The Lite version of the Instagram app is said to be currently under testing in Mexico and is soon expected to be made available in other regions too.
Instagram has quietly announced a new lite version of its app for Android. The new app is listed on the Google Play Store but seems like it’s not available for download in India at the moment. First noticed by TechCrunch, the app weighs a mere 573 Kb, which is 1/55th the size of the full-fledged Instagram app that is around 33 Mb in size. Same as Google, the app targets the next billion users that using low-cost entry-level devices that have limited storage and processing power for accessing the internet. The Instagram Lite app is also expected to work better than the standard version in areas of slow and patchy internet connectivity.
As per the Play Store listing, the app was updated, and probably uploaded, on June 27, 2018, and its current version is 1.0.0.0.145. It is compatible with devices running on Android 5.0 and up and already has over 500 installs. The app is said to be under testing in Mexico this week and “We are testing a new version of Instagram for Android that takes up less space on your device, uses less data, and starts faster,” an Instagram spokesperson told TechCrunch. Additionally, as the Instagram Lite app is under testing, it’s not known whether there will be ads or not. It is also lacking in some features as there is no direct messaging or video upload functionality available on the app, however, the company says these options will soon be added to it.
The new app’s description on the Play Store reads, “Instagram is a simple way to capture and share the world’s moments. The Instagram Lite app is small, allowing you to save space on your phone and download it quickly. Follow your friends and family to see what they’re up to, and discover accounts from all over the world that are sharing things you love.” The Instagram Lite app was due from a long time as Facebook already has a lite app and so does Messenger. Both the apps are aimed at faster content delivery while minimising data consumption.
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Shubham Sharma
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