This article covers Facebook for Android version 2.0. Features, requirements, and availability reflect the app at the time of publication.
Facebook updated its Android app to version 2.0, rebuilding it with native code in a similar move to the company’s earlier Facebook for iOS update.
The result was a much faster app. Facebook said version 2.0 was twice as fast as the previous release, with improvements across everyday actions such as navigation, scrolling, opening links, and viewing photos.
- Rebuilt with native code for faster performance.
- News Feed and Timeline load more quickly.
- Photos open faster for likes and comments.
- Introduced a new Stories bar.
A faster Facebook experience
There were no major new social features in this release. Instead, Facebook focused on making the app feel faster in the places people used most, from moving through the News Feed to opening photos and switching between screens.
The native-code rebuild was a significant change for Android users, giving Facebook a more responsive feel while keeping the familiar tools for sharing updates, photos, videos, messages, and chat.
- Price: Free
- Original requirement: Varies with device
- Download from Google Play
What’s new in Facebook for Android 2.0
- News Feed and Timeline load faster.
- Photos open with one tap for quicker likes and comments.
- A new Stories bar shows more stories without refreshing.
Facebook also shared technical details on the work behind the faster app in its original announcement.