Android Go is a new experience for entry-level devices

Three years ago, Google introduced Android One, a program to bring affordable Android devices to emerging markets. But it failed to take off, given that Android One devices had to compete with other affordable phones, that were no part of the initiative.

Now Google is again attempting to bring budget Android platform for developing markets like India with a new experience called Android Go. It is somewhat similar to Android One, but Google is focusing more on the software, instead of hardware.

Android Go is a light-weight version of Android O platform designed to run on entry-level devices. It can run smoothly and efficiently on devices with lower spec phones featuring 1GB or less (512MB) RAM.

The Google apps that comes with Android Go are also optimized to use less RAM, storage space, and mobile data, including apps such as YouTube Go, Chrome, Gboard, Facebook Lite and more. The download size of these apps will be less than 10MB, and offers data saving features, lets you keep track of data consumed, support for regional languages, and offline viewing capabilities, which are tailor made for developing market. 

Android Go will also have its own version of Play Store, where apps, that are specifically designed for entry-level devices are highlighted, while still giving users access to the entire app catalog.

The Android Go experience will ship in 2018 for all Android devices that have 1GB or less of memory. 

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