Micromax Bharat Go Android Oreo Go – Specifications and Hands-on at MWC 2018

Micromax is expected to launch the Micromax Bharat Go this month or the next in India while Google chose to showcase it at the Mobile World Congress for the world to see. This device is based on the Android Oreo GO edition which is a cut-down version of Android OS that can run smoothly on low power device with 1GB RAM or lesser. The software has been optimized for instant apps and optimized versions of Google apps such that not a lot of resources go into the functioning of each app.

The device comes with a 4.5-inch FWVGA LCD display and has 1GB of RAM along with 8GB of onboard internal storage. The device is powered by a quad-core processor from MediaTek which can easily power the Android Go operating System.  Some of the apps that the Android Go operating system comes with are the Gmail Go, Assistant Go, Maps Go, YouTube Go, Files Go, Google Search Go, Chrome, Google Keyboard, and the Play Store.

The Android Go operating system has been specifically designed for smartphones with 1GB RAM or lesser and the Android Oreo Go edition helps you save up to 2 times the storage out of the box. The software also comes with built-in security for the Android operating system as well as via Google Play Protect and thus helps keep your favorite apps and data safe at all times. The optimized operating system also comes with the Files Go app which can help save you some storage and optimize the usage of the limited storage space that the device comes with.

The Micromax Bharat Go comes with a 4.5-inch display that is topped by a 5MP front camera along with a 5MP rear camera, both the front, as well as the rear cameras, come with LED flash to help enhance the images in low light conditions. The device runs on Android Oreo 8.1 Go Edition, the advantage of the Go Edition is that the device remains updates at most times, similar to the devices running on Android One program. The unit that we got to use at the WMC had 4.88 GB free space for the user to use, this might be a little more in the variant that the user gets on the purchase of the device. Google had already installed a few apps and games for us to check out and appreciate the Go edition of Android Oreo.

The software also comes with Dura Speed that helps to boost the performance of the phone by killing the background apps that are not required. We were able to use about 7-8 apps in the background without any whims. The device comes with a lot of preinstalled apps from Google that we talked about above and also has the Datally application that helps save you some of your mobile data on the go. The Google Assistant Go is a cut down version of the extremely famous Google Assistant and works perfectly on the device. While a few of the assistant features might be unavailable in the Go edition, most of the app works perfectly without any issues.

We tried running the Subway Surfer and the app ran pretty well, the device didn’t have the brightest display and wasn’t very comfortable to use in the open conditions that we tested it in, this gives us a fair idea of how the device might perform under bright daylight conditions. The 5MP rear camera comes with panorama mode, night mode, and the pro mode, the front camera is also a 5MP camera and has face detection to offer the enhancements. There is also a beauty mode for the front camera that can enhance the images taken on the device.

For the apps, Google has mentioned that the Play Store will show the entire app catalog that is there for regular Android based devices but the Android Go optimized apps will be highlighted, making it easy for the users to find the apps that work the best for them.

Pricing of the device is unconfirmed and we expect it to be about Rs 5000 if not lesser. Google showcased the Micromax Bharat Go along with the Lava Z50 at the booth and the device is expected to launch in March this year.