 2 options. For 190€ a normal i9505 (Black Mist) and 215€ for a black edition i9506 (the leather one).
They are both 16GB version so the only difference between them is the model no. and obviously the processor.
Considering the price difference and the hardware, I would buy the i9506 without a doubt! But... there's XDA and development...
I'm not here for that long to be able to tell if the i9506 gets about the same love as the i9505... Performance wise, how they compare to each other?
I want to be able to unlock the bootloader, install recovery, be a flashaholic like I am with my current Galaxy Nexus. I don't need to have like thousands of roms avaiable but I wanted at least the major ones (like CM, Omni, AOSP) to be avaiable and work without a problem. Do I still have that in the i9506? I'm seriously needing help with this, which one should I buy considering this community and kernel+rom avaiability?

diogofd8 said:
Hello!
I am about to buy a Samsung Galaxy S4, but I have 2 options. For 190€ a normal i9505 (Black Mist) and 215€ for a black edition i9506 (the leather one).
They are both 16GB version so the only difference between them is the model no. and obviously the processor.
Considering the price difference and the hardware, I would buy the i9506 without a doubt! But... there's XDA and development...
I'm not here for that long to be able to tell if the i9506 gets about the same love as the i9505... Performance wise, how they compare to each other?
I want to be able to unlock the bootloader, install recovery, be a flashaholic like I am with my current Galaxy Nexus. I don't need to have like thousands of roms avaiable but I wanted at least the major ones (like CM, Omni, AOSP) to be avaiable and work without a problem. Do I still have that in the i9506? I'm seriously needing help with this, which one should I buy considering this community and kernel+rom avaiability?
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Click to collapse
I also had to face this decision. I eventually chose for the 9506 version. On one side because of the major speed difference. But that's something you already know.
It's true that the 9505 version has more support and more roms available. It will probably last longer in terms of "custom support". But the 9506 doesn't fall behind in these terms. It has less roms, but there still are a few good ones. Also lot of new rom threads are opening, who knows where they will be in a few months. The support of the 9506 is at least better then a few other flagships released than and now.
Besides, if you purely like customization and already have an optimized rom, xposed will give you a lot and only needs root (which will always be there).
For me the choice was easy.

Where to pre-order 820?

I want to pre-order the new S7 Edge but im from europe and I want the SD820 chip. Mostly because of it's easier to mod so developers will give more love to that.
Does anyone know where I can do this?

Makes no sense at all. If a phone ever cried out for non-stock to be avoided, it's this. You will lose all Samsung features like Edge and the camera features and quality will be s**t in comparison. If you're bothered about running AOSP or CM this isn't the phone for you regardless of what chip set it has in it.

Beefheart said:
Makes no sense at all. If a phone ever cried out for non-stock to be avoided, it's this. You will lose all Samsung features like Edge and the camera features and quality will be s**t in comparison. If you're bothered about running AOSP or CM this isn't the phone for you regardless of what chip set it has in it.
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Not completely true. To be fair he just said modding. Not flashing Stock (AOSP) ROMs, Kernels, etc...
An "clean" TW ROM is always welcomed and usually the best of both worlds.

Except clean stock doesn't require an open source chip set. It's just as easy to debloat stock on Exynos as it is on Snapdragon.

Beefheart said:
Except clean stock doesn't require an open source chip set. It's just as easy to debloat stock on Exynos as it is on Snapdragon.
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Eh... Got me there.

Beefheart said:
Makes no sense at all. If a phone ever cried out for non-stock to be avoided, it's this. You will lose all Samsung features like Edge and the camera features and quality will be s**t in comparison. If you're bothered about running AOSP or CM this isn't the phone for you regardless of what chip set it has in it.
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I agree with you - for me I wouldn't spend a ton of money on a phone only to lose many of the special features - but at the end of the day, it's his call what he does with his phone - and if he prefers running a clean AOSP rom or even just modded touch wiz, it;s his call - regardless - it probably won't be easy for him to find an unlocked snapdragon model - at least not early on - maybe after it's been out for a while...

I believe the Verizon version would be the best one to get to support most of the spectrum around the world, but Verizon will lock that bootloader. I bought the T-Mobile version outright and will probably get mine unlocked a couple days after I get it(paid outright and meet requirements)
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

If anyone has an answer to the OP's question I am curious also

After the 810 I dont want a snapdragon ever again. Glad my country is getting the 8890.

