Google's top Android apps of 2017 might surprise you
Google has just come out with its annual list of the top apps of the year, and some of its picks might surprise you.
This year, Google highlighted both its favorite new apps and the most popular new apps, not simply the most downloaded titles.
That means the list is full of new entries to the Play Store that many Android users probably don't know about. Making Google's list of the top five most popular new apps were:
Besides the most popular titles, Google also curated its own list of favorites, which may not have been among the most downloaded titles, but were ones the company's editors picked as standouts in various categories.
At the top of Google's "Best App" list is homework helper Socratic, which uses artificial intelligence to guide students through math and science homework problems. The app also won Google's "Best Hidden Gem" award.
Using the Socratic app, students can snap a photo of the problem they need help with, and the app breaks down the steps necessary to solve it. It also provides educational video and crowdsources extra help from fellow classmates for those that need additional support.
Other apps Google gave awards to included:
PicsArt Animator: Gif & Video (Most Entertaining)
Litsy (Best Social)
Simple Habit Meditation (Best Daily Helper)
Qapital (Most Innovative)
123 Numbers (Best for Kids)
On the gaming side, Google's top pick of the year was CATS: Crash Arena Turbo Stars, a complex game from the creators of Cut the Rope, which tasks players with building cars and battling each other to get ahead.
Meanwhile, the most popular new games of 2017, according to Google were:
Elsewhere on the list, Google revealed the most downloaded movies, TV shows, and books, which will likely come as little surprise. The most popular movie was Moana, the most popular TV show was Game of Thrones, and the most popular book was Mark Manson's The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck.
You can see Google's full lists of all of the Play Store's most popular content here.
Karissa was Mashable's Senior Tech Reporter, and is based in San Francisco. She covers social media platforms, Silicon Valley, and the many ways technology is changing our lives. Her work has also appeared in Wired, Macworld, Popular Mechanics, and The Wirecutter. In her free time, she enjoys snowboarding and watching too many cat videos on Instagram. Follow her on Twitter @karissabe.
