Nokia 1 is the first phone running Android Oreo “Go edition”

Back in December, Google announced Android Go, an ultra-lightweight platform for budget devices. Android Go is targeting the same devices as all those “Go” Google apps: phones with 512MB to 1GB of RAM. This year at MWC, Google and partners are showing off Android Go devices. The HMD Global-made Nokia 1 is the first we’ve seen.

As you would expect, the Nokia 1 has very low-end specs. The 1.1GHz processor is made by MediaTek and it has just 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage. The display is 4.5-inches with 854×480 resolution and the camera is a measly 5MP. The Nokia 1 is not about specs, it’s the software that makes it special.

The Nokia 1 is running Android Oreo “Go edition.” It looks and feels like a very barebones version of stock Android Oreo. It can only run apps that are specifically made for low-end specs. Google has “Go” versions of Gmail, Assistant, Chrome, YouTube, and Maps available. So you still get the best of Android without needing expensive specs. The Nokia 1 will only cost $85 when it’s available later this year.