Say hello to Google Assistant on Android
Google has announced that it’s time to let more customers enjoy the company of its virtual helper. Google Assistant, revealed at the Google I/O event in May 2016, is now present on the Google Pixel smartphone, Google Home, and Android Wear 2.0. But it’ll soon be coming to more Android mobiles through an over-the-air software update.
What is Google Assistant?
If you’ve never heard of Google Assistant, you’re probably wondering why this is such a big deal. Well - Apple has Siri. Microsoft has Cortana. Amazon has Alexa. And Android-run devices – for a long time – were silent. (Of course, we're not forgetting about Google Now, which has been present for a while, but it's not conversational in the same way the others are).
Only recently has Google introduced Google Assistant on its first standalone smartphone, Google Pixel. And after what we could call a ‘successful trial run’, it’s ready for the rest of the Android family.
Must read: Meet Google Assistant
Which devices will support Google Assistant?
Google confirmed that it would start rolling out software updates to Marshmallow and Nougat-ready handsets as of 26 February 2017. And although it appears the update is taking a little while to arrive here the UK, it’ll bring Google Assistant with it.
As Google is an American company, the update will start in the States, and then make its way to the UK, Australia, Canada, and Germany soon after.
There hasn’t been official confirmation on which devices will be getting Google Assistant, but as it’s part of a Google Play Services update, many devices are thoughts to be compatible. Our best guess at the moment would be something along the lines of:
It was confirmed last week at Mobile World Congress that the new Nokia smartphone range will all support Google Assistant too, launching with Android Nougat.
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