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Linux kernels in the 4.14 series were heavily patched for Spectre/Meltdown. Patch 117 included SSBD (Speculative Store Bypass Disable) mitigations. This was critical for preventing malicious apps from reading kernel memory through speculative execution side-channels.
| Manufacturer | Device Model | Android Version (at kernel release) | |--------------|--------------|--------------------------------------| | Samsung | Galaxy A50, A20e, M30s | Android 9 Pie / Android 10 | | Xiaomi | Redmi Note 8, Mi A3 | Android 9 Pie | | Nokia | Nokia 4.2, Nokia 3.2 | Android 9 Pie | | Motorola | Moto G7 Play, Moto E6 | Android 9 Pie | | Google Pixel | Pixel 3a / 3a XL (early updates) | Android 10 | | OnePlus | OnePlus Nord N100 | Android 10 |
The era of the 4.14 kernel was heavily defined by hardware-level vulnerabilities, most notably Spectre and Meltdown. Version 4.14.117 included vital mitigations against speculative execution side-channel vulnerabilities impacting ARM Cortex processors.
Proper memory management prevents background apps from closing aggressively. Kernel 4.14.117 supports explicit memory pressure stalls (PSI), allowing Android's user-space LMKD to make smarter decisions about which background processes to terminate, preserving multitasking capabilities. Why Kernel 4.14.117 Matters for Custom ROMs and Modding kernel version 4.14.117 android
Companies modify the ACK to make it run on specific processors (e.g., Snapdragon 845 or Helio G90).
4.14 (Major Branch) .117 (Sublevel/Patch Version).
, meaning it no longer receives official security updates from the upstream Linux maintainers. Linux Plumbers Conference 2026 Key Features and Improvements Linux kernels in the 4
Adjusting CPU and GPU frequencies to maximize gaming performance or extend battery runtime.
By late 2020, things got complicated. For some users, updating to the system that included 4.14.117 felt like a betrayal. Suddenly, cameras wouldn't open, galleries refused to show photos, and messaging apps like Signal started crashing when trying to attach a simple file.
She knew, with a certainty that felt older than the phone itself, that pressing her thumb there would tear a hole in the orderly prison of Android 9. It would let the ghost—this fragment of the 4.14.117 kernel—slip into the bootloader of the smart TV across the room, and from there, into the car's ECU in the driveway, and from there, into the city's traffic grid. | Manufacturer | Device Model | Android Version
The 4.14 kernel introduced the as a fully supported feature for ARM big.LITTLE and DynamIQ architectures. Version 4.14.117 refined EAS to reduce unnecessary frequency ramp-ups, directly improving battery life on devices like the Xiaomi Mi A3 and Pixel 3a.
Low Memory Killer Daemon (LMKD) performance was enhanced through underlying memory tracking improvements in 4.14.117. The kernel became more adept at reclaiming cached memory without causing UI micro-stutters. Treble, GKI, and Project Mainline Compatibility
The inter-process communication mechanism that allows Android components to communicate.
Kernel 4.14 is a release in the Linux kernel ecosystem. LTS kernels are chosen for their stability, receiving bug fixes and security updates for a longer period compared to standard kernels.
The specific point release, .117 , tells us this isn't the raw, vanilla Linux kernel. It is a snapshot in time: a patched, hardened, and customized version of the 4.14 branch. For an Android device running this kernel, 4.14.117 represents a "sweet spot" in the history of mobile computing. It likely powered flagship devices launched around 2018–2019—think the Google Pixel 3 series, the OnePlus 6T, or the Samsung Galaxy S9. This was an era when 4K recording became standard, when bezels began their final retreat, and when AI processing started moving to the edge.