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![]() Android Go 10 home screen with Pixel Launcher | |
Developer | Various (mostly Google) |
---|---|
OS family | Unix-like (modified Linux kernel) |
Working state | Current |
Initial release | December 5, 2017 |
Latest release | 14 (Go edition) / December 15, 2023[1] |
Marketing target | Low-end/ultra-budget smartphones (with 2 GB RAM or less) |
Platforms | ARMv7 (32-bit) |
Official website | www |
Android Go, officially Android (Go edition),[2] is a stripped-down version of the Android operating system, designed for low-end and ultra-budget smartphones (but is also used by some tablets[3][4][5]). It is intended for smartphones with 2 GB of RAM[6] or less and was first made available for Android Oreo. Android Go 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. The Google Play Services package was also modularized to reduce its memory footprint.[7] The Google Play Store will highlight lighter apps suited for these devices.[8][9]
The operating system's interface differs from that of stock 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.[7] Some system services are disabled such as Notification access, Split screen, and Picture-in-picture mode to improve performance.
Most devices running Android Go use Google's "stock" Android GUI, although there are several manufacturers that still use customized GUI.
Versions
[edit]Android Go was made available to OEMs for Android 8.1 and later, for Android Pie.
Version | Android version numbers |
Minimum RAM required |
Android Go release date |
Android release date |
Days after release |
End of support |
Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8.1 Oreo (Go edition) | 8.1 | 512 MB | December 5, 2017 | December 5, 2017 | 0 | October 4, 2021 | [10] |
9 Pie (Go edition) | 9 | August 15, 2018 | August 6, 2018 | 9 | March 7, 2022 | [11] | |
10 (Go edition) | 10 | September 25, 2019 | September 3, 2019 | 22 | March 6, 2023 | [12] | |
11 (Go edition) | 11 | 1 GB | September 10, 2020 | September 8, 2020 | 2 | March 2024 | [13] |
12 (Go edition) | 12 | December 14, 2021 | October 4, 2021 | 71 | Current | [14] | |
13 (Go edition) | 13 | 2 GB | October 19, 2022 | August 15, 2022 | 65 | [15] | |
14 (Go edition) | 14 | December 15, 2023 | October 4, 2023 | 72 | [1] | ||
Legend: Old version Older version, still maintained Latest version |
See also
[edit]- Comparison of Android Go products
- Android One, a version of Android originally designed for entry-level and budget devices
References
[edit]- ^ a b "itel Launches itel P55T Smartphone with Android 14 (Go edition) and Long-lasting Battery". 16 December 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- ^ "Android (Go edition)". Android. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
- ^ "Lenovo Tab E7 | Easy-to-use entertainment tablet | Lenovo AU". www.lenovo.com.
- ^ "Lenovo Tab E10 | 10.1" family entertainment tablet | Lenovo US". www.lenovo.com.
- ^ "Lenovo Tab M7 (3rd Gen) Specifications" (PDF).
- ^ "Android (Go edition)". Android. Retrieved 2021-06-21.
- ^ a b "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". Blog. Google. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- ^ "Android 9 Pie (Go edition): New features and more options this fall". Blog. Google. 15 August 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- ^ "More improvements for Android on entry-level phones". Blog. Google. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- ^ "Android 11 (Go edition): New features coming to more devices". Blog. Google. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
- ^ A closer look at Android 12 (Go edition).
- ^ "Android 13 (Go edition): Easier to update and tailored just for you". Google. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.