At echoe they already said they will develop for thz exynos variant cuz most part of their theam is from europe so thats asewome! [emoji3]
Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-N920C met Tapatalk

@Beefheart Just to clarify:
With regards to the S7 Edge, its best to leave it untouched with regards to custom roms & kernels otherwise "Edge" features will be lost ?

SlyUK said:
@Beefheart Just to clarify:
With regards to the S7 Edge, its best to leave it untouched with regards to custom roms & kernels otherwise "Edge" features will be lost ?
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Yes. The edge features, as far as I'm aware, require Samsung libraries, which are closed source and can't be used outside of stock Touchwiz roms. It's for the same reason S-Pen features in non-stock roms on the Note series of devices can't be used and require third party software (SPenCommand for example).

Beefheart said:
Yes. The edge features, as far as I'm aware, require Samsung libraries, which are closed source and can't be used outside of stock Touchwiz roms. It's for the same reason S-Pen features in non-stock roms on the Note series of devices can't be used and require third party software (SPenCommand for example).
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Would that be the case also with a custom rom that was based on the Stock rom but was "debloated" ?

mocsab said:
I agree with you - for me I wouldn't spend a ton of money on a phone only to lose many of the special features - but at the end of the day, it's his call what he does with his phone - and if he prefers running a clean AOSP rom or even just modded touch wiz, it;s his call - regardless - it probably won't be easy for him to find an unlocked snapdragon model - at least not early on - maybe after it's been out for a while...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course it's his money and his choice, he can buy an S7 Edge and use it as a paperweight if he wishes to. But this is a forum for discussion, and I'm simply pointing out that, in my opinion with 6 years experience of using and modifying Android devices, it wouldn't make any sense to buy an S7 Edge if he wants to use non-stock roms. It defeats the object of paying the premium on a device like this in the first place.
---------- Post added at 12:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:42 PM ----------
SlyUK said:
Would that be the case also with a custom rom that was based on the Stock rom but was "debloated" ?
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Click to collapse
Just to clarify, for me a "custom rom" means non-stock. Perhaps not entirely accurate but that is how I've always viewed the phrase. But to answer your question, no. That would be a debloated and minimised stock rom, and any desired features of Samsung vanilla stock could be included as the required libraries are still intact.

Beefheart said:
Of course it's his money and his choice, he can buy an S7 Edge and use it as a paperweight if he wishes to. But this is a forum for discussion, and I'm simply pointing out that, in my opinion with 6 years experience of using and modifying Android devices, it wouldn't make any sense to buy an S7 Edge if he wants to use non-stock roms. It defeats the object of paying the premium on a device like this in the first place.
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Click to collapse
Of course you are right, but he is not alone - there are lots of people who do what he plans to do no matter what we think ..and despite the many advantages and tools that are built into one of these phones, a high end phone with the kind of quality that is built into an S7 or Note 5 or whatever - is still an amazing phone when it uses a different system - AOSP or whatever - so I don't fault yuo for making your point - but it is likely that in his and many other cases it falls on deaf ears

Beefheart said:
Of course it's his money and his choice, he can buy an S7 Edge and use it as a paperweight if he wishes to. But this is a forum for discussion, and I'm simply pointing out that, in my opinion with 6 years experience of using and modifying Android devices, it wouldn't make any sense to buy an S7 Edge if he wants to use non-stock roms. It defeats the object of paying the premium on a device like this in the first place.
---------- Post added at 12:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:42 PM ----------
Just to clarify, for me a "custom rom" means non-stock. Perhaps not entirely accurate but that is how I've always viewed the phrase. But to answer your question, no. That would be a debloated and minimised stock rom, and any desired features of Samsung vanilla stock could be included as the required libraries are still intact.
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I wasn't quite sure of the terminology to use for a slimmed down, debloated rom based on the official stock rom, so used the word custom to be on the safe side. Thanks for answering that, gives reassurance.

SlyUK said:
I wasn't quite sure of the terminology to use for a slimmed down, debloated rom based on the official stock rom, so used the word custom to be on the safe side. Thanks for answering that, gives reassurance.
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It's worth noting that, to install such a rom, the knox flag would have to be tripped. On Samsung Marshmallow, the only way to avoid tripping knox when installing a new build is to use Odin, which can only be used to install vanilla stock. And to use tools like FlashFire to install a build, you need to be rooted, a process which in itself trips the knox flag so you may as well install TWRP or CWM and install via a zip in recovery.

