Android Go

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Android Go
Android Go 10 home screen with Pixel Launcher
DeveloperVarious (mostly Google)
OS familyUnix-like (modified Linux kernel)
Working stateCurrent
Initial releaseDecember 5, 2017; 6 years ago (2017-12-05)
Latest release14 (Go edition) / December 15, 2023; 3 months ago (2023-12-15)[1]
Marketing targetLow-end/ultra-budget smartphones (with 2 GB RAM or less)
PlatformsARMv7 (32-bit)
Preceded byAndroid One
Official websitewww.android.com/versions/go-edition/

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.

Code
name
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8.1 (Oreo) (Go edition) Old version, no longer maintained: 8.1 512 MB December 5, 2017 December 5, 2017 0 October 4, 2021 [10]
9 (Pie) (Go edition) Old version, no longer maintained: 9 August 15, 2018 August 6, 2018 9 March 7, 2022 [11]
10 (Go edition) Old version, no longer maintained: 10 September 25, 2019 September 3, 2019 22 March 6, 2023 [12]
11 (Go edition) Old version, no longer maintained: 11 1 GB September 10, 2020 September 8, 2020 2 March 2024 [13]
12 (Go edition) Older version, yet still maintained: 12 December 14, 2021 October 4, 2021 71 Current [14]
13 (Go edition) Older version, yet still maintained: 13 2 GB October 19, 2022 August 15, 2022 65 [15]
14 (Go edition) Current stable version: 14 December 15, 2023 October 4, 2023 72 [1]
Legend:
Old version
Older version, still maintained
Latest version
Latest preview version
Future release

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "itel Launches itel P55T Smartphone with Android 14 (Go edition) and Long-lasting Battery". 16 December 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Android (Go edition)". Android. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  3. ^ "Lenovo Tab E7 | Easy-to-use entertainment tablet | Lenovo AU". www.lenovo.com.
  4. ^ "Lenovo Tab E10 | 10.1" family entertainment tablet | Lenovo US". www.lenovo.com.
  5. ^ "Lenovo Tab M7 (3rd Gen) Specifications" (PDF).
  6. ^ "Android (Go edition)". Android. Retrieved 2021-06-21.
  7. ^ a b "Android 8.0 Oreo, thoroughly reviewed". Ars Technica. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  8. ^ ""Android Go" will strip Android down for ultra-low-budget phones". Ars Technica. Conde Nast. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  9. ^ "Android Go could help make Android O a runaway success". Engadget. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  10. ^ "Introducing Android Oreo (Go edition) with the release of Android 8.1". Blog. Google. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  11. ^ "Android 9 Pie (Go edition): New features and more options this fall". Blog. Google. 15 August 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  12. ^ "More improvements for Android on entry-level phones". Blog. Google. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  13. ^ "Android 11 (Go edition): New features coming to more devices". Blog. Google. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  14. ^ A closer look at Android 12 (Go edition).
  15. ^ "Android 13 (Go edition): Easier to update and tailored just for you". Google. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.

External links[edit]