Google’s Material You design language has been accessible since Android 12, but if you purchased an entry-level Go Edition phone, you’d never know. Fortunately, Google is now delivering that look to lower-cost handsets. The recently launched Android 13 Go Edition introduces Material You to these entry-level smartphones for the first time, including color themes that match your wallpaper as well as a more elegant overall design.
It should be easy to keep your phone up to date as well. Android 13 Go Edition has Google Play System Updates, which, like the ‘full’ platform, guarantee you get essential updates without having to wait for your manufacturer to upload the updated code. Of course, this might help resolve security problems quickly, but it will also keep your device updated without eating up the typically restricted storage on cheap phones.
The new Go version includes Discover, which allows you to explore a curated collection of news items and other information. Some of Android 13’s subtler changes, like notification permissions and per-app language settings, are accessible here.
The first Android 13 Go Edition phones will not be released until 2023. Having said that, Google adds that the release is as much a sign of Go’s growth as it is technological advancement. There are currently over 250 million Android Go devices that are active on a monthly basis. While this number pales in contrast to the 3 billion total active devices stated at I/O 2022, it indicates that the notion of a highly streamlined, more accessible Android OS is here to stay.
