Android Go
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Android Go, officially Android (Go edition),cite-ref-2[2] is a stripped-down version of the Android operating system, designed for low-end and ultra-budget smartphones (but also used by some tabletscite-ref-3[3]cite-ref-4[4]cite-ref-5[5]). It is intended for smartphones with 2 GB of RAMcite-ref-6[6] or less and was first made available with the release of Android Oreo.
The first phone pre-installed with Android Go is the Alcatel 1X, which was released in February 2018.
A Go Edition is planned for Android 16, and expected to be released on August 2025.cite-ref-7[7]
Contents
• Features
• Versions
• See also
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Features
Android Go has platform optimizations designed to reduce mobile data usage (including enabling Data Saver mode in Google Chrome 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.cite-ref-ars-8review-8-0[8] The Google Play Store will highlight lighter apps suited for these devices.cite-ref-ars-androidgo-9-0[9]cite-ref-engadget-androidgo-10-0[10]
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 API for allowing mobile carriers to implement data-tracking and top-ups within the Android settings menu.cite-ref-ars-8review-8-1[8] Some system services, such as notification access, split screen and picture-in-picture mode, are disabled to improve performance.cite-ref-11[11]
Versions
Android Go was made available to OEMs for Android 8.1 until Android 15.
| 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) | Unsupported: 8.1 | 512 MB | December 5, 2017 | December 5, 2017 | 0 | October 4, 2021 | [ 12 ] |
| 9 Pie (Go edition) | Unsupported: 9 | 512 MB | August 15, 2018 | August 6, 2018 | 9 | March 7, 2022 | [ 13 ] |
| 10 (Go edition) | Unsupported: 10 | 512 MB | September 25, 2019 | September 3, 2019 | 22 | March 6, 2023 | [ 14 ] |
| 11 (Go edition) | Unsupported: 11 | 1 GB | September 10, 2020 | September 8, 2020 | 2 | March 27, 2024 | [ 15 ] |
| 12 (Go edition) | Unsupported: 12 | 1 GB | December 14, 2021 | October 4, 2021 | 71 | March 31, 2025 | [ 16 ] |
| 13 (Go edition) | Supported: 13 | 2 GB | October 19, 2022 | August 15, 2022 | 65 | Current | [ 17 ] |
| 14 (Go edition) | Supported: 14 | 2 GB | December 15, 2023 | October 4, 2023 | 72 | Current | [ 18 ] |
| 15 (Go edition) | Latest version: 15 | 3 GB | March 21, 2025 | September 3, 2024 | 199 | Current | [ 1 ] |
| Legend: Unsupported Supported Latest version Preview version Future version | Legend: Unsupported Supported Latest version Preview version Future version | Legend: Unsupported Supported Latest version Preview version Future version | Legend: Unsupported Supported Latest version Preview version Future version | Legend: Unsupported Supported Latest version Preview version Future version | Legend: Unsupported Supported Latest version Preview version Future version | Legend: Unsupported Supported Latest version Preview version Future version | Legend: Unsupported Supported Latest version Preview version Future version |
See also
• Android One, a version of Android originally designed for entry-level and budget devices
• One UI Core, a similar software developed by Samsung for entry-level Galaxy smartphones from 2019 to 2023, Full One UI 6 with limited features will getting for low-end Samsung phones after updating to Android 14.
References
cite-note-15go-11. "Redmi A5 GSMarena".
cite-note-22. ↑ "Android (Go edition)". Android. Archived from the original on 2020-07-06. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
cite-note-33. ↑ "Lenovo Tab E7 | Easy-to-use entertainment tablet | Lenovo AU". www.lenovo.com.
cite-note-44. ↑ "Lenovo Tab E10 | 10.1" family entertainment tablet | Lenovo US". www.lenovo.com. Archived from the original on 2022-11-07. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
cite-note-55. ↑ "Lenovo Tab M7 (3rd Gen) Specifications" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-11-07. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
cite-note-66. ↑ "Android (Go edition)". Android. Archived from the original on 2021-06-04. Retrieved 2021-06-21.
cite-note-77. ↑ "Android 16: What to Expect from Google's Next OS Update - SimplyMac". 16 January 2025.
cite-note-ars-8review-88. ↑ "Android 8.0 Oreo, thoroughly reviewed". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on May 11, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
cite-note-ars-androidgo-99. ↑ ""Android Go" will strip Android down for ultra-low-budget phones". Ars Technica. Conde Nast. Archived from the original on August 18, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
cite-note-engadget-androidgo-1010. ↑ "Android Go could help make Android O a runaway success". Engadget. Archived from the original on May 19, 2017. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
cite-note-1111. ↑ "Android (Go edition)". Android Developers. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
cite-note-122. "Introducing Android Oreo (Go edition) with the release of Android 8.1". Blog. Google. 5 December 2017. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
cite-note-133. "Android 9 Pie (Go edition): New features and more options this fall". Blog. Google. 15 August 2018. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
cite-note-144. "More improvements for Android on entry-level phones". Blog. Google. 25 September 2019. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
cite-note-155. "Android 11 (Go edition): New features coming to more devices". Blog. Google. 10 September 2020. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
cite-note-166. A closer look at Android 12 (Go edition) Archived 2022-04-08 at the Wayback Machine.
cite-note-177. "Android 13 (Go edition): Easier to update and tailored just for you". Google. 19 October 2022. Archived from the original on 20 December 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
cite-note-itel-188. "itel Launches itel P55T Smartphone with Android 14 (Go edition) and Long-lasting Battery". December 16, 2023. Archived from the original on March 9, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
External links