Facebook Lite
Saturday, July 21, 2018
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Facebook Lite, Early this morning, Facebook uploaded a new, lost weight variation of their app called Facebook Lite to the Google Play Shop. Focused on low-end devices in emerging markets where cellular information is a little slower, we need to confess, we were plenty delighted at the possibility of a 2G-friendly variation of the normally puffed up Facebook app.
Soon after setup, our optimism was fulfilled with cold difficult truth-- this app was little bit more than a wrapper for the mobile web view (ie, it's nearly similar to going to m.facebook.com). Okay, so there are some crucial distinctions. 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 device, handy if you're waiting on an important message and wish to stay up to date with buddies without needing to revitalize the web browser.
The trade off? Facebook Lite-- which is promoted as less than 1MB (252KB), but in fact took up 1.16 MB after installation-- demands a fair amount of permissions from your Android device, much like the full fledged 114MB (after setup) regular version of the app (only without the location information). Oh, did we mention it's sluggish?
Even on WiFi, the app is sluggish to load, slow to scroll, and slow to change in between News Feed, your messages, and notices. Even with a high-end Snapdragon 801 equipped Android device, the "app" directly up feels like molasses. But as we pointed out, you do get direct access to your messages without having to set up Facebook Messenger, so there's that.
We believe Facebook truly had something here and were really expecting a quicker, lighter, less feature heavy, Facebook app for those of who don't require all the frill of sticker shops and the like. Sadly, Facebook Lite actually simply doesn't cut it.
Facebook Lite is currently available for all Android 2.2+ gadgets in Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, or Zimbabwe by means of the Play Shop. Those living in other places who had actually still prefer to provide it a shot, you can download it from us through the link listed below.
Download: Facebook Lite for Android
Facebook Lite
Soon after setup, our optimism was fulfilled with cold difficult truth-- this app was little bit more than a wrapper for the mobile web view (ie, it's nearly similar to going to m.facebook.com). Okay, so there are some crucial distinctions. 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 device, handy if you're waiting on an important message and wish to stay up to date with buddies without needing to revitalize the web browser.
The trade off? Facebook Lite-- which is promoted as less than 1MB (252KB), but in fact took up 1.16 MB after installation-- demands a fair amount of permissions from your Android device, much like the full fledged 114MB (after setup) regular version of the app (only without the location information). Oh, did we mention it's sluggish?
Even on WiFi, the app is sluggish to load, slow to scroll, and slow to change in between News Feed, your messages, and notices. Even with a high-end Snapdragon 801 equipped Android device, the "app" directly up feels like molasses. But as we pointed out, you do get direct access to your messages without having to set up Facebook Messenger, so there's that.
We believe Facebook truly had something here and were really expecting a quicker, lighter, less feature heavy, Facebook app for those of who don't require all the frill of sticker shops and the like. Sadly, Facebook Lite actually simply doesn't cut it.
Facebook Lite is currently available for all Android 2.2+ gadgets in Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, or Zimbabwe by means of the Play Shop. Those living in other places who had actually still prefer to provide it a shot, you can download it from us through the link listed below.
Download: Facebook Lite for Android