In addition to the standard version of Android, there are two more varieties that are mainly intended for cheap smartphones. What is the difference between them and what are their advantages?
Google's Android operating system is not monolithic. There are at least three major versions, the most recent being theAndroid OreoGo Edition. This option is designed for simple and cheap smartphones. Here the question may arise, is there already a version for them called Android One?
Despite the apparent similarity, they are not the same. Google told what Android Go is, how Android One has changed and what is the difference between them. This is important for those who make a choice between smartphones on these two Android variants.
Basics
Google describesAndroid OreoGo Edition as a new system option for smartphones with RAM 1 GB or less. It is optimized for devices with certain configurations. Google believes that most of them cost no more than $100. The Google Play Store is still installed, but it promotes Android Go-optimized apps that consume less system resources. Nothing prevents you from installing regular Android applications.
There is a set of Go Edition applications, including special versions of Google maps, Google Assistant, search, Gmail and YouTube. The Files Go application helps to organize internal storage, which is important for optimizing performance and the usability of the system. Special versions of applications, along with Android itself, take up less memory space. Most smartphones will have no more than 8 GB of storage, with about 5 GB available. Android Go also has a data manager to manage data usage, Google Play Protect for security, and the promise of regular future updates.
How is Android One different?
Merrill Anovik, who is in charge of Android Go marketing, spoke about this. Android One is an affiliate program. Google chooses who to partner with.
There are certain conditions that manufacturers of Android One smartphones must fulfill. These devices have the Android One logo, due to which they are more closely associated with Google. These requirements include:
- Regular release of security updates and new versions of Android;
- following the rules about pre-installed applications;
- Restricting the number of installed applications from the manufacturer and telecom operators.
Android GO has greater flexibility for manufacturers, here is a variety of settings. There are no logos on the housing. The limitation of the number of pre-installed applications is, but it is due to the most part with the volume of the repository. Google wants to have a free space when buying, and still pre-installed programs can be more than on Android One.
Install Android Go can any manufacturer and telecom operator that themselves decide how to sell these devices. It is the manufacturers who choose which countries to sell, unlike Android One. This means that such devices are available in rich countries, including the United States. The price of smartphones on Android One has grown, at the expense of what they appeared in traditional markets. For example, the latest smartphones Nokia came out with the Android One on board.
What about software updates? Google is going to offer GO versions for future Android options. Android One will receive updates version two years, security updates for three years. The delivery method of these updates will differ. Android Go updates will produce device manufacturers, as well as the usual Android versions, they will make decisions regarding the schedule. Android One will receive an update faster in the framework of the manufacturers with Google.
Android One is a version that is closer to Google's wishes, but Android Go does not have such restrictions.
What are the advantages of Android Go?
It seems that more advantages from Android One, but there are its strengths and smartphones on Android Go Edition. The system gives manufacturers the opportunity to produce cheaper devices with the latest software version, whereas now most smartphones come out on the penultimate version of Android. This means all the most modern protection mechanisms when buying a new device and the rapid appearance of updates, a decrease in platform fragmentation, which on Android is a problem throughout this system.
At the Mobile World Congress Conference, Google showed six smartphones on Android Go Edition, whose manufacturers are Nokia, Alcatel, General Mobile, ZTE, LAVA and Micromax. There were other devices on Android Go. Even Google itself does not know how many of them currently exist. This shows the level of popularity of the program, which was introduced not so long ago.
