To root or not to root, this is the question

[Octaviannn]

Hey all. My problem is that i dont have enough space on my phone, and wanted to use usb otg. So this needs rooting. Also if i root, i get very many features that aren't available in stock. But if i root the device, i won't have any warranty more, and that is annoying me. I don't have the mobey to buy wi-drives, or other stuff- i'm a student. So i wanted to ask: shall i risk my warranty(what could happen to the phone, what are the risks?) and root my phone, or shall i risk some money..which i don't have :| ?

Posted from my Nexus 4

 

[grenefroggie]

All of the Nexus products are easy to root (to my knowledge, I had a Galaxy Nexus and have a Nexus 7). It is kind of a perk to getting a Nexus device.

Voiding the warranty isn't is huge deal in itself. Gaining root access to your phone is very useful especially for what you are trying to do.

Most issues where people go wrong is not paying attention to the directions they are supposed to follow. Once you have root, yes, if you are not paying attention you could possibly soft brick your phone. You have an objective that is easily obtainable if you have a little patience and pay attention to what you are doing.

So is it worth it? Yes, definitely if you are having trouble with storage on your phone.

 

[Octaviannn]

Okay...i'm waiting for other opinions. I also wanted to know some risks of losing the warranty.
P.S. thanks!

Posted from my Nexus 4

 

[Rizy7]

Google wont replace a device under warranty if it has an unlocked bootloader/rooted as they will claim anything wrong with the device will be because you have been messing with it. What is good about the nexus devices is that you can easily unroot and lock the bootloader just as easy as you can unlock the bootloader and root it. What this means is that Google will have no way of knowing you messed with your phone and will replace the device under warranty if it has a problem. Also, it is very difficult to brick a nexus device and you would have to do something very drastic for it to be unable to work ever again.

 

[digitalslacker]

I have never heard of Google denying warranty claims based on the fact the bootloader is unlocked. In fact they actually make it possible to completely restore your device to stock and re-lock if you break something or need to send it in.

My recommendation is always this when someone asks if they should unlock and root, if you don't know why you need to, don't. You do know why, so you should. Nexus devices are the most forgiving device out there when it comes to hacking and in almost every case imaginable you'll be able to go back to stock for whatever reason. Just do your homework and understand what you are doing before hand and you'll be fine.

There are lots of guides in these forums about how to get started and those are all great places to ask questions if you bump into any issues. It's pretty straight forward though.

 

[Octaviannn]

Thanks a lot guys! I will root my device for extra memory. But ... One more question: i will replace the kernel, and will be able to use usb otg, but if i install another kernel type or rom...whatever it is..will i also get the feature about usb otg?
I saw somewhere cynagogen mod. You know something about it? Will i have the otg feature?

Posted from my Nexus 4

 

[digitalslacker]

this is good walk through

Android Advanced: USB OTG on the Nexus 4 | Android Central

on the nexus 4 the support for this stuff is not in the stock kernel so if you install a kernel without support for it or another ROM you'll need to re-flash the OTG supported kernel.

CM is a ROM and I'm not sure if it's native kernel has OTG support but that walk through steps you nicely through the process