Google Tool Helps Find the Best Android Phone for You
Source: Stephanie Mlot
Whether you're a super-secret super-spy, a touring rock star, or a busy civil servant, Google wants to help you pick the right Android smartphone.
A new website―android.com/phones/whichphone―asks users to answer three or more questions about their preferences and lifestyle, then suggests a number of suitable devices.
"With many Android phones to choose from, here's a great place to start," the site's landing page says, above a looping conveyor belt of different cartoon consumers.
Do you prefer to snap photos and listen to music on your handset? Or play games and make phone calls? Choose at least three of Google's 12 options, which include "being productive," "social media," and "expressing my style."
Each preference directs you to a second screen, where you'll be asked about how often you use a certain feature. Some also inquire about the most important functions of a phone. Do you track physical activity less than two times a week, or every day? Would heart-pumping playlists and a constant calorie counter help your workouts?
Select only three―watching videos, being on the go, text and instant messaging―or all 12; hover the mouse over any of the boxes to edit your answer, or remove it from the running.
When you're ready, tap the green "Show Me Phones" button, choose your carrier (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, or Verizon), and let Google's algorithms do the rest. On the results page, drop-down menus allow the filtering of results like carrier, size, and price; you can also request to see only the latest phones.
A quick test of the site by PCMag highlights Samsung, HTC, and LG phones and phablets, each with a photos and a long list of specs.
If Google sells you on a new device, click "Shop Now." Otherwise, save the list to your email and refer to it later, when you're ready to make a purchase.
For those Android users eyeing iPhone, meanwhile, Apple said this week that iOS 9 will include an app that makes it easier to switch mobile operating systems.
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