Virtual assistants are no longer a joke, and are now integrated in our daily lives thanks to an ever improving system of voice recognition and increased integration in external services. Nowadays there are many companies that are trying to get a piece of the pie in this inhospitable sector, which in 2017 established itself as a useful function for users of all levels. Android is one of the most influential platforms for these services, so we are going to run down some of the most popular virtual assistants and comment on their most interesting aspects.

As shown by these data from Google Trends, at the highest levels the battle is fought between four main actors: Assistant, Alexa, Cortana, and Bixby. Others are still on the way, like the recently abandoned Facebook M, but the truth is that no other companies have a knowledge base as great as that stored by Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and to a lesser extent, Samsung.

Google Assistant

Let’s start with the most known and ‘accessible’. Google’s virtual assistant was born from the ashes of Google Now and is now integrated into Google’s operating system (or more specifically, the Google app on the system), so that any Android device with Android 6.0 or higher can use it. Better yet, in 2017 several other languages were added to the roster, including Spanish.

As for its functionality, you need look no further than the wide range of services that Google offers to see its potential. It can do everything from searching for things as specific as the main actor in a movie to more personal information like reservations or the fastest way home. The level of humanization of the system is so high that you can ask it pretty much any question in natural speech and the answer will be on the nose. Talking to your phone all day has never been more fun.

  • Languages:  English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Hindi, Japanese, and Korean
  • Requirements: Android 6.0 or higher.
  • Download APK

google assistant featured Here are the best virtual assistants available on Android

Amazon Alexa

Amazon has managed to carve out its own niche by integrating its virtual assistant in a variety of products that are closer to home automation than smartphone assistants, although in the end it seems that other companies will also go down this path. Because of this you will need one of their external hardware products like those of the Amazon Echo line, which has seen widespread integration in other products like lighting systems, televisions, and air conditioning systems. Plus, it was just announced at CES 2018 that Amazon Alexa will arrive on Windows 10, where Cortana could lose some ground despite its many functionalities. The Android app is restricted to countries with official Amazon support, but you can always install it via APK without region restrictions if you want to give it a try.

So what does Amazon Alexa actually do? Many things, including all of the standard functions of a virtual assistant like humanizing search results from various Amazon services (their shop, music platform, etc.), plus the ability to interact with physical elements like lighting and heating in a home. Obviously to take advantage of this you will need to buy products that are compatible with the system, but given the extensive integration of these product in many homes, they are becoming more and more accessible every day. One drawback is that it doesn’t have many languages, and at the moment it only understands English, German, and Japanese, but they are working on international versions.

  • Languages: English
  • Requirements: Android 5.0, Amazon Echo or similar external hardware.
  • Download APK

Cortana

You can’t deny that Microsoft has been doing a great job moving its services to the Android platform now that Windows Mobile is out of the picture. The virtual assistant from Windows 10 made the jump to smartphones several months ago, but only as a ‘preliminary’ version and Microsoft had little room to expand in the market dominated by Google. Fortunately, they’ve been making slow improvements like integration with the Microsoft Launcher and unexpected moves like the agreement with Cheetah Mobile to use Cortana in its popular CM Launcher.

Although the market never moves in its favor, the connection between PCs and mobile devices is the ace in Microsoft’s sleeve. The use of native Windows apps is the best reason to use Cortana, and represents a welcome escape from duplicate calendars, email accounts, and agendas that plague the Windows/Android lives of many. Granted, they need to get to work on localizing the app into different languages. Currently, even Spanish isn’t available in the Android app until future updates.

  • Languages: English (in app).
  • Requirements: Android 4.4 or higher
  • Download APK

Bixby

The number of Samsung devices on the market is incredible, as demonstrated in our recent 2017 Android app usage report, which stated that 38% of Uptodown visitors were using one of their devices. So it made sense to make their own virtual assistant, which was launched alongside the Galaxy S8 line. And another point in its favor: it’s already available in Spanish.

Bixby is included in Samsung’s apps as a basic package of search functions, like questions and interactions with your own information, such as contacts, location, and photographs. In addition to this, they are starting to release external devices that also integrate the service. In CES 2018 they presented a new line of televisions that integrate the virtual assistant, alongside many other home appliances that are coming soon.

  • Languages: English, Spanish, Korean, and Chinese
  • Requirements: Android 4.4 or higher

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