im also one of a guy waiting for S7edge with S820 from outside of US so i felt the pain and confusion of the way Sammy doing. As one of a guy responded in Reddit chat is to start ordering UNLOCKED SIM Samsung S7 from ebay would be the easiest and fastest option...
Below is the one that I am watching closely. As it said Pre-order, I am a bit afraid of the RISK of ordering a phone that cost >1000$ without seeing actual unlocked & S820 phone as they mention.
[EDIT: can't put links due to lower posts count] googled this eBay item number:281944393668
Here is some other options
to Confirm: you might have to wait for unlocked version from Samsung to released in US since all the US carriers will delay the unlocked version so that mostly can able to attract customer by offering them insensitive to stay in their network.
to Confirm: As far as I knew, US is the ONLY country which S7 variant will come with S820. The rest will ONLY get Exynos version in it with Dual SIMs supported.
to Confirm: As far as I found online is that there is no unique model number which will be the UNLOCKED version of S7 is surfaced in Internet. All the model numbers of US variant are for tied with each US Carriers. So it is possible that US will never get unlocked version of S7 with S820.
to Confirm: some people said they can ask their US carrier to unlock their locked S7 after a period of time using.

ted_O_o said:
im also one of a guy waiting for S7edge with S820 from outside of US so i felt the pain and confusion of the way Sammy doing. As one of a guy responded in Reddit chat is to start ordering UNLOCKED SIM Samsung S7 from ebay would be the easiest and fastest option...
Below is the one that I am watching closely. As it said Pre-order, I am a bit afraid of the RISK of ordering a phone that cost >1000$ without seeing actual unlocked & S820 phone as they mention.
[EDIT: can't put links due to lower posts count] googled this eBay item number:281944393668
Here is some other options
to Confirm: you might have to wait for unlocked version from Samsung to released in US since all the US carriers will delay the unlocked version so that mostly can able to attract customer by offering them insensitive to stay in their network.
to Confirm: As far as I knew, US is the ONLY country which S7 variant will come with S820. The rest will ONLY get Exynos version in it with Dual SIMs supported.
to Confirm: As far as I found online is that there is no unique model number which will be the UNLOCKED version of S7 is surfaced in Internet. All the model numbers of US variant are for tied with each US Carriers. So it is possible that US will never get unlocked version of S7 with S820.
to Confirm: some people said they can ask their US carrier to unlock their locked S7 after a period of time using.
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Click to collapse
You are referring to this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-UNLOCKE...393668?hash=item41a53207c4:g:NhIAAOSwFNZWzWSU

No was not really thinking about a new rom if disabling touchwiz is possible. I had my mind more into rooting and xposed.

Whick SM-950 should I buy?

I would like to buy a S8, but I really love to have it rooted and use some modifications and custom roms, so which model of S8 should I pick?

Legasx said:
I would like to buy a S8, but I really love to have it rooted and use some modifications and custom roms, so which model of S8 should I pick?
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Click to collapse
G950f version, as it has full Rom and kernel suppprt

Legasx said:
I would like to buy a S8, but I really love to have it rooted and use some modifications and custom roms, so which model of S8 should I pick?
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Click to collapse
Then g850f or g850fd. Those two devices are just compatible. But you should remember that a root detecting hardware (called knox) will be triggered and you will never be able to use samsung pay unless you changed the motherboard. But you can still use android pay (so far) by using systemless rooting.

sociojeje said:
Then g850f or g850fd. Those two devices are just compatible. But you should remember that a root detecting hardware (called knox) will be triggered and you will never be able to use samsung pay unless you changed the motherboard. But you can still use android pay (so far) by using systemless rooting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there anything else that would be unabled after rooting? Would that affect the camera too? I don't really use that much the Samsung pay thing so that won't matter to me.

Legasx said:
Is there anything else that would be unabled after rooting? Would that affect the camera too? I don't really use that much the Samsung pay thing so that won't matter to me.
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Click to collapse
With Magisk root you will be safe until Google tries to block root again (its been a few months since the last time). Keep in mind though the G950f is the exynos version so you will have custom roms available but they wont be functional. There is an unlockable Snapdragon version (G9500) but nobody is making roms fort them YET, but if they do they will be full functional. Go for the Exynos version though, its the only thing with support currently.

kekistaneerefugee said:
With Magisk root you will be safe until Google tries to block root again (its been a few months since the last time). Keep in mind though the G950f is the exynos version so you will have custom roms available but they wont be functional. There is an unlockable Snapdragon version (G9500) but nobody is making roms fort them YET, but if they do they will be full functional. Go for the Exynos version though, its the only thing with support currently.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why won't the custom roms be functional? Which has better performance, exynos or spandragon?

