Click here for the best deals, brought to you by HP and PhoneArena

Stock Android should score native theme support! Here are some gorgeous themes that support this

posted by Peter K. / Jan 31, 2016, 1:56 AM

Stock Android should score native theme support! Here are some gorgeous themes that support this

The looks of stock Android Marshmallow and Lollipop arguably look way better than their previous iterations, but still, there might be people who are not quite liking it. What if you hate teal, or, God forbid, the dominating white backgrounds? If this is the case and you're aching to change certain aspects of the Material Design interface of your device, well, you can't do much if you're running vanilla Android.

Delve into the land of custom ROMs, though, and the things will be quite different. Provided that you opt for one of the more popular and widespread aftermarket Android distributions - CyanogenMod, for example - then your theming endeavors will be crowned with success. The latest iterations of the third-party Android ROM come with a built-in Theme Engine that allows you to easily change the looks of the interface. Thanks to this, you can change the looks of your Marshmallow or Lollipop device as easy as abc - just download one of the available themes on Google Play, select what elements of the UI you want transformed and... well, that's pretty much it!

Check out some of our favorite themes for CyanogenMod and see what you're sadly missing on!

Blue Tint

Download ($1.50)

It doesn't take a genius to notice that Blue Tint is, well, gorgeous on all fronts. It comes with the full package - deep dark backgrounds, a stunning font, and stock icons to die for. Apart from the interface, Blue Tint paints over more that 25 other apps. Really, if you only need one theme for the rest of your life, Blue Tint should be a prime candidate for the job.

Blue Tint

acQdNVU3lfa1QUDPOS4P6u03rMdhvF9GsGIh0GbhoK77g2Q6V1D87DpV8nYgNNNNc3Ih900.jpg

dR2DqQcEFeR2Y3kwjKVqZ3kF0dAJLgNZ6PoR-GhRxwB0HphX7QSJums7xJev4HI8Ev0h900.jpg

eKeXyUG21vRlfEgoIAX7P3dWh8l2X4dMsQ9Xo57ecFwqQPH-CtjzuElLVNJr7N4clKTh900.jpg

Pe0o7oYMVgDihMnlTohUO6joiXxo0n8kF-yDUWoYYtAthPVocw0wEYXAgoqspN46u08h900.jpg

QaQlcBCWOYSLbYI9bO3nJ0zVN8GhkVSoSKz5P40v1MxWv1sbobGEmdKaLSSSrxNAEkVh900.jpg

View more + 2 images

Swift Dark

Download ($1.60)

This theme doesn't aim to alter the looks of stock Android much - it mostly darkens the backgrounds and transforms a few colors here or there, but for the most part, it is looks quite stock. The themed apps on board are many, most importantly most stock Google apps, as well as Skype, Viber, WhatsApp, Kindle (!), and others.

Swift Dark

4D8nZMwYGzzKcBmP9ki2WEHKPbNuKtm13qNQcmJKVM6rlQslyW50Bf2kJfEGXX8ZK-sh900.jpg

bkyT5uunhat3g9OUdgCprvDE30gHwRukpt5KWHAPbYVSDegclcqhHY7PaDHlwbave93h900.jpg

CgIVqizkHl4rOxWkKrzJhpbLOJnWpegaoLarRp5KBmjWsHC99scD1R16t45QkczPagh900.jpg

ePySZQuwME6-xAGNzF3ghRxfMrBehLjbXnvpihcKfPdnpSbT75kh-QtI5G9ujdMl6Ah900.jpg

lfpRpPoKE4h-Zc5rpObhIWwjFcrE827ZqQLMOmcpXdiVlNvQVS9-CvA3DfB1xM-nJHsJh900.jpg

View more + 3 images

Deep Darkness

Download (free)

If you really dig darker shades, Deep Darkness will undoubtedly float your boat from day one. This theme really puts emphasis on dark teal and black hues, which warrants for a rather good experience for all dark theme lovers. Deep Darkness also paints over a multitude of stock Google apps, just as you'd expect it.

