Android Go’s main target is emerging markets such as India. Due to economic conditions, many people’s first experience with mobile technology will be a more affordable entry-level phone.
What is Android Go?
Google hopes to make this a more enjoyable experience by offering a separate lighter version of Android and their apps. The first version of Android Go is based on Android Oreo 8 and is intended to run on phones with as little as 512MB to 1GB of RAM and only 8GB of storage.
That is a big difference between most of the flagship phones we are accustomed to using. In contrast flagship phones typically come with anywhere from 4 to 8GB of RAM and use up to 4 to 8 times as much storage.
To accommodate the lower specs found on Android Go phones Google has modified Android and their apps to use less space. An Android Go phone running Oreo will use nearly half as much storage space compared to a typical phone running Oreo.
Some of the other more important changes come from added features or changes in the Go versions of apps. For example, Chrome comes with data saver turned on by default, the YouTube Go app allows for users to download for offline viewing without a premium subscription, and the Go Files app provides a way to share files between phones.
They aren’t all positive changes however, some apps are missing features such as the Assistant Go app that does not allow for controlling smart home devices. Google is also hoping developers will jump on board making their own Go versions of apps with their Build for Billions initiative.
As you can see, Android Go is about more than just accommodating cheaper hardware. Google is also adapting to the mobile networks of other countries or the lack thereof. Where in some cases a reliable data connection may not be available or could come at a premium price.
What phones run Android Go
Below are some examples of devices which run Android Oreo Go.
Alcatel 1X
- Display: 5.3-inch IPS LCD display with 960 x 480 resolution
- CPU: 1.3 GHz Quad-Core MediaTek MT6739
- GPU: PowerVR GE8100 GPU
- RAM: 1 GB
- Storage: 16 GB built-in storage, expandable via microSD up to 32 GB
- Camera: 8 MP rear camera, 5 MP front-facing camera
- Battery: 2,460 mAh
- Operating System: Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition)
- Dimensions:147.5 x 70.6 x 9.1 mm
- Weight: 151 grams
ASUS Zenfone Live L1
- Display: 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with 1440 x 720 resolution
- CPU: 1.4 GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon 425
- RAM: 1 GB or 2 GB RAM
- Storage: 16 GB built-in storage, expandable via microSD up to 512 GB
- Camera: 13 MP rear camera, 5 MP front-facing camera
- Battery: 3,000 mAh
- Operating System: Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition)
- Dimensions: 147.3 x 71.8 x 8.2 mm
- Weight: 140g grams
General Mobile GM 8 Go
- Display: 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with 1440 x 720 resolution
- CPU: 1.5 GHz Quad-Core MediaTek MT6739
- RAM: 1 GB RAM
- Storage: 16 GB built-in storage, expandable via microSD up to 64 GB
- Camera: 13 MP rear camera, 5 MP front-facing camera
- Battery: 3,500 mAh
- Operating System: Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition)
- Dimensions: 150 x 70.5 x 8.59 mm
- Weight: 152 grams
Huawei Y3 (2018)
- Display: 5-inch IPS LCD display with 854 x 480 resolution
- CPU: 1.1 GHz Quad-Core MediaTek MT6737M
- GPU: Mali-T720MP2
- RAM: 1 GB
- Storage: 8 GB built-in storage, expandable via microSD up to 128 GB
- Camera: 8 MP rear camera, 2 MP front-facing camera
- Battery: 2,280 mAh
- Operating system: Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition)
- Dimensions: 145.1 x 73.7 x 9.5 mm
- Weight: 175 grams
Lava Z50
- Display: 4.5-inch IPS LCD display with 854 x 480 resolution
- CPU: 1.1 GHz Quad-Core MediaTek MT6737M
- GPU: Mali-T720MP2
- RAM: 1 GB
- Storage: 8 GB built-in storage, expandable via microSD up to 64 GB
- Camera: 5 MP rear camera, 5 MP front-facing camera
- Battery: 2,000 mAh
- Operating system: Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition)
- Dimension: 135 x 66.6 x 9.7 mm
- Weight: 140 grams
Micromax Bharat Go
- Display: 4.5-inch IPS LCD display with 854 x 480 resolution
- CPU: 1.1 GHz Quad-Core MediaTek MT6737M
- GPU: Mali-T720MP2
- RAM: 1 GB
- Storage: 8 GB built-in storage, expandable via microSD up to 64 GB
- Camera: 5 MP rear camera, 5 MP front-facing camera
- Battery: 2,000 mAh
- Operating system: Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition)
- Dimensions: 135 x 66.6 x 9.7 mm
- Weight: 140 grams
Moto e5 play Go Edition
- Display: 5.3-inch LCD display with 960 x 480 resolution
- CPU: 1.4 GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon 425
- GPU: Adreno 308
- RAM: 1 GB
- Storage: 16 GB built-in storage, expandable via microSD up to 128 GB
- Camera: 8 MP rear camera, 5 MP front-facing camera w/ flash
- Battery: 2,100 mAh
- Biometrics: Fingerprint scanner
- Operating system: Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition)
- Dimensions: 147.88 x 71.2 x 9.19 mm
- Weight: 145 grams
Nokia 1
- Display: 4.5-inch IPS LCD display with 854 x 480 resolution
- CPU: 1.1 GHz Quad-Core MediaTek MT6737M
- GPU: Mali-T720MP2
- RAM: 1 GB
- Storage: 8 GB built-in storage, expandable via microSD up to 128 GB
- Camera: 5 MP rear camera, 2 MP front-facing camera
- Battery: 2,150 mAh
- Operating system: Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition)
- Dimensions: 133.6 x 67.8 x 9.5mm
ZTE Tempo Go
- Display: 5-inch TFT LCD display with 854 x 480 resolution
- CPU: 1.1GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 210
- GPU: Adreno 304
- RAM: 1 GB
- Storage: 8 GB built-in storage, expandable via microSD up to 32 GB
- Camera: 5 MP rear camera, 2 MP front-facing camera
- Battery: 2,200 mAh
- Operating system: Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition)
- Dimensions: 145.5 x 72 x 9.2 mm