Legasx said:
Why won't the custom roms be functional? Which has better performance, exynos or spandragon?
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Click to collapse
The information given to you is incorrect. Magisk root, the root is always there, the only thing that gets updated that might effect you is safety net, some apps like Snapchat and Pokemon go need the device to pass safety net checks, magisk has a built in function to make the checks pass, Google can periodically update safety net checks and in turn a new version of magisk is released to make sure this new version can be pass the safety net checks.
As advised previously doing any of the above will trip Knox, everything is custom roms work except Samsung pay, everything else works great.
Imho the exynos version is better.

Legasx said:
Why won't the custom roms be functional? Which has better performance, exynos or spandragon?
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Click to collapse
Custom Roms for the exynos will never have a functioning camera, go to the cross development sub forum on here and scroll through some of them too see the full list of things that do not work on them. As for performance that's debatable, the snapdragon can use Google's hdr+ canera app and get pixel quality photos but exynos is better for pretty much everything else until development for the snapdragon starts. The exynos version is cheaper and already supported for some tweaks, that's why I chose it over the snapdragon.

kekistaneerefugee said:
Custom Roms for the exynos will never have a functioning camera, go to the cross development sub forum on here and scroll through some of them too see the full list of things that do not work on them. As for performance that's debatable, the snapdragon can use Google's hdr+ canera app and get pixel quality photos but exynos is better for pretty much everything else until development for the snapdragon starts. The exynos version is cheaper and already supported for some tweaks, that's why I chose it over the snapdragon.
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Click to collapse
What are you on about, custom roms using Samsung stock s8/s8+ firmware as base are have fully working camera, it's only the note8 ports where some of the functions don t work

So the best idea would be buying the 950F and use custom roms that uses stock firmware?

Legasx said:
So the best idea would be buying the 950F and use custom roms that uses stock firmware?
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Click to collapse
That would be the best bet, there are quite a few roms based off of s8 firmware you can try out

sofir786 said:
What are you on about, custom roms using Samsung stock s8/s8+ firmware as base are have fully working camera
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I'm not trying to argue but modified stock roms are not custom roms they're just the lazy mans roms with a few swapped out apps. AOSP will not be getting a functioning camera, nfc, sms, calls, torch, fingerprint reader, or bluetooth audio anytime soon. Exynos never does, and region specific snapdragon variants have killed custom roms since the S6. You can get the same setup of modified stock roms on either the snapdragon or exynos, the price difference is the big deciding factor though.

kekistaneerefugee said:
I'm not trying to argue but modified stock roms are not custom roms they're just the lazy mans roms with a few swapped out apps. AOSP will not be getting a functioning camera, nfc, sms, calls, torch, fingerprint reader, or bluetooth audio anytime soon. Exynos never does, and region specific snapdragon variants have killed custom roms since the S6. You can get the same setup of modified stock roms on either the snapdragon or exynos, the price difference is the big deciding factor though.
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Click to collapse
You clearly don't know what's involved in cooking a custom rom up from stockbase and what the devs do to enhance and bring new features that the original firmware didn't have, making changes to framework, updating libs and so on, the definition of custom matches what I've said. So your pretty much calling every dev who's made a non aosp Rom lazy and that's disrespectful.
That's the last I'm gonna say, I've given the op what he needed to know.

Some questions about S8s, custom ROMs etc (thinking about moving from OP3T)

Hi,
I hope one of you kind people could help point me in the right direction for some advice on custom ROMs for (UK version of) the Galaxy S8, how they affect performance etc, and where I might start learning more...?
Current situation
I've had a OP3T since launch and have come to the conclusion that even though it's a great phone (IMO) it's just too big/heavy and I want something smaller.
Ideal solution
Buy a second-hand/cheap S8, wipe it, install a custom ROM that's as close to "stock" Android as possible (I'm really nit a fan of Samsung's software and I'll likely have better support/updates etc from a community supported ROM than Samsung themselves)
Questions/concerns
I'm quite confused by the potential differences between the UK model (Exynos) and the Snapdragon model and how that might affect my plans etc?
What would be a good ROM that would deliver a stock Android experience whilst also being as bug free as possible, still retain things like great camera performance, good battery/performance balance, all "main" functions supported (fingerprint, GPS, BT etc)?
Finally, what are your thoughts on my idea? Is it "wrong"? Should I be looking elsewhere? What am I not aware of etc?
Thanks in advance if you take the time to help - it'll be very much appreciated...