Deep Darkness

0i2AKyFpGd3lrinRc1UTLIwQqprKGYQpvWwDF4z2i9bKoXFYmF8ifyvuR9ecwo2SZgh900.png

caKIujzEeR6JwQTKejowjM3vgB6Gz1WyiC4VpTTtWlQ36zL9VHOLZuDDublsd7fHg1sh900.png

INi1jQSTw1oTxtqUXXJOBULm7QOmHS-AieNzHnuSEdy5ZaA6-zJoOWLmgS2jDqGGAh900.png

n5CrPE4Lg-fVFT9bSQuS5KZar3HZC3r5SP3IhBWMj1tS1T0ytbk0Blg5XHJbfz4sh900.png

ocv3LdiV1VAt7KAA-90dY9ZKsaQ4hhhTu58f1KEvl-oakhIiqlW8lAonDsJSukqC5EYh900.png

View more + 3 images

LunarUI

Download (free)

This one is also dark, but with a twist - LunarUI also shows a lot of love to vivid colors, which are gently intertwined with the predominantly dark hues. That's rather cool, as it employs best of both worlds. Don't miss this one, it's free!

LunarUI

58egEU4vMdbJiOky2NwKydWBeQaWu-UiRErWZH7b6SJJCRnPIUGNs5O0EAzew7BCK0h900.jpg

cQy-dti6XYHfPWqNwEFxD4mUPZKNuZAC9k8ZDF0emLczY5MLdjU9WgI3WhG8LvFgh900.jpg

GhYN8pC7nzNtPq5MgZ9n3QaAdXzOv9kOiVWzwXcQYH-AQPjGRIB3b5dVZSE-qMThaD8h900.jpg

mevjilqgq1g4Zr4wiajjC7CEvWV9ggbzM8zhrNiMehvAYAJsMPRiqrjEBudFeXTQMQh900.jpg

-puE4aKn3YrrmsFwMZXVJXHmGjhmsyOpKzmJeDAVFImOJyySmzc5KDe5ASR1GtS2f0h900.jpg

View more + 3 images

Volt

Download ($1.59)

We like minimalist interface icons and we won't lie, Volt looks stunning! Starting from the font, the icons, and the selected colors, the theme is the posterchild of what we'd like Android to look like.

Volt

1h1GUHVCt9mo6Ek3byNZBO02NyhyzlNgIOqobj8aI4pBiQRTzFbWYi18qp1rqdHvaU2h900.png

6OZrlLMnqMw-4xMNydUILp2siWRJKl6MI2qlbAAqrxbuwb7DTFWfTA-1tgJhSA0Qh900.png

CJ2HbGMlu6C2zpqL5CbYKf3Ax1gfsVbFwY6G5XT8ahJ973vQ9H5CIolVHCyjojTALkwh900.png

i2jiKBbJ1J3BDpavxSTr-ZnlG5r0NaYGUrVXJUOLXwQAviG08Pnlp8irPF5LK768rDsKh900.png

jknry1ALHkYxjuyoV6a22o4g7KCcQH0BUKR6hQS7pVmAg8eT0npjKnB4UreJYdQ83gh900.png

View more + 8 images

FEATURED VIDEO

Options

24 Comments

1. maxha97

Posts: 100; Member since: Aug 28, 2012

As a lite user of nexus 5x, i patiently waiting for official android n. To me just pure android is fine. those feature which can be permitted through rooting is interesting though...

posted on Jan 31, 2016, 2:33 AM 0

6. vincelongman

Posts: 5750; Member since: Feb 10, 2013

Stock Android 6.0 already supports the RRO theme engine First committed by Sony back in 2014, I think it was first in their 4.3 or 4.4 skin Some 5.0 custom ROMs and 5.0 OEM skins have it too But there's no stock theme manager If you have root you can use Layers Manager (Rebel linked it below)

posted on Jan 31, 2016, 5:31 AM 2

2. RebelwithoutaClue unregistered

For users who don't want to install a custom rom, but do have root and Android M, there is layers manager (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lovejoy777.rroandlayersmanager&hl=nl)

posted on Jan 31, 2016, 4:15 AM 2

7. chocowii

Posts: 478; Member since: Jan 30, 2014

Does this applies to vanilla only or can be to Xperias, Galaxys or such?

posted on Jan 31, 2016, 7:48 AM 2

12. RebelwithoutaClue unregistered

Not sure, I only know it can't be used on Cyanogen based roms

posted on Jan 31, 2016, 9:55 AM 0

15. gustavoace

Posts: 187; Member since: Nov 13, 2012

It works on my rooted N5 running 6.0.1 stock.

posted on Jan 31, 2016, 3:17 PM 2

23. Nexus4Matic

Posts: 37; Member since: Sep 09, 2013

Thank you!

