Samsung Galaxy Tab — 3 Lite Smt116 Custom Rom 2021 !full!
Important note before you read: The SM-T116 has a Spreadtrum (Unisoc) SC8830 processor, not a Snapdragon. This makes custom ROMs extremely rare. There is no official LineageOS 14/15/16/17 for this chipset in 2021+. Most "custom ROMs" for this device are either for the older SM-T110 (different CPU) or are just debloated stock ROMs.
This post focuses on reality and usability in 2021/2022.
[GUIDE][SM-T116][2021] How to get the most out of your Galaxy Tab 3 Lite in 2021 (No Magic ROMs)
Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Lite (SM-T116, SM-T113, SM-T111)
Codename: goyave / degaswifi
CPU: Spreadtrum SC8830 (32-bit)
Android shipped: 4.4.4 KitKat samsung galaxy tab 3 lite smt116 custom rom 2021
✅ What you CAN do in 2021
Your goal: Speed up the existing Android 4.4.4 and install modern apps via workarounds.
2. "Unofficial" Ported ROMs
Several independent developers attempted to port newer versions (like Android 8.1 Oreo or even 9.0 Pie) to prove it could be done.
- The Experience: While booting up a Pie interface on an old Tab 3 Lite was a cool visual trick, these ROMs were virtually unusable as daily drivers. Camera drivers rarely worked, GPS was spotty, and the UI lag made the tablet frustrating to use.
Step 3: Wipe and Flash LineageOS
- Inside TWRP, go to Wipe > Advanced Wipe.
- Select: Dalvik / ART Cache, System, Data, Cache. (Do NOT wipe Internal Storage if you saved ROM on SD card).
- Swipe to wipe.
- Go back to TWRP home > Install. Navigate to your microSD card.
- Select the
LineageOS 14.1 ROM.zip. Swipe to flash.
- Do NOT reboot yet. Go back and flash
open_gapps-arm-7.1-pico-2021.zip.
- Wipe cache/dalvik again.
- Tap Reboot System.
First boot takes 10-15 minutes. Be patient. Do not force restart. Important note before you read: The SM-T116 has
App replacements (modern apps won't install):
| Modern App | 4.4.4 Alternative |
|------------|-------------------|
| YouTube | NewPipe (old version 0.21.13 works on KitKat) or SkyTube Legacy |
| Chrome | Opera Mini (extreme data saver) or Via Browser (tiny & fast) |
| Spotify | Spotify Lite (last KitKat version – search APKMirror) |
| Maps | Maps.me (older version) or OsmAnd (very slow) |
| Reddit | Reddit is Fun (old version) or Slide for Reddit (legacy) |
| File manager | MiXplorer (still supports KitKat) |
🚀 Final recommendation (2021)
Don't use this tablet for daily tasks. Instead:
- Dedicated e-reader – Install Moon+ Reader (old version) – great for offline EPUBs
- Photo frame – Install Fotoo or just use Gallery app with slideshow
- Offline music player – VLC for Android (v3.0.19 KitKat version) – handles MP3/FLAC
- Baby monitor – Dormi (old version) or IP webcam
- Smart home dashboard – Home Assistant (via browser) or Tasker widgets
Post-Installation Tuning for 2021
Once you boot into LineageOS 14.1, the tablet feels like a new device. However, to use it daily in 2021, you must optimize: [GUIDE][SM-T116][2021] How to get the most out of
- Disable animations: Go to Developer Options > Set "Window/Transition/Animator scale" to 0.0x.
- Install a lightweight browser: Chrome is too heavy. Use Via Browser or Bromite (arm build).
- Replace YouTube: The official YouTube app lags. Use NewPipe (lightweight, background play).
- Reduce resolution: Edit
build.prop to lower the DPI from 160 to 140, or use "LCD Density" modder from F-Droid. This improves frame rates in games.
- Use microG instead of GApps: For maximum speed, skip OpenGApps and install microG (open-source re-implementation of Google Play Services). This saves 200MB of RAM.
Overview
A lightweight, stability-focused custom ROM for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Lite (SM-T116) aimed at 2021-era hardware: Android 9 (Pie) base, improved performance, extended security updates, and essential modern features while keeping minimal resource use.
6. Limitations and Challenges
Despite custom ROMs, the SM-T116 faced insurmountable hardware bottlenecks in 2021:
- No Android 8+ support: Lack of updated GPU blobs and kernel 3.10+ prevented Treble or newer Android versions.
- eMMC wear: Many units experienced slow I/O due to aged flash storage.
- No 64-bit support: CPU was 32-bit, limiting modern app compatibility.
- Small development community: Only one or two maintainers, most projects abandoned by late 2021.
@gnutools