UPDATE 8/2: Outlook Lite is now available for Android in 14 countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Mexico, Peru, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and Venezuela.
As TechCrunch reports, the app is less than 5MB in size, which is impressive when you consider the regular Outlook app is over 80MB. According to the listing on Google Play, Outlook Lite works with Outlook, Hotmail, Live, MSN, Microsoft 365, and Microsoft Exchange Online email accounts and offers access to emails, calendars, and contacts (it also contains ads).
Although not officially confirmed yet, it's expected Microsoft will allow other countries to start using Outlook Lite in the near future, and hopefully before the end of August.
Original Story 7/4:
Microsoft is expected to launch an Outlook Lite app for Android later this month aimed at low-end devices worldwide.
As ZDNet reports, a reference to Outlook: Outlook Lite for Android was added to the Microsoft 365 Roadmap on June 30 with General Availability listed as July 2022. The app description simply states, An Android app that brings the main benefits of Outlook in a smaller app size with fast performance for low-end devices on any network.
Microsoft has offered an Outlook app for Android for years, but this looks to be a simplified version allowing Microsoft's email client to be available to a much broader user base. The worldwide availability and reference to any network suggests Microsoft sees the potential to grab some market share in developing countries and locations where 5G, and possibly even 4G, isn't an option.
Outlook Lite isn't actually new. Microsoft has been offering a lighter Outlook app in a few countries already, but it was limited to personal accounts and therefore couldn't be used for school or business purposes. This new version of Outlook Lite will likely remove such limitations and may end up being a preferable option even for those users on fast 5G connections and high-end smartphones.
If this sounds familiar, it's most likely because Facebook did a similar thing several years ago. Back in 2015 the social network launched a Facebook Lite app for emerging markets. Then in 2018, Facebook realized developed countries endure slow connections, too, and allowed US users to download the Lite app. It's still available on Google Play, but the reviews are far from positive. Let's hope Outlook Lite fares better.