posted on Feb 01, 2016, 9:35 AM 0

3. shield

Posts: 869; Member since: Sep 12, 2015

Theme for AMOLED

posted on Jan 31, 2016, 4:41 AM 0

4. Norris

Posts: 121; Member since: Jun 26, 2015

Deep Darkness and blue tint are among the best themes out there...

posted on Jan 31, 2016, 5:00 AM 0

5. uchihakurtz

Posts: 428; Member since: Nov 12, 2012

Google will probably introduce it on Android 9.0, like how late they implemented "Battery Saver" 2-3 years after OEM has them.

posted on Jan 31, 2016, 5:14 AM 5

11. nodes

Posts: 1163; Member since: Mar 06, 2014

and how late they implement multi-window. oh..wait..doesn't even exist yet.

posted on Jan 31, 2016, 8:49 AM 0

19. EcoCare

Posts: 444; Member since: Jul 30, 2014

Google's Battery Saver is more useful compared to others though; they're mostly automatic toggle switch with a threshold. I've never seen one that limits background sync activity, except Sony's.

posted on Feb 01, 2016, 5:23 AM 1

8. FrankUnderwood2

Posts: 243; Member since: Oct 01, 2015

Since Android Lollipop, Samsung has implemented the "Themes" feature really well. All the Themes are really good and you definitely a Theme according to your liking. It not only changes the widgets and icons, but the whole Ui, including dialer and messages and even Notification and Menu. Its rather a sigh of relief who hate custom Touchwiz Ui. I really hope LG too gives this option in thier G-5 and other smartphones starting 2016. Have't used HTC, can't comment on that. Also, Themes in both Lenovo and Huawei aren't bad either. Only sore point is lack of App Drawer. Yes I know that can be done with Nova or other launcher, but I personaly prefer features supplied by the OEM itself rather than implementing a launcher over custom ROM. Waiting for LG's take on theming against Samsung.

posted on Jan 31, 2016, 8:01 AM 4

14. natypes

Posts: 1110; Member since: Feb 02, 2015

Yeah it is good. I have used a few different launchers and themer, but themer lags badly and the redraws get ridiculous. Themer has more dynamic themes, but Samsungs work better.

posted on Jan 31, 2016, 12:47 PM 0

16. Furbal unregistered

Htcs theme engine is very nice.

posted on Jan 31, 2016, 5:15 PM 0

20. celinedion

Posts: 44; Member since: Jan 19, 2016

Lg had done theme manager since lg optomus 4x, long long long time so before Samsung did it. In fact, Sony and lg are the pioneer of theme manager, alright the implementation is different back then and now

posted on Feb 01, 2016, 6:04 AM 0

21. celinedion

Posts: 44; Member since: Jan 19, 2016

posted on Feb 01, 2016, 6:04 AM 0

9. Zylam

Posts: 1822; Member since: Oct 20, 2010

When the hell will Google and Apple add proper theme support to their Oses, it's getting ridiculous. Yea I know most of you hate apple, save the pointless hate reply for someone else.

posted on Jan 31, 2016, 8:45 AM 2

10. nodes

Posts: 1163; Member since: Mar 06, 2014

Stock Android is just an iOS that can change launcher. of course we are not talking about root/custom rom/mods.

posted on Jan 31, 2016, 8:47 AM 1

13. MrElectrifyer

Posts: 3960; Member since: Oct 21, 2014

One of the reasons why I want Cyanogen OS to become the stock Android. Clean yet very advanced. This has been a sub-part of my OnePlus One since KitKat, which it came with.

posted on Jan 31, 2016, 12:18 PM 1

17. Emacs244

Posts: 9; Member since: Oct 29, 2015

> but still, there might be people who has no taste if they like that black crap

posted on Feb 01, 2016, 2:51 AM 0

18. giannisgx89

Posts: 1; Member since: Feb 01, 2016

@PhoneArena check out those themes! ;) Flux, Flux White, Liv, Liv Dark!

posted on Feb 01, 2016, 3:23 AM 0

22. KidAndroid

Posts: 39; Member since: Nov 04, 2014

Just use a Launcher that supports icon packs, there's not need to use an entire new ROM . Nova is undeniably the best. It will give the ability to change the entire look other than the settings menu and notification shade which are already as good as it gets on stock android.