Instagram Lite app is now available in India as well. It now weighs 2MB and has gained more functionality. Instagram Lite was launched back in 2018 to select developing countries but the company took it down this year in May. However, as promised by the company, the app was re-launched in September but this is the first time the company has officially announced its availability.
The stripped-down version of the Instagram app weighed only 573KB at its debut and now it has gained significant weight, though it is still “Lite.” It is now 2MB in size as it gets some features from the full-fledged Instagram app. As described in the “About the app” section, the Instagram Lite app now allows the users to send and receive messages. You can now also add Stories to have more fun.
Instagram Lite does not include the new “Reels,” a feature that first went official in India and Brazil and became globally available in August this year. “Reels” is a TikTok clone integrated inside Instagram, allowing users to create short videos and share them with the world. This is available directly on the home screen of the grown-up app alongside other options. But on the Instagram Lite app, this option is replaced by the “Search” icon. Another feature that Instagram Lite is deprived of is Shopping.
Speaking of other changes in the UI, other options in the bottom bar of the Instagram Lite app include “Home,” “Post” “Like” and the old-styled “Profile” icon. For comparison, you will see “Reels” in place of “Search” and other options are retained, though the Profile icon shows your display picture.
Instagram Lite hasn’t really omitted IGTV, though the feature is not available by its name and as a direct option. As pointed out by AndroidPolice in September, IGTV videos are signified by a generic video icon in an account’s tile view. Also, instead of “Watch IGTV Video,” these videos show “Watch Full Video” on their bottom left corner. Also, Instagram Lite’s description on Play Store reads, “Check out IGTV for longer videos from your favorite INSTA creators.” So, this shows the feature is still there and Instagram may bring it like a separate tab sometime in the near future.
In addition to this, you will not get access to effects and AR-based stickers while creating Stories. The Instagram Lite app is best suited for the phone with less memory and storage.
The app will be available in Bangla, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil, and Telugu.