Android Go, Android One, Stock Android: The Difference
We see the different versions of Android like Nougat, Oreo, and Pie, but this article is about the different flavors of Android. There are three different android flavors: Android Go, Android One, and Stock Android. Many people get confused between the three as these give similar Android versions and experience, then what is the difference and purpose of having these different variants? Well, we are here to help you with that to clear your doubts.
Stock Android: The Pure Android
This is the Pure Android that gives the unmodified and most basic version of the OS that has been designed by Google itself. It started with Nexus and now comes with the Pixel devices. It’s bloatware-free that means it will only have a few important google apps, and not the additional apps that can be found on the play store.
The stock android is clean, smooth, give more storage, and always receives new security updates and major OS upgrades as Google has direct control of the variant. Some of the manufacturers put their own customized UI on top of the stock android to give the users more features and a different experience. Like Samsung comes up with the OneUI, Xiaomi with MIUI, LG with it’s LG UX, and more.
Android One: Stock Android Experience For Low-End Devices
As the manufacturers were coming with their own customized UI so the performance of a lot of devices was not that good as it didn’t get along with the hardware. The security updates and OS upgrade were also delayed as it was not directly in control of Google. To overcome these problems Android One was introduced for the low-end smartphones to give the users the same experience of a stock android with regular updates for a limited time.
The software in the Android One phone is designed by Google, and the OEMs work on the hardware to build the most efficient device. After a while, Android One started coming to the mid-level and high-end phones like Nokia 7 Plus, Moto X4, Xiaomi Mi A1, and more. As Google gives its software service, so these devices get security updates and OS upgrades for a certain amount of time.
- Enhances the UI experience of Low-End Smartphones
- Look and feel of Stock Android
- Regular Updates for a limited period of time
- Designed by Google
- Security and OS upgrades for a certain period of time
Android Go: Light Version of Android
Android Go is the light version of the Android OS that can run on devices with less than 2 GB of RAM and storage as low as 8 GB. Google gives Android GO to an OEM, and then the company has to release the updates, and upgrades themselves. The Go variant started with the android version Oreo called the Android Oreo (Go Edition). The latest is the Android Go 10, there will always be a Go Edition with the coming android versions.
Not too many apps come with Android Go devices. The few apps there on the phone are a stripped-down version of the standard apps like the Google app is Google Go, then there is Google Assistant Go, Gmail Go, Google Assistant Go, Google Maps Go, and more. The size of the OS version and the lite apps are half of that of the standard versions, so the device runs smoothly even with low specifications and the latest Android version. The best idea would be to use cloud services for getting the best out of the operating system.
- Runs on devices with less than 2 GB of RAM
- The phone manufacturer releases updates and upgrades
- Availability of GO Edition with the latest Android version
- Stripped down version of standard apps
- Size of OS version and apps are half of the standard versions
- Smooth performance with low specifications
- Latest Android Operating System
The user interface of the three variants is quite similar. The widgets, colors, and the wallpapers differentiate between them. Some of the apps are similar in all of them, whereas few apps would be different. If you want an entry-level low budget phone with the latest android version then Android GO is for you. For the best performance with regular updates, and upgrades the Stock Android, and Android One if you want a mid-range phone with the feel of a Stock Android with security updates and OS upgrade for a certain amount of time.
Author Name: Vishwa Deepak
Author Bio: As a content strategist and writer associated with Sagenext, I do more than just stringing letters together into words. My core competency lies in producing useful and amazing content related to technology trends, business, cloud computing, Quickbooks hosting, and finance.
Originally published at https://www.digitaltechgrand.com.