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Finding Device Compatibility

A

ajd1123

Lurker
Hi guys.
I am planning to buy a new Android phone. However before investing my money, I want to know if the apps I want are compatible with the phone I will buy. Last time I bought an android, many of the apps were incompatible. So don't want to make the same mistake this time around. Is there any way of finding app compatibility without needing to log into Play Store using that phone?
Thanks in advance.
 
It generally depends on what OS level the phone is. For instance, Google Play will say “Requires Android: 2.2 and up,” or whatever number that app requires.
 
Typically nowadays if you get a device with Android 4.0 or higher you will not really have any compatibility issues.

Unless you are trying to get Adobe Flash Player, but even then there are work-arounds that I have seen that work to get Flash Player back on your device.
 
Actually I have seen that the requirement Android 2.2 up does not matter much. My earlier device had Android 2.3.6 but it still could not run many apps that said 2.2 up in the requirement. So you guys are saying that Ice-cream Sandwich upwards, I won't have any compatibility issues?
 
ajd1123 said:
Actually I have seen that the requirement Android 2.2 up does not matter much. My earlier device had Android 2.3.6 but it still could not run many apps that said 2.2 up in the requirement. So you guys are saying that Ice-cream Sandwich upwards, I won't have any compatibility issues?
Click to expand...

Pretty much no. Since it has been out for some time all applications have pretty much been updated to suit ICS.
 
You also have to consider hardware. For example, Instagram works on phones that have Android 2.2 and up, but then it also requires that the phone have a graphics chip that is capable of OpenGL 2.0 support. This excludes a unit like the Galaxy Pocket for example, which despite having Android 2.3.6, does not have the hardware requirement Instagram has.

If you don't want to have any app incompatibility, you have to push for the higher end units. One barometer you can measure up against is the specs for the original Galaxy S: a 1Ghz A8 processor, an OpenGL 2.0 capable graphics unit, and 512MB RAM. That's probably the lowest you can go with minimal app incompatibility. Most of what you'll find incompatible to those specs are the newer games, but for non game apps, they all run as far as I can find. So you need to find something that has better specs than that and you'll be fine.
 
If you want the absolute best chance at compatibility I'd recommend grabbing a Nexus device from Google (Nexus S, Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4), they don't won't have Samsung/HTC customizations that might break apps, just nice clean stock Android. Generally these days most apps should work on any given ICS+ device.
 
I'm going to add a vote for the Nexus 4: not only is it a top notch phone, it's like really, really cheap ..

.. when you can get one.
 
Some developers are behind in updating their apps to be compatible with Jelly Bean. Can't name any off the top of my head. Not a huge deal, just something to consider.
Scour the Play Store online for the apps you have to have and ensure they'll work.
Welcome to the world of Android. :)
 
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