Google launches Google Go, its light search app for Android

Google finally debuted its Google Go operating system, a lightweight version of Android custom-designed for low-end devices.

google updates
A man holds his smartphone which displays the Google home page, in this picture illustration taken in Bordeaux, Southwestern France, August 22, 2016 (Regis Duvignau/Reuters)

Google finally debuted its Google Go operating system, a lightweight version of Android custom-designed for low-end devices.

Google Go is a build of Android Oreo that is designed to run better on phones with either 512MB or 1GB of RAM.

By comparison, the Pixel 2 (like most flagships) has 4GB of RAM, while the iPhone X has 3GB and the Galaxy Note 8 has a whopping 6GB.

In order to stay light, Google Go has opted to avoid the heavier Google app's cards-based interface, and instead go with buttons that open into separate pages.

Google is also working on Android Go, its operating system for low memory devices.

With more than two billion activated Android devices in the world, the mobile operating system already has a strong footprint. Go Edition is an attempt to give users the best possible Android experience, in spite of hardware limitations.

With Android Go, Google aims to draw the next "billion users". This was a similar declaration when it launched the Android One in 2014. Three years after, Google has not met that goal yet.

Some believed Google will rightfully do it this time around. Others believed it is only bound to repeat the history.

READ MORE