PugRallye said:
Hi,
I hope one of you kind people could help point me in the right direction for some advice on custom ROMs for (UK version of) the Galaxy S8, how they affect performance etc, and where I might start learning more...?
Current situation
I've had a OP3T since launch and have come to the conclusion that even though it's a great phone (IMO) it's just too big/heavy and I want something smaller.
Ideal solution
Buy a second-hand/cheap S8, wipe it, install a custom ROM that's as close to "stock" Android as possible (I'm really nit a fan of Samsung's software and I'll likely have better support/updates etc from a community supported ROM than Samsung themselves)
Questions/concerns
I'm quite confused by the potential differences between the UK model (Exynos) and the Snapdragon model and how that might affect my plans etc?
What would be a good ROM that would deliver a stock Android experience whilst also being as bug free as possible, still retain things like great camera performance, good battery/performance balance, all "main" functions supported (fingerprint, GPS, BT etc)?
Finally, what are your thoughts on my idea? Is it "wrong"? Should I be looking elsewhere? What am I not aware of etc?
Thanks in advance if you take the time to help - it'll be very much appreciated...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The main differences between the snapdragon (north america/america/china) and exynos(international) is that the snapdragon version has a locked bootloader (China has unlockable bootloader), so no magisk root, no proper custom roms and no custom kernels, in terms of performance the exynos is better in all aspects bar 1, the adreno gpuin snapdragon is a little better.
If you are looking for a clean android/lineageos based Rom il be honest with you, you maybe waiting a long time, currently only lineageos os Rom is in alpha, so a lot of stuff not working, but there are people working on it.
Most time are stock Samsung firmware based but optimised, you will find debloated version and there is a version where pretty much all Samsung apps are removed.
Also if you rely on Samsung pay once you root and install twrp and so on you will permanent trip Knox counter and it will void Samsung pay, you will however be able to use android pay

sofir786 said:
The main differences between the snapdragon (north america/america/china) and exynos(international) is that the snapdragon version has a locked bootloader (China has unlockable bootloader), so no magisk root, no proper custom roms and no custom kernels, in terms of performance the exynos is better in all aspects bar 1, the adreno gpuin snapdragon is a little better.
If you are looking for a clean android/lineageos based Rom il be honest with you, you maybe waiting a long time, currently only lineageos os Rom is in alpha, so a lot of stuff not working, but there are people working on it.
Most time are stock Samsung firmware based but optimised, you will find debloated version and there is a version where pretty much all Samsung apps are removed.
Also if you rely on Samsung pay once you root and install twrp and so on you will permanent trip Knox counter and it will void Samsung pay, you will however be able to use android pay
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the information...
I guess I could live with a debloated version of the Samsung ROM - I can get a lot of the stock Android "fee" from using a 3rd party launcher etc.
Ideally though I'd like to replace all the default apps with Google variants - clock, contacts etc, and remove the Samsung variants - is that something that's possibly in these debloated versions you mention?
I'm not interested in Samsung pay though - but out of interest, is this totally non-reversible? i.e. if I was to restore to a stock ROM, re-lock the bootloader etc, Samsung pay would still not work?

If you don't want the Samsung experience, skip the s8.
Yes launchers and whatnot, in the end the software is Samsung with no alternative ROM wise.
There are equally good and cheaper phones with better ROM support. The S8 is only an option if you want the best screen and camera or/and really love their approach to software.
I did come from the 3t too and in hindsight would take the 3t over the s8 any day.

domsch1988 said:
If you don't want the Samsung experience, skip the s8.
Yes launchers and whatnot, in the end the software is Samsung with no alternative ROM wise.
There are equally good and cheaper phones with better ROM support. The S8 is only an option if you want the best screen and camera or/and really love their approach to software.
I did come from the 3t too and in hindsight would take the 3t over the s8 any day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's really interesting...
I'm just fed up with the size and weight of the 3T - and there are no other phones that really appeal (other than the S8) when it comes to size, features etc.
I'm still quite tempted by a second hand S8 (can be had for about £400, immaculate, second hand) - at that price I can't think of many alternatives...?

If you want Android stock experience forget about it. At this point there's just an LineageOS 14 alpha version. Someone said that there's people working on it. Might be. But since first release (October 2017) 6 months later there's no "public" progress. So my expectations are very low leaning towards none. But you can try an optimised touchwiz rom (there's plenty of them) or even those "Google edition" roms. Based on Touchwiz but with Samsung stock apps replaced by Google's counterparts (dialer, messenger and I think camera).