Once Google has already announced Android Oreo Go Edition, the less powerful mobile version of Android 8.1, it is time to analyze what exactly their differences are . So we can know what we are doing if our terminal supports support for one of the two operating systems. Let's take a look at its peculiarities in terms of interface, functionality, speed and storage.
Design
The interface of Android Oreo Go Edition and that of Android 8.1 will be exactly the same . The theme will be the same, as well as the white navigation bar, integration with Google's autocomplete or the battery indicator for Bluetooth devices, among other features.
In Android 8.1 the Gestures section returns to the place it had in Android 7 Nougat, in Settings> System to locate Gestures, after changing location in version 8.0. This change will also be adapted to Android Oreo Go edition.
performance
This is where we are going to notice a bigger change. Google promises 15% faster performance when opening applications with Android Oreo Go . In addition, in this version, the space that applications would occupy in the operating system would be reduced by half, allowing the user to enjoy double the available internal storage.
With mobiles of 8 or 16 GB of ROM and between 512 MB and 1 GB of RAM , the operation promises to be fluid in Android Go Edition, equivalent to what Android 8.1 would offer in terminals with more power.
App bundle
The key to achieving this faster performance on Android Oreo Go Edition is in Google's core application suite. For this case, there have been Go versions of all the apps : YouTube Go, Gmail Go, Google Assistant Go and so on.
These versions are an equivalent to what we have known as the Lite versions of other apps, offering a simpler operation, occupying less space while guaranteeing the main functions . In addition to Google apps, Android Oreo Go Edition will use a Go version from the Play Store, where only small apps or Lite versions can be downloaded.
From this point of view, terminals with Android 8.1 will have a greater range of apps and games , as well as the original versions of Google apps, with 100% of the functionality. You may not notice the difference at the user level, but if we are intensive users, we will notice it.
One of the apps that Google will launch imminently (it is still in beta status) is Files Go, designed to optimize the space of our files, photos and videos on the terminal. This app will be available for both Android 8.1 and Go Edition users .
Security
Google ensures that, in terms of security, there is no difference between the two systems . Both in one case and the other, monthly security updates from Google will be received, and both systems will come with Google Play Protect included.
In that sense, no user who is going to receive Android Oreo Go Edition has to feel that they are facing limited software. The chances of finding a virus will be the same as in Android 8.1.
Availability
Android 8.1 will be released as a software update on the most powerful terminals, with 2 GB of RAM onwards, while phones with less will receive Android Oreo Go Edition. The scope of this second system is not yet clear , although it seems that it will be intended for entry-level and low-mid-range terminals that generally would not receive updates in other times. Many of those did not directly receive an update to Android 7 Nougat, so it would be necessary to see if Google will skip a number or, if it will write off all those modest terminals with more than a couple of years of life.
Can we get hold of Android Oreo Go Edition if we want to take advantage of that higher performance in more powerful terminals? Not at the beginning. Perhaps by means of an APK outside the Play Store a fix can be made, but it would always be under the responsibility of the user .