If you recently caught your Galaxy phone performing a Google Play Services update and are unsure what it was about, chances are you got new Play Store filters and tweaks for improved app browsing. Google has just added an “Other devices” section to its Play Store app that allows Android users to browse apps for different types of hardware.
The new categories are Watch (Wear OS), (Android) TV, Car (Automotive), Chromebook (ChromeOS), and Tablet. They all show up when accessing the Apps section of the Play Store, although the “Car” category is not listed when browsing Games.
Play Store Android app browsing for multi-device users
The five new “Other devices” filters are visible to all. You will see them regardless of whether or not you have a watch, Chromebook, tablet, TV, or car that supports Play Store apps. However, if you do own one of these devices, chances are that you'll see an “Optimized for your device” section.
Otherwise, under these five new filters, users can browse app categories such as Trending apps, Google's favorite picks, Entertainment, Educational, and Creativity apps, Stylus-friendly apps for tablets, and even browse apps for the Android Automotive platform that help you “Pass time while parked.”
Obviously, the goal here is for Google to make owning multiple Android-based devices easier from the perspective of app browsing. This “Other devices” filter probably won't help exclusive smartphone users but will be appreciated by Play Store users with more than one type of Android device. And it comes at an appropriate time, given that Google recently expanded its device portfolio with a Pixel Watch, a tablet, and even a foldable phone.
Samsung could learn from this update and implement similar filters to its Galaxy Store. If not for cars and TVs, then at least for Chromebooks, tablets, and smartwatches. The company has the most expansive Android device ecosystem, after all.
