Skip to main content

Yahoo Mail revamps its mobile web experience, releases Android Go app

Welcome to Your New Inbox

Yahoo has launched two new initiatives to help provide an enjoyable and efficient experience regardless of storage capacity, network speeds, or location. Users will now have access to a newly revamped Yahoo Mail mobile web experience, along with an optimized app for Android Go phones.

With the new mobile browser, users will have a variety of the same features as the Yahoo Mail app without having to take up storage by downloading another app. Upon logging in through your browser, you’re able to organize your inbox by swiping right to mark emails as read and left to delete. Other actions include deleting, forwarding, replying, and more, with the access toolbar made available once a message is open.

For further organization, there’s a sidebar menu where you can access all your folders and store important emails. When it comes to searching through emails, the addition of infinite scrolling allows you to scroll all the way to the bottom of your inbox rather than tapping “next” each time you want to see more.

As for composing emails, the autosuggest feature makes it easy to find emails rather than having to manually type them in or search for them. By typing in the first few letters, it will generate a list of email addresses you send emails to frequently.

There are options for customization as well. The new mobile web browser offers a variety of new colors and themes — with light and dark backgrounds — to personalize your inbox. By adding the Yahoo Mail mobile browser to your home screen as an icon, it essentially begins to behave as an app without having to install anything. You can also opt in to receive notifications whenever you receive emails.

Its Android Go app was released for Android Go phones Google launched in May of last year. Google designed it specifically for devices with low memory for use in areas where patchy networks make it tough to access the web. For Yahoo, releasing a Go app didn’t require straying too far away from its original Yahoo Mail app for Android since it was already lightweight.

“Our main Android app was really close to what the requirements for Go were … We really optimized it for the download footprint. You’re basically getting all of our core Android mail features, so you’re really not missing anything,” Joshua Jacobson, senior director of product management for Yahoo Mail, told Digital Trends.

When it comes to the RAM usage on devices, the Yahoo Mail Go app uses 50 megabytes with an install size below 10 megabytes. Jacobson said the team was able to optimize the graphics for lower-resolution screens, as well the language packs — since Go phones are more prominent in developing markets like India and Brazil.

The Go app supports multiple accounts, allowing users to set and save different themes for each. As with the main Yahoo Mail app, you’ll also see photos of each of the senders whenever they email you. Other features include autosuggest for contacts you email often, as well as tools like adding GIFs, stationary, and more. Users are also able to archive and delete emails straight from the notification.

For those with a smartphone running the Android Oreo (Go Edition) operating system, Yahoo Mail Go is currently available for download via the Google Play Store.

Brenda Stolyar
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brenda became obsessed with technology after receiving her first Dell computer from her grandpa in the second grade. While…
Google to ax its Shopping app in favor of web search
Google Logo

In its latest effort to streamline its myriad of offerings, Google has decided to send its Shopping app to the scrapyard.

Google is no stranger to axing apps and services when it feels that something no longer serves its purpose, and Shopping for Android and iOS is the latest casualty, the company has confirmed.

Read more
GoPro launches revamped Quik app, no action camera required
go pro quik app

GoPro: Introducing Quik | Curate, Create, Relive

GoPro has launched a revamped version of its Quik app that folks without one of its action cameras can also use.

Read more
I love Huawei’s hardware ecosystem, but its app experience is terribly messy
huawei freebuds studio pro watch gt2pro app ios android headphones and smartwatch

There’s only one question to answer before you decide to buy a Huawei phone — can you live without Google? If the answer is yes, then great, but if it’s no, then a current Huawei phone is not for you. However, Huawei’s other connected products are well-priced and desirable, and don’t require you to own a Huawei smartphone to enjoy them. They work well, but what about the apps you need to make them work?

I’ve been using two different pairs of Huawei headphones, as well as a version of its most recent smartwatch, with Android, iOS and Huawei smartphones to find out.
The Huawei phone conundrum
This exercise isn’t focused just on consumer advice -- it also gives an insight into Huawei’s current position and how it’s shaping up for the coming year. Why? Huawei’s smartphone business faces continued problems, so the company is currently placing more emphasis on its other connected products, including smartwatches, headphones, and speakers. These segments need to take up some of the slack from the smartphone division, and to do that, they all need to work really well with Android and iOS, making them accessible to everyone.

Read more