Android Go
Android Go, officially Android Go Edition, is a stripped-down version of the Android operating system, designed for low-end and ultra-budget smartphones. It is intended for smartphones with 2 GB of RAM or less and was first made available for Android Oreo. This mode has platform optimizations designed to reduce mobile data usage (including enabling Data Saver mode by default), and a special suite of Google Mobile Services designed to be less resource- and bandwidth-intensive. Google Play Services was also modularized to reduce its memory footprint.[2] The Google Play Store will highlight lighter apps suited for these devices.[3][4]
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OS family | Unix-like (modified Linux kernel) |
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Working state | Current |
Initial release | December 5, 2017[1] |
Latest release | Android Go 11 |
Marketing target | Low end smartphones, Phones with 2GB RAM or less, Ultra low budget phones |
Official website | www |
The operating system's interface differs from that of mainline Android, with the quick-settings panel giving greater prominence to information regarding the battery, mobile-data limit, and available storage; the recent apps menu using a modified layout and being limited to four apps (in order to reduce RAM consumption), and an application programming interface (API) for allowing mobile carriers to implement data-tracking and top-ups within the Android settings menu.[2]
Most devices running Android Go use Google's "stock" Android GUI, although there are several manufacturers that still use customized GUI.
Versions
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Android Go was made available to OEMs for Android 8.1, and later, for Android Pie.
Code name |
Version numbers |
Initial release date |
Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Oreo (Go edition) | 8.1 | December 5, 2017 | [5] |
Pie (Go edition) | 9 | August 15, 2018 | [6] |
10 (Go edition) | 10 | September 25, 2019 | [7] |
11 (Go edition) | 11 | September 10, 2020 | [8] |
Legend: Old version Older version, still maintained Latest version |
See also
- Comparison of Android Go products
- Android One, a version of Android originally designed for entry-level and budget devices
References
- Morrill, Dan (September 23, 2008). "Announcing the Android 1.0 SDK, release 1". Android Developers Blog. Google. Archived from the original on March 5, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
- "Android 8.0 Oreo, thoroughly reviewed". Ars Technica. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
- ""Android Go" will strip Android down for ultra-low-budget phones". Ars Technica. Conde Nast. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
- "Android Go could help make Android O a runaway success". Engadget. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
- "Introducing Android Oreo (Go edition) with the release of Android 8.1". Google. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- "Android 9 Pie (Go edition): New features and more options this fall". Google. 15 August 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- "More improvements for Android on entry-level phones". Google. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- "Android 11 (Go edition): New features coming to more devices". Google. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.