Similar, but not exactly the same. Contact groups are more of a memory aid. You just need to be able to find the person, and most of the time this is the only c

Similar, but not exactly the same. Contact groups are more of a memory aid. You just need to be able to find the person, and most of the time this is the only consideration. Circles involve privacy and thus they also involve social considerations. For instance, I'd have all my f* buddies in the same group but not in the same circle. People who I don't want to discuss my stuff together I wouldn't have in the same circle, and this happens a lot. That said, it's been a while I don't even use contact groups, I have just 2 lists: people I actively communicate with (time doesn't allow for a ton of these) and people I seldom communicate with, or whose contact I may or may not need. I've also learnt to delete people who I don't need or want in my contacts, and found it to be a great life-hack.