Android Go is an operating system created by Google that comes installed from the factory on cheap or entry-level mobile phones that are not very powerful. It is a light version of Android that was launched on the market in 2017 with the aim of offering stable and fast performance on smartphones with 2 GB of RAM or less and with little storage space, such as 64 GB.
To offer an efficient user experience, Android Go has various types of performance optimizations built into its operating system. For this reason, it is capable of reducing the background activity of applications so as not to saturate the CPU or RAM with hundreds of processes.
Although currently the protagonists of the mobile phone industry are the most powerful smartphones on the market, Google does not leave aside other needs and contexts. Terminals with Android Go are designed for first-time users who are looking for a cheap mobile phone.
Also students or people with a tight budget who only want a smartphone that meets the basics, that is, being able to send messages, open social networks, browse the Internet, run apps, call, etc.
Android Go is also useful for people who live in an area with limited internet connectivity or who have to deal with expensive mobile data plans.
How does Android Go work?
Android Go aims to provide the experience of a full Android operating system optimized for limited hardware. It focuses on applications starting smoothly and quickly and running without errors.
To ensure good storage space management, pre-installed Android Go apps take up little memory due to their small size. Some examples of these are apps such as Gmail Go, Gallery Go, Google Maps Go, Gemini Go, etc. They are not exclusive to the operating system, since they can be searched and downloaded from the Google Play Store, but on mobile phones with the Android Go operating system they are installed by default.
On the other hand, saving data is essential, to the point that the operating system has an option that allows you to manage everything related to data consumption, which is useful if the mobile plan is limited.
Likewise, Google constantly updates Android Go with security patches to keep the platform protected from malware and threats that circulate on the Internet.
Operating system limitations
Being a platform designed for mobile phones that are limited in power, multitasking is limited, since it will be used to run one application at a time so as not to saturate the device's RAM. This means that you will not be able to use split screen mode nor will you have the ability to connect an external display.
Customization has also been reduced, since you will not be able to use live wallpapers and the pre-installed Android Go launcher does not offer any type of shortcut to keep animations, multitasking and running apps in the background at bay.
Finally, as expected, VR is also not available because it cannot be processed on less powerful mobile phones.
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