The impending discontinuation of Meta’s Messenger Lite app on September 18th marks a significant shift. This lightweight iteration of the Messenger application has already been pulled from the Google Play Store, rendering it inaccessible for download.
Users who currently rely on Messenger Lite will be greeted by a full-screen message upon launching the app. This message conveys the news that Messenger Lite will soon be phased out, with September 18, 2023, marking its final day of availability.
Notably, individuals who have been using Messenger Lite need not fret about losing their message history. The messages exchanged through Messenger Lite will remain accessible through the comprehensive version of the Messenger application.
Introduced in 2016, Messenger Lite aimed to cater to Android devices with lower specifications, ensuring access to Facebook’s messaging service. However, various features were streamlined in this version, including the omission of Stories, animated stickers, dark mode, and several in-app animations.
The disparity in size between the two versions is noteworthy. The installation package of Messenger Lite is a mere fraction, occupying less than 10MB, whereas the full version demands 54MB. This size distinction proves advantageous, particularly for devices grappling with limited storage capacity.
Nevertheless, Meta’s strategic direction revolves around amplifying the capabilities of the full-fledged Messenger application. This comprehensive version boasts a more extensive feature set, a decision justified by the spacious storage capacities of contemporary smartphones.
Though this move might not resonate with all users, especially those wielding older Android devices, Meta’s pivot aligns with the industry’s trajectory. The choice ultimately beckons users to ponder their preference: embracing the streamlined simplicity of Messenger Lite or indulging in the richer feature suite of the full Messenger experience.
