Android Oreo (Go edition) Handsets Will be Unveiled at Mobile World Congress 2018

BY Evan Selleck

Published 22 Feb 2018

Late last year, Google announced a new initiative called Android Oreo (Go edition), which is designed for low-end handsets.

Now, a couple of months later, Google has officially announced that the first Android Oreo (Go edition) smartphones will be unveiled at this year’s Mobile World Congress, which kicks off next week. The idea behind the (Go edition) initiative is to create a specific build of Android that is designed to reduce strain on low-end handsets, especially those that have somewhere between 512MB and 1GB of RAM.

That includes apps specifically designed for Android Oreo (Go edition), like Gmail, Google Assistant, Chrome, and other first-party apps.

“We’re inspired by the success of Android across a wide range of devices, including entry-level phones which in many cases are the first and only way people get access to the internet. These devices need to be affordable, and the experience needs to be great. We don’t just want to provide people with access—we also want to provide a useful, high-quality experience.”

Now, while Google is announcing that there will be Android Oreo (Go edition) smartphones at this year’s MWC, they are not confirming which manufacturers will be on hand to debut those handsets. With only a few days to go before the big trade event starts, it’s surprising to see that Google has managed to keep the partners a secret this long.

“Starting next week, you’ll see the first set of Android Oreo (Go edition) phones, and soon after they’ll be available for you to purchase.”

The devices that will be shown off next week will go on sale at some point in the near future, but Google isn’t divulging just when, or how much they will be.

[via Google Blog]