Google has released Android Oreo Go, a new version of Oreo designed specifically for phones with 512MB/1GB of RAM

There are A LOT of Android phones in circulation that run low on very low amounts of RAM compared to, say, the Galaxy Note 8, Pixel 2 XL or iPhone X.

Most flagship handsets these days run a minimum of 3GB of RAM, while others like the OnePlus 5T and Note 8 run 6GB of RAM, but – and this is the kicker – most Android phones in use globally are NOT flagships.

They are cheaper handsets, rocking 1GB or less of RAM. And this makes getting updates like Android Oreo up and running on them rather tricky, as the software is kind of bulky. Well, this is where Android Oreo Go comes in – it’s designed specifically for low-end devices.

Here's what Qualcomm said about Android Go:

“We are excited to implement Android Oreo (Go edition) within the Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile platform family as it will enable consumers around the world to experience a more robust operating system for lower cost smartphones,” said Nancy Fares, vice president of product management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “Android Oreo (Go edition) delivers an optimized Android user experience key for emerging regions where lower bill of materials costs are especially attractive, as well as in established regions for pre-paid and lifeline uses.”

“Entry-level devices are the gateway to the internet for many people, and we want to make sure everyone has a great experience when they use these devices,” said Sameer Samat, vice president of product management, Android and Google Play. “We’re excited that Android Oreo (Go edition) will significantly improve storage, performance, data management, and security.”

How Does Android Oreo Go Work?

Pretty simple, really. All core Google apps – so, Maps, YouTube, Assistant, Gmail, etc – are dramatically smaller inside Android Oreo Go. And this in turn makes the platform slimmer and easier to run on handsets with 1GB or less of RAM.

Installing this update on phones is also very easy for OEMS too. All they have to do is tick off a configuration flag and the software will revert to Android Oreo Go. With 50% smaller apps and a radically smaller software footprint, Android Oreo Go fixes many of the headaches phone-makers’ face when dealing with a new update.

Even Chrome is getting the Android Go treatment; all data is run through Google servers and compressed before being delivered to the phone – this, again, saves the recipient’s data and ensures the handset’s engine room does less heavy lifting.

Also: Android Go is NOT Android One – those two programs are completely different.

You can expect to see the first batch of Android Oreo Go handsets in places like India, where cheaper, low-end Android phones are very popular. China would also benefit from Go, but seeing that Google Apps aren’t allowed there, it’s unlikely Go will have much of an impact. Unless it does a specific Chinese Edition. But that ain’t likely.