Google releases Android Oreo 'Go' for low-end smartphones

With Google’s latest Android Oreo software announced last month, speculation ended with what the new Operating System would be called.

Google surely wants to make the new OS accessible for everyone including those who can't afford high-end smartphones. That might not be possible in Android Oreo’s original form but slight modifications can make that goal achievable.

With that, the company announced today that Android Oreo (Go Edition) will be launching alongside the parent OS version. This operating system is optimized for entry-level smartphones including the likes Samsung Galaxy J3 or the Motorola MOTO, which cost less than $400.



India is one market Google wants to target with this move as there are more Android users in India than the US itself, according to Google.

The company has also set its sights set on the "billions more" who don't yet have access.

With the Go version, Google has also released lightweight versions of its popular apps including Youtube Go, Google Maps Go, and Gmail Go that takes up 50 per cent less space than their full-sized counterparts.

The company has also modified the Google Play Store in a manner that highlights apps designed for cheaper devices.

The Go Edition helps you save almost 600 MB of data per year -- a huge amount for users with entry-level smartphones.



Google has recently encouraged developers to design apps in accordance with its 'Building for Billions' Guidelines, to optimize them for phones in developing markets.



This article originally appeared on Mashable.