The Gemini neural network started appearing on Android back in 2024, gradually replacing the standard Google Assistant. While almost all major players hide their artificial intelligence behind expensive hardware, Google is making the opposite move. Gemini Go has launched on smartphones running Android Go and works even on devices with just 2 GB of RAM. This is the category of phones that is usually completely forgotten when talking about AI.
Google has released a new neural network on Android
Differences Between Gemini Go and Gemini
In short: Android Go is a lightweight version of Android for smartphones like the budget REDMI A5. Google released Gemini Go specifically for such devices with 2 GB of RAM or more.
The main convenience is that you don’t need to download anything separately. Gemini Go replaces the Assistant and is built right into the Google app, launched by long-pressing the Home button or the power button. This means the new feature arrives as a regular update, not as a new app installation.
What the Gemini Go Neural Network Can Do on Android
The feature set here is broader than the old voice assistant. Gemini Go artificial intelligence performs standard assistant tasks: calls, messages, alarms, and calendar events. But it doesn’t stop there.
This is no longer just Gemini
It supports more conversational queries, file and photo uploads, and music selection based on mood. For a smartphone costing just a couple of thousand rubles, this is a significant step forward: previously, such capabilities were a privilege of expensive models.
How to Enable Gemini Go on Your Phone
The rollout is gradual, so the feature won’t reach everyone at once. Google specifically notes that updating the Google app in the Play Store is the best way to check availability:
- Open Google Play and find the Google Go app
- Update it to the latest version if there’s an update button
- Try calling up the assistant by long-pressing the Home button or the power button
- If Gemini Go opens instead of the old assistant, you already have the feature
To get Gemini Go, you just need to update the Google Go app
If nothing has changed — that’s normal. A gradual rollout means you sometimes just need to wait a few days or weeks.
Why Google Is Bringing AI to Budget Phones
Almost all competitors are pushing their AI toward expensive devices. Apple Intelligence requires 8 GB of RAM, Galaxy AI from Samsung starts with the S24 series, and ChatGPT on Android needs a stable internet connection and has no lightweight mode. The paradox is that Google itself is also raising the bar for top-tier AI.
The Gemini Intelligence tier now requires 12 GB of RAM and a Nano v3 chip, which means even the Pixel 9 and Galaxy S25 are excluded. In other words, Google is simultaneously moving both up and down the market. The point is that Android Go devices represent a huge part of the global market, especially in developing countries where budget hardware is the norm. This is a logical continuation of the strategy: Google has already brought Gemini to Android Auto and is gradually phasing out the old Assistant.
Who Needs Gemini Go on a Budget Phone and Who Doesn’t
Gemini Go will primarily benefit owners of affordable smartphones running Android Go — those with 2–3 GB of RAM, like the budget REDMI A5, who previously had to make do with the stripped-down Assistant Go. For them, this is a noticeable upgrade with no extra charges and no need to buy a new phone.
However, if you have a flagship with the latest generation of Gemini, this news is more informational: Gemini Go is a simplified version, not a full-powered assistant. The main takeaway is simple: Google has finally stopped forgetting about the budget segment, and for millions of affordable phones, this is a real, not just a marketing, advantage.
