New Google app update hints at Google Assistant on non-Pixel smartphones

Google revamped Google Now last year into the Google Assistant; it was announced alongside Android 7.1.1 Nougat. However it was said to be limited to the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones.

While it is rumoured that the LG G6 could be the first smartphone apart from the Pixel range to feature the new assistant, we could see more phones added to the list.

A new alpha version of the Google app with version number 6.13 was released for users signed up to the beta channel. The release suggests that Google might release an updated version of the app bundled with the new Assistant.

According to Android Police, the app enables the Assistant when you hold down the Home button (just like ‘Now on Tap’). It was tested on a Galaxy Note 5 running Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow as well as a Nexus 6P running on the latest 7.1.1 Nougat update.

Of course it is still an unfinished build, but it is good to know that Google is tinkering with its new Assistant and trying to bring it to other devices. Something similar had happened when the Google Now launched was released exclusively to Nexus owners. Eventually the Google Launcher was released on the Play Store as a standalone app  for all the smartphones.

We wouldn’t advise you to try out the alpha build though, as it could damage your phone’s software.