Why Android Go Actually Makes Sense But Android Go Phones Does Not!

On 17th May 2017, Google launched its new trump card- Android Go. It is basically a flimsy Android version which is specially developed for low-budget devices. The idea behind the development of the budget segment began with Android One. Android Go is just an advanced version of it. So, why did Google thought about this idea? Well, there is an explanation behind it.

For years, Google has estimated that a large number of Android users will come from India. In order to capture the Indian market, they invested their resources and found out that numerous
Indians prefer budget devices. So, to fulfil their dream, Google came out with an idea of Android Go. Honestly, it’s a great move.

Before we jump ahead, let’s understand the difference between Android Go and normal Android version. Honestly, there is not much difference between the two. Android Go runs on a similar foundation as the normal Android version. However, it has a few performance and stability tweaks which make it compatible with the low-powered hardware.

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room- is Android Go really worth it? Let’s find out. Android Go is designed to run on those devices which have 0-1 GB of Ram. So, to make the game interesting, Google has launched a few lightweight apps to fulfil their idea. Such apps are Google Go, YouTube Go, Gmail Go etc. To make a strong case against Android Go version, we will discuss a few facts on Google Go and YouTube Go.

1. Google Go- It is quite similar to the standard Google app. Google Go allows the user to perform most of the functions such as find recommendations, get weather updates etc. at a very small install size (12 MB). Google Assistant Go has a similar story as well. As it is tweaked to run on low-powered devices, Assistant Go lacks a few features such as setting reminders and controlling smart gadgets, but it makes up the loss by allowing the user to send messages, ask questions etc.

2. Youtube Go- It is a light version of the standard YouTube app. Despite being designed for low-powered devices, it allows its users to watch the videos, download them and share with others without an internet connection.

These lightweight apps offer a variety of features and save a lot of storage on your smartphone. Also, the play store on your low-powered device will highlight a list of Android Go apps which can easily run on your device.

Android Go devices are finally here-

Google announced two Android Go devices (Nokia 1 and Alcatel 1X) in Mobile World
Congress. Both these devices have 1 or 2 GB Ram with 8 or 16 internal storage. With these devices, Google is addressing the idea of enjoying a smartphone experience under $100.

Honestly, it’s not worth it. Why so? The hardware of these devices is not that exciting. After a point of time, the hardware starts to age and the device starts to hang a lot. In such a situation, even $100 is a waste of money. Today, people buy smartphones for entertainment purposes and
Android Go devices can’t fulfil this criterion. So, it’s better to save some money and buy a good
smartphone.

Google has set a great example of Android Go apps. At a small install size, you can enjoy numerous features. As far as Android Go devices are concerned, a lot needs to be done in that department. It doesn’t justify the tag of $100.