Facebook Lite and the regular Facebook app are both official apps from Facebook, but they have some key differences. Facebook Lite was designed by Facebook to provide a streamlined, faster experience for people with older phones or limited internet connectivity. The regular Facebook app requires more processing power, storage space, and internet bandwidth. While the regular Facebook app offers the full experience with all the latest features, Facebook Lite provides core Facebook functions in a smaller package optimized for older devices and networks.
Availability
Facebook Lite Availability
Facebook Lite is available as a free download from the Google Play store for Android devices. It works on Android devices running Android 4.0.3 or newer. Facebook Lite is optimized for slower networks and phones with limited storage and RAM. It is designed primarily for developing countries with older smartphones and limited data plans.
Facebook App Availability
The full Facebook app is available as a free download from both the Apple App Store for iOS devices and the Google Play Store for Android. It requires an iPhone running iOS 10.0 or later, or an Android device running Android 4.0.3 or newer. The regular Facebook app is designed for newer smartphones with more storage, processing power, and internet connectivity.
Data and Storage Usage
Facebook Lite Data Usage
Facebook Lite is designed to use less mobile data than the regular Facebook app. On Android, it uses less than 1MB per session on average. Facebook Lite compresses photos and videos to minimize data transfer. All the data required to use the app is stored on the device itself, reducing the need to re-download data each time. This makes it ideal for regions with expensive or limited mobile data.
Facebook App Data Usage
The full Facebook app uses significantly more data, ranging from 50-100+ MB per month depending on usage habits. High resolution photos and videos are downloaded in full quality over the network. Data is streamed on-demand instead of being stored locally, increasing usage as content is re-downloaded each session. This requires a strong wifi or cellular data connection.
Storage Requirements
Facebook Lite Storage Needs
Facebook Lite has very modest storage requirements compared to the regular Facebook app. On Android, it takes up less than 1MB of space when installed. Photos, videos, and other content are compressed and stored efficiently within the app. This allows it to run on older phones with as little as 100MB of available storage.
Facebook App Storage Needs
The full Facebook app requires a minimum of about 100MB on Android and 200MB on iOS. However, the cached data it stores locally means the app’s storage footprint grows significantly over time. After prolonged usage, the Facebook app can occupy 500MB or more of storage between the app itself, cached photos and videos, and data like the news feed. This requires having several gigabytes of free space.
Performance and Speed
Facebook Lite Performance
Facebook Lite is designed to offer good performance even on older mid-range or budget Android phones. It requires relatively little processing power and RAM to run smoothly. Simple 2D graphics allow quick loading and scrolling even on phones with slower CPUs. Performance should be smooth on phones with as little as 512MB RAM. These optimizations make it accessible to a wider range of devices.
Facebook App Performance
The full Facebook app requires a relatively modern upper mid-range or flagship smartphone to maintain good performance. Quick loading and smooth scrolling relies on newer faster processors with more cores and more RAM. iPhones from the last 2-3 generations and high-end modern Android phones will provide the best experience. Older and budget phones are prone to lag and delays.
Features and Experience
Facebook Lite Features
Facebook Lite provides Facebook’s core features in a streamlined app. You can post status updates, photos, and videos, comment on posts, browse the news feed, access your profile and groups, receive notifications, search for friends, and chat via Messenger. However, more advanced Facebook features like Stories, AR, and gaming are not supported. The overall experience focuses on lightweight essential Facebook functions.
Facebook App Features
The full Facebook app provides access to the complete Facebook experience with all the latest features enabled. This includes more advanced features like Facebook Stories, AR effects, Facebook Gaming, and more recent options. The news feed, photos, chat, profiles, and Pages all reflect the full-fledged desktop site. While more resource intensive, the Facebook app offers the most features.
Interactivity
Facebook Lite Interactivity
Facebook Lite supports core Facebook interactions like posting, commenting, reacting, chatting, and browsing the news feed. However, immersive interactive experiences like augmented reality effects, Story replies, polls, and gaming features are not available. The focus is on lightweight text and media interactions common to basic Facebook usage.
Facebook App Interactivity
The Facebook app provides full support for all interactive Facebook experiences like augmented reality selfie effects, interactive Story and Reel replies, polls, chat apps like Messenger, and HTML5 instant games. This allows more engaging ways to interact with friends and Pages beyond just scrolling, liking, and commenting. However, these advanced interactions require more processing power and bandwidth.
Messenger Experience
Facebook Lite Messenger
Facebook Lite provides access to basic Facebook Messenger functionality for chatting with friends and groups. You can send text messages, photos, stickers, and emoji to Facebook friends. However, more advanced Messenger capabilities like video calling, Messenger Rooms, and Messenger Kids are not included. Voice calling is available in some countries. The messenger experience is streamlined for text chats.
Facebook App Messenger
The full Messenger experience is seamlessly integrated with the Facebook app. You get access to all Messenger’s features like video and voice calling, Messenger Rooms, Messenger Kids, chat bots, payments, and Messenger on desktop. This allows richer communication with voice and video chatting. However, these advanced messenger features require greater device capabilities and bandwidth.
Advertisements and Sales
Facebook Lite Ads
Facebook Lite displays the same Facebook ads as the regular app and website. You will see News Feed ads, suggested posts, boosted posts, and ads in the Messenger inbox based on your demographics and interests. However, the ad experience is streamlined with some interactive ad units disabled, and fewer ads overall due to the simplified experience. Ads are tailored for developing markets.
