Google brings the features of Android 12 to low-end Android Go

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Google’s Android 12 (Go Edition) is getting some of the core features of Android 12. Image: Google

In its relentless quest to get Android phones into the hands of every person on this earth, Google has announced that it is bringing some of the core software features of Android 12 directly to Android 12 (Go Edition). This is great news for people using Android Go, as it’s a low-end version of Android that runs on super cheap smartphones (anything with 2GB of storage or less). Android 12 (Go edition) incorporates features pulled straight from Google’s Pixel phones but seemingly stripped down so they can run on leaner devices.

One of the flagship features of Android 12 is on-screen translation, coming to Android Go. On Go devices, the feature will be available from the recent apps screen, where you can choose to translate an app as a webpage as soon as it becomes available. . There will also be a quick access button to “listen” to a block of text and have it read aloud.

The Android 12 privacy dashboard is about to roll out to Go budget phones as well. It offers a quick snapshot of which apps have access to the microphone and camera. The privacy indicator symbol will appear in the right corner like in Android 12 when an app uses the microphone or camera.

On the left is the Privacy Dashboard in Android 12 (Go edition); to the right is a look at the privacy indicator informing you that your camera is in use. Image: Google

Android Go is also getting a privacy feature that allows you to offer rough location permissions instead of your precise location. This feature still uses your location data but does not indicate exactly where you are and where you are.

Android Go developers are gaining access to Android 12’s SplashScreen to provide a “consistently smooth experience” when launching an app. Google says this should help Android Go devices boot up to 30% faster than before and introduce smoother animations. While Android Go isn’t for flagship phones with high refresh rates, a little software tweaking can help produce a similar effect.

Android 12 (Go Edition) also features its exclusive optimizations. To save on battery power, the operating system allows you to put an app into automatic hibernation mode if it has been in the background for an extended period of time. This capacity should help save on memory capacity, which tends to be severely limited on a budget smartphone already. And the updated Files Go app will allow you to recover your files within 30 days, so you can delete anything that takes up space you need and go back to it after freeing up some space.

For families or siblings sharing smartphones, Google has made it easier to switch between one person’s accounts with new Go edition guest profiles. They are now accessible from the lock screen and you can restore the profile when a person has finished using the device. If you manage more than one device or are not online when you get home, Android Go will also allow you to share apps offline using Nearby Sharing and Google Play.

Android Go isn’t the most popular platform out there, but Google said it recently hit 200 million daily active users. Manufacturers that make Go phones include brands like Motorola and Realme, and Nokia also makes a variety of Go phones. Its parent company, HMD Global, recently launched the Nokia C30, which has a huge 6,000mAh battery and comes with a minimum of 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.

Google launched the new version of Android 12 (Go edition) in late October, but the company said these latest features will be rolled out as soon as new Android 12 (Go edition) devices are available in 2022.

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