2016 has been a good year for Google on the hardware front.
The Pixel (and XL) is earning rave countless reviews for its software and outstanding camera, the Daydream headset is making mobile VR more accessible than ever, and the Google Home is shaping up to be the perfect voice assistant at home.
Android Flying The Google Flag
But let’s not forget, Android is probably the operating system that has its reach in all corners of the globe, with mobile phones manufacturers across the world adopting it.
According to IDC, as of Q2 2016, Android now holds 87.6% of the worldwide smartphone market share.
Backing up these Android phones is the Play Store, and being the end of the year, Google has compiled its “Best Of 2016” as told by users worldwide.
Here’s a look at the different categories.
Top Trending Apps 2016
It’s the year of Augmented Reality filters thanks to Snapchat, and with it came the rise of the top trending app of 2016.
Called Face Changer 2, the app’s name is pretty self-explanatory. At number 5, there’s a similar app called MSQRD that’s also on the charts.
Runners-up include a photo editor (Lumyer), podcast radio app (Castbox), and finally, an Emoji Keyboard.
2. Lumyer – Photo & Selfie Editor
3. Castbox – Podcast Radio Music
Top Trending Games 2016
Pokémon GO is still going strong despite a huge dip in active users after the initial hype died down.
During the holiday season, they introduced events that players can easily earn points and items from, and even released another Pokemon, Ditto, into the wild.
In second place is Clash Royale by Supercell, the creators of Clash of Clans.
Other runners up include Traffic Rider – a motorcycle simulator, Slither – a PvP game with worms, and Dream League Soccer – a soccer game with all your favourite teams.
Top 5 Streamed Songs 2016
If you didn’t already know, the Play Store is more than just about apps and games.
First up is the top five songs of 2016, all of which feature tracks that have at one point have made it into your playlist this year.
Here, we see the usual suspects like Twenty One Pilots, Justin Bieber, Drake, The Chainsmokers and G-Eazy.
1. Stressed Out – Twenty One Pilots
2. Sorry – Justin Bieber
3. One Dance (feat. WizKid & Kyla) – Drake
4. Don’t Let Me Down (feat. Daya) – The Chainsmokers
5. Me, Myself & I – G-Eazy
Top 5 Movies 2016
Next is movies, and it is mostly a comic book affair.
The merc with the mouth is king as Deadpool takes the number one spot. Second, unsurprisingly, goes to Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and this is followed by Zootopia, a favourite among kids and the kids at heart.
The last two spots belong to the two superhero team-up movies of the year, with Captain America: Civil War and Batman V Superman taking fourth and fifth place respectively.
1. Deadpool
2. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
3. Zootopia
4. Captain America: Civil War
5. Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice
Top 5 TV Shows 2016
For TV Shows, everyone’s favourite fantasy-drama Game of Thrones sits on the Iron Throne.
Second through fourth sees the usual binge-watching suspects as The Walking Dead, The Big Bang Theory and Mr Robot all ranked accordingly as watched by you.
Comic book heroes are represented by The Flash, as portrayed by Grant Gustin, and is still a firm top choice among all the comic book adaptations for television.
1. Game of Thrones
2. The Walking Dead
3. The Big Bang Theory
4. Mr. Robot
5. The Flash
Top 5 Books 2016
Deadpool is back again, and in this ranking, hits the bulls-eye for being the most popular book in the Play Store, with the appearance of Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe by Cullen Bunn.
J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, The Girl on the Train, and Me Before You hold a spot each for the top books on Android.
Of course, when considering this genre, you can’t have a ranking of top books without Sun Tzu’s The Art Of War.
1. Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe by Cullen Bunn
2. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, Jack Thorne
3. The Girl on the Train: A Novel by Paula Hawkins
5. Me Before You: A Novel by Jojo Moyes
That’s It For 2016, But What Will 2017 Hold?
There you have it, all the best apps and content on the Play Store for 2016.
With 2017 just around the corner, and phones and devices packing in more features than ever, apps will soon evolve – so next year’s list may just look a whole lot different.