Facebook App Ads
The Facebook app shows the full range of Facebook ad formats and options. This includes all the latest units like carousel ads, augmented reality try-on ads, playable ads, dynamic ads, and video ads. Advertisers can make use of advanced targeting and interactive features to deliver the most engaging promotions. However, the greater number of ads takes up more storage space and bandwidth.
Look and Feel
Facebook Lite Look and Feel
Facebook Lite uses a clean, sparse interface withstripped-down 2D graphics, simple icons, and minimal gradients. This allows quick loading and smooth scrolling performance. The UI is highly simplified compared to the main Facebook app with fewer tabs, options, and more focus on core tasks. There is less visual polish, but greater efficiency.
Facebook App Look and Feel
The Facebook app uses modern interface elements like cards, shadows, gradients, custom fonts, 3D touch, and slide-out menus to match the look of the desktop website. Detailed profile photos, high-resolution media, and card animations provide an immersive, engaging visual experience. However, these graphical effects increase loading times and storage requirements.
Updates and Support
Facebook Lite Updates
Facebook Lite receives periodic updates to fix bugs and improve performance. However, new features are added relatively infrequently, with a focus on retaining the lightweight experience. Support resources are limited compared to the main Facebook app and gaps in functionality are unlikely to be addressed. The priority is keeping core functions stable and fast.
Facebook App Updates
The Facebook app for iOS and Android is updated frequently with new features and interface changes to match the desktop site. Support resources like Facebook’s Help Center provide detailed troubleshooting guides and customer support contact options. Facebook prioritizes keeping the main app robust and fully-featured, though this requires regular app updates.
Privacy
Facebook Lite Privacy
Facebook Lite requests access to basic device permissions required to function, like identity, storage, WiFi, and location. Lite has access to all personal data like posts, friends, photos, and profile information. Data may be used for advertising purposes like other Facebook services. Standard Facebook privacy settings and tools apply.
Facebook App Privacy
The Facebook app requests access to additional permissions like the camera, microphone, contacts, and sensors to enable more interactive features. All user data like posts, connections, and profile info is accessible and may be used for ads. Facebook App and Lite share the same privacy policy and tools like Activity Log and facial recognition controls.
Accessibility
Facebook Lite Accessibility Features
Facebook Lite provides streamlined accessibility features like screen reader support, contrast changes, and text size customization. However, more advanced tools like voice control, text captions, and navigation assistance available on the main Facebook app are not included. The simplified interface does make the app more usable for those with cognitive disabilities.
Facebook App Accessibility Features
The Facebook app offers full support for Android and iOS accessibility features that make it usable for those with disabilities. This includes voice control, talkback, text captioning, magnification tools, navigation assistance, and more. The Facebook Help Center also provides guides to using Facebook with different disabilities. However, the complex interface can still present challenges.
User Base
Facebook Lite User Demographics
Facebook Lite has launched primarily across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. It’s estimated to have over 1 billion downloads to date. The majority of users are in developing countries and tend to be younger users with lower incomes and educational attainment according to Facebook’s internal data. Facebook Lite caters to this demographic specifically.
Facebook App User Demographics
Facebook has around 2.96 billion global monthly active users on mobile, the majority concentrated in North America and Europe according to Statista. Users tend to be younger, but the app is popular across age groups. Income and education levels vary, though tend to be higher on average than Lite. The ubiquitous app has very broad mainstream reach and adoption.
Cost
Facebook Lite Cost
Facebook Lite is free to download and use with no upfront cost. It displays the same Facebook ads as the regular app, which constitutes Facebook’s business model. Users pay indirectly by providing data and viewing ads. Certain functions like calling require payment for credits, but the basic app is free.
Facebook App Cost
Like Facebook Lite, the main Facebook app is free to download with no upfront cost for the basic functionality. Revenue comes from ads targeted using user data. Additional features may require payment like Facebook Credits for gifts or Creator subscriptions. But the core app experience remains free in exchange for ads and data.
Pros and Cons
Facebook Lite Pros
- Optimized for slower phones and networks
- Uses less data and storage
- Provides core Facebook functions
- Simplified interface is easy to use
- Good for regions with expensive data
- Adds basic Messenger support
Facebook Lite Cons
- Missing many newer Facebook features
- Lower quality photo/video sharing
- Limited support resources
- Primarily available only on Android
- Less interactive experience
- Not ideal for optimal Facebook experience
Facebook App Pros
- Full Facebook experience with all features
- High resolution photos and videos
- Immersive interactive experiences
- Advanced Messenger capabilities
- Frequent updates with new features
- Extensive support resources
Facebook App Cons
- Requires newer high-end smartphones
- Uses more data and storage
- Drains battery faster
- Too resource heavy for older phones
- Complex interface with steeper learning curve
Verdict
Facebook Lite is best suited for people with budget smartphones and limited data plans who still want access to basic Facebook functionality. It provides a stripped down, fast Facebook experience optimized for slower networks and devices with constraints on storage, RAM, and processing. However, it lacks more advanced features and interactivity.
The full Facebook app delivers the complete Facebook experience with all the newest features and options enabled. It provides a graphically rich, interactive, immersive Facebook environment. But it requires a fairly modern high-end smartphone with ample storage, RAM, processor power, and internet connectivity.
So in summary, Facebook Lite makes Facebook usable on older budget smartphones in developing markets, while the Facebook app brings the full experience to modern flagship smartphones and robust networks. The choice depends on your device, network, and desired features.