Market Helper

Market Helper is an app that helps your Android device appear as another Android device to services that request that information.

When you connect to the Google Play store, it knows your make, model, OS version and a host of other details. On one hand, it uses this information to serve you better. It won’t, for instance, let you download apps that aren’t compatible with your device. On the other hand, this can be used against you. A common scenario is proprietary apps that block all devices of any other make.

With Market Helper, you can make your Android tablet or smartphone appear as another make and model. You can even make your phone appear as a tablet and vice versa. This works with Google Play but isn’t limited to it. Practically any service that makes decisions based on make, model and similar data can be fooled. That lets you download popular yet restricted apps, such as WhatsApp.

This app is very simple to use. Simply download it, run it, and then, select your make and model from the provided dropdown lists. It’s rare that the app should lack a make or model you need or want. Once the change is made, that should be reflected from within settings in mere seconds. Note that some devices will require a reboot, which is no fault of the app and can make frequent changes a hassle.

Market Helper requires only Android OS 2.2, which means it will work with almost all Android smartphones and tablets still in use. Unfortunately, it requires a rooted device. If you can’t root yours or don’t know what that means, then this app won’t work for you.

Pros

• Appear as almost any Android make and model
• Simple to use

Cons

• Requires a rooted device