Google is Planning to Shut Down YouTube Go

In order to focus on low-end devices, Google began building lightweight Android apps that could run on handsets with minimal RAM and storage, which are commonly found in emerging economies.

Google Go, Maps Go, Gallery Go, Google Assistant Go, YouTube Go, Gmail Go, Gboard Go, and Files Go are among the Android Go Apps.

These pared-down apps were designed to run on low-cost smartphones.

YouTube Go, which was established in 2016 and came in Kenya a year later, is currently being shut down by Google. The app had two tabs, unlike the main app’s five: Home and Downloads, and allowed you to share offline videos with others.

A year later, the app was introduced to additional nations, bringing new capabilities such as the ability to download, stream, and share high-quality videos.

Google, on the other hand, is discontinuing the app in August.

“We’ve enhanced performance for entry-level devices and those who view YouTube on slower networks in particular.” “We’re also developing more user options to help viewers with limited data usage reduce their mobile data usage,” Google stated in a statement.

In October of last year, the business ceased giving updates to the app, which had over 500 million downloads.

Over the last five years, Android OEMs have begun delivering entry-level smartphones with higher-spec specifications, reducing the demand for light-weight Android apps.

Is Google’s recent update putting its Android Go versions and apps in jeopardy?

Android 8 Oreo Go Edition, Android 9 Pie Go Edition, Android 10 Go Edition, Android 11 Go Edition, and Android 12 Go Edition are already available from Google.

Does this imply that the company’s other Android Go apps are still in jeopardy? Will Android 13 Go Edition be available later this year?

We’ll have to wait and see what happens.