5 Android apps you shouldn’t miss this week and all the latest app news (Feb 19 to 25, 2024)

Welcome to the 523rd edition of Android Apps Weekly, where we discuss the latest in mobile news and take a closer look at some of the most interesting new apps and games. Let’s jump right in and take a look at some of the biggest highlights from the last week:

• Google Pay is following the way of the dodo, it seems, with Google Wallet fully taking its place. Google has announced it will be sunsetting the app, and it will be completely unavailable after June 4th of this year. Users will be able to view and transfer their balance even after then using the Google Pay website.
• Google unveiled a new AI model this week, named Gemma. The new open-source AI model isn’t as full-fledged as Gemini but is perfect for smaller, lightweight projects. 
• After introducing the Gemini app as an opt-in download recently, Google has now begun phasing Assistant out by default.  When you download the Assistant app you’ll get Gemini and have to manually switch it back. 
• Google Messages may soon be getting new camera effects, as spotted recently in several flags discovered within the app. That’s not the only change in the works, as Google may also be experimenting with removing top contacts during search and a few other small changes. 
• Google is testing a new AI feature in the Play Store called App Highlights. This new feature summarizes key points around an app, making it easier to cut through description fluff and get to the bottom of what an app offers. For now, the feature remains available only for a lucky few users. 
• Android Authority’s latest APK teardown of Snapchat indicates the company is working on a new feature called Tiny Snaps. In short, the feature lets you record a small Snap while taking messages. While we don’t know anything official about the feature, it seems likely the idea is to capture a user’s reactions as they type new messages.
• This week Google revealed how Assistant AI summaries will work on Android Auto capable vehicles. The new feature will summarize both group chats and individual texts with over 40 words, giving you a more to-the-point message that you can easily respond to with your voice. 

Android Apps Weekly: New apps and games

Looking for some new Android apps and Android games to keep you occupied? This week saw two new apps worth highlighting, as well as three great games.