Google will now require devices with low RAM launching later this year to come with Android 11 Go Edition.
Android Go was launched in 2017 to be run on Android devices with low resources such as low RAM and Storage. Most devices with 1GB of RAM came with Android 8 Oreo Go Edition, Android 9 Pie Go Edition and Android 10 Go Edition.
This requirement will soon not only include low-end devices but also devices with low RAM – at least according to a leaked copy titled “Android 11 Go edition Device Configuration Guide”
New devices with less than 2GB of RAM will have to come with Android 11 Go Edition.
Here are some of those requirements:
- Beginning with Android 11, devices with 512MB RAM (including upgrades) are not qualified for preloading GMS.
- All new PRODUCTS launching with Android 11, if they have 2GB RAM or less, MUST return true for ActivityManager.isLowRamDevice() API, and launch as an Android Go device.
- Starting in Q4 2020, all new PRODUCTS launching with Android 10, if they have 2GB RAM or less, MUST return true for ActivityManager.isLowRamDevice() API, and launch as an Android Go device.
- Previously launched 2GB RAM devices in standard GMS configuration SHOULD NOT convert to Android Go configuration via MRs or letter upgrades. They will remain standard Android.
New devices with less than 2GB of RAM launching with Android 10(in Q4 2020) or Android 11 will have to come with Go Edition version of these OSes.
Google hopes that these new requirements will bring better performance to these devices that are popular to users switching from feature phones but don’t want to buy expensive smartphones.
