Google plans to require Android Go on devices with 2GB RAM or less

As a leaked document suggests, Google plans to require smartphones with 2GB RAM or less to run under Android Go Edition.

Based on the report of XDA Developers, the leaked Google document entitled “Android 11 Go edition Device Configuration Guide” states the following conditions:

• 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.

This indicates that in the Q4 of 2020, smartphones with 2GB RAM or less running on Android 10 should be launched as an Android Go device. This also applies to smartphones running with Android 11 and have the same configurations.

However, previous devices with the same configurations will not get an Android Go update and will remain to be classified as a regular Android phone.

Meanwhile, smartphones that will run under Android 11 with 512MB RAM, including upgrades, will not get preloaded Google Mobile Services.

Google’s Android Go Edition is a lighter version of Android for devices with less than 2GB of RAM. Devices running on Android Go Edition get an optimized version of Google Mobile Services and receive regular security patches and updates.

Source: XDA Developers