Google offers “go” variants of its most popular applications for lower-power devices. This week, Gmail Go was made available for silent download on all devices, regardless of device, on the Play Store.
Update 10/9: Yesterday’s development seems to have been an accident for Google. After just 24 hours, Gmail Go will no longer be available for download on non-Android Go devices.
Visiting the list on Pixel that was previously able to install the Lite app, warning in red that “your device is not compatible with this version”. Oddly enough, the main Gmail client’s Go recommendation will still appear this evening. Google eventually makes sense by pulling back on this huge availability, but it’s unfortunate for users who have already participated.
Original 10/8: Play Store listings for apps are almost identical, but Google specifies how the Go variant “Gmail you like, now lighter and faster.” That said, Google hasn’t updated the Go screenshot.
The only difference with the app icon is how the red “go” badge is at the bottom. Once launched, apps are visually similar to where everything is located and organized. Emails in the main list can be rotated with custom left / right actions, while support for multiple accounts and different inbox organizations.
However, there is no bottom bar because Google Meet is not integrated into Gmail Go. It is not clear how the Google workspace will affect this going forward.
One of the other differences is how no UI elements are elevated. There is no layering, and as such there is no shadow. , Latanu, Gmail Go uses a white profile for the search field and extended compose FAB, although it still shrinks into a circle as you scroll.
In addition, the frame rate is very clearly apped, thus, resulting in imaginative lag when you scroll and slide the navigation drawer. This is probably performance optimization for devices with a limited processor and RAM.
If you visit the Gmail list regularly, the Play Store notes how “similar app” is available. This happened sometime this week, with Gmail Go in the US and Europe installing on our various Pixel devices running Android 11.
It matches how other Go apps are also available to all users: navigation for Google Go, Gallery Go, Google Maps Go and Google Maps Go. Support Go and YouTube Go are now the only apps not to support all devices.
Gmail Go probably doesn’t make much sense for users outside of the intended audience to download, but it’s nice that an option is available.
Thanks Michael, RKBDI!
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