Facebook App Lite
Sunday, May 13, 2018
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Facebook App Lite, Early this morning, Facebook submitted a new, slendered down version of their app called Facebook Lite to the Google Play Shop. Aimed at low-end devices in emerging markets where cellular data is a little slower, we have to confess, we were plenty delighted at the possibility of a 2G-friendly version of the typically bloated Facebook app.
Not long after setup, our optimism was met with cold difficult truth-- this app was little more than a wrapper for the mobile web view (ie, it's nearly identical to checking out m.facebook.com). Okay, so there are some crucial differences. There's no videos (like, at all) and unlike opening Facebook in your phone's web browser, Facebook Lite will offer you with push notifications on your Android gadget, useful if you're waiting on a crucial message and wish to keep up with friends without needing to refresh the web browser.
The trade off? Facebook Lite-- which is marketed as less than 1MB (252KB), but in fact used up 1.16 MB after installation-- demands a fair quantity of permissions from your Android device, much like the complete fledged 114MB (after installation) regular version of the app (just without the area data). Oh, did we mention it's sluggish?
Even on WiFi, the app is sluggish to load, slow to scroll, and slow to switch in between News Feed, your messages, and notices. Even with a high-end Snapdragon 801 equipped Android gadget, the "app" directly feels like molasses. However as we mentioned, you do get direct access to your messages without needing to install Facebook Messenger, so there's that.
We believe Facebook truly had something here and were really expecting a quicker, lighter, less function heavy, Facebook app for those of who do not require all the frill of sticker label shops and so forth. Sadly, Facebook Lite really just doesn't cut it.
Facebook Lite is currently readily available for all Android 2.2+ gadgets in Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, or Zimbabwe through the Play Store. Those living elsewhere who had actually still prefer to provide it a shot, you can download it from us by means of the link listed below.
Download: Facebook Lite for Android
Facebook App Lite
Not long after setup, our optimism was met with cold difficult truth-- this app was little more than a wrapper for the mobile web view (ie, it's nearly identical to checking out m.facebook.com). Okay, so there are some crucial differences. There's no videos (like, at all) and unlike opening Facebook in your phone's web browser, Facebook Lite will offer you with push notifications on your Android gadget, useful if you're waiting on a crucial message and wish to keep up with friends without needing to refresh the web browser.
The trade off? Facebook Lite-- which is marketed as less than 1MB (252KB), but in fact used up 1.16 MB after installation-- demands a fair quantity of permissions from your Android device, much like the complete fledged 114MB (after installation) regular version of the app (just without the area data). Oh, did we mention it's sluggish?
Even on WiFi, the app is sluggish to load, slow to scroll, and slow to switch in between News Feed, your messages, and notices. Even with a high-end Snapdragon 801 equipped Android gadget, the "app" directly feels like molasses. However as we mentioned, you do get direct access to your messages without needing to install Facebook Messenger, so there's that.
We believe Facebook truly had something here and were really expecting a quicker, lighter, less function heavy, Facebook app for those of who do not require all the frill of sticker label shops and so forth. Sadly, Facebook Lite really just doesn't cut it.
Facebook Lite is currently readily available for all Android 2.2+ gadgets in Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, or Zimbabwe through the Play Store. Those living elsewhere who had actually still prefer to provide it a shot, you can download it from us by means of the link listed below.
Download: Facebook Lite for Android