Samsung‘s upcoming Android Go smartphone may not be too far from launch. The device is already listed in the Geekbench database, the place where we see most of the upcoming devices initially. Now latest on the Samsung Android Go smartphone is that it has got the Wi-Fi Alliance certification. Wi-Fi Alliance has certified the device, SM-J260G, with Android 8.1 onboard.
It was only yesterday, we revealed some leaked pictures of the handset. The pictures, quite surprisingly, confirm that the Samsung Android Go smartphone won’t be running stock Android. Instead, it’ll have the Go versions of Google’s apps installed over Samsung’s proprietary Experience UX. The leaked images also confirmed that the device will be running Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box. The same has been reiterated today by the Wi-Fi certification.
Samsung Android Go smartphone – the story so far
Samsung Galaxy J2 Core, that’s what the phone will be supposedly called, is the first Android Go smartphone by Samsung. The Korean tech biggie did skip the Android One program by Google, but Android Go seems much more appealing, which the company couldn’t ignore.
In May, Samsung trademarked the “Galaxy J2 Core” moniker with the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). At the same time, a Samsung handset, bearing a model number SM-J260G was spotted in the Geekbench database. The specs, 846MB of RAM, a processor code-named as Universal7570_Go, and Android 8.1 as the OS version, clearly indicated an Android Go device.
Then in late June, it was revealed that Samsung is testing the device in a number of markets around the world, indicating a global launch. Model numbers SM-J260F, SM-J260M, and SM-J260G are being tested in markets across Asia, Europe and Latin America, including. A supposed spec sheet of the device was also leaked around the same time. The sheet showed the phone to feature a 1.4GHz Samsung Exynos 7570 quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and 16GB ROM. The phone, sporting a 5-inch Super AMOLED display, may also have an 8-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel front camera, with a 2,600mAh battery.
Samsung’s yet to announce when it’s planning to launch the device, the markets where it’s going to be made available and how much it’s going to cost. But considering the number of leaks, rumors, and official certifications, I believe the launch is imminent now. Watch this space for more info 😉
