Microsoft is working on a smaller and faster Outlook Lite app for Android. The software giant detailed the app in its Microsoft 365 roadmap, where it describes Outlook Lite as “an Android app that delivers Outlook in a small app size with fast performance for low-end devices on any network.” of the main benefits.”
The roadmap shows that the Outlook Lite app will be available worldwide sometime this month. zdnet reports that the Outlook Lite app is already present in some countries, so Microsoft is preparing it for a wider release. Microsoft’s own documentation on Outlook Lite suggests that the app will be limited to Outlook, Hotmail, Live and MSN accounts only, and will not support work or school accounts.
Meta was one of the first big tech companies to create a slimmed down version of its native Facebook Android app. Facebook Lite came out in 2015 as just a 1MB app, aimed directly at developing markets. Google followed up its line of “Go” lightweight Android apps in 2018 including Gmail Go.
Outlook Mobile is one of the most popular email apps on Android, with over 500 million downloads on the Google Play Store. ledge Recommends Outlook as the best iOS email app and a top choice on Android.
Microsoft is also testing a new Outlook for Windows app. The new app is in testing, and is based on Outlook on the web. It will eventually replace the Outlook for Windows app in the years to come.