Google could make some progress on its Circle to Search expansion plans starting next month. The Circle to Search feature is exclusively available on a limited number of Pixel and Samsung Galaxy models and has quickly become one of the more popular applications of AI on recent smartphones. The feature made a debut earlier this year so it’s a relatively new function that we assumed Google would keep limited for a few more months, but rumors suggest the Circle to Search tool is expanding to more Android models this year.
Google Circle Search Expansion Confirmed by Smartphone Maker TECHNO
We know that the Circle to Search is expanding to more Android phones in the next month because Chinese smartphone maker TECNO confirmed to sources that it will be available on its latest Phantom V Fold 2 smartphone in October. Multiple reviewers of the TECNO device such as YouTuber Ben Sin and Android Central were rumored to have been informed of the feature well ahead of the smartphone’s debut.
Seeing the Circle to Search tool on non-Galaxy phones is unsurprising—but the speed of its arrival is a tad bit surprising, even though it shouldn’t be. When the feature was formally introduced at the beginning of the year, it was clear that it was going to be an exclusive Google and Samsung capability, at least initially.
However, during the Google I/O event where we learned more about Google’s AI features, the company announced its ambitions to expand to over 200 million devices by the end of 2024. This would not be possible if the company planned to maintain exclusivity as it would mean selling an unbelievable number of units from the latest lineup for both Google and Samsung. The integration in the TECNO smartphone may be the first step towards expanding further through the Android ecosystem but it likely won’t be the last.
What is the Circle to Search Feature?
The Google to Circle Search tool on Android phones allows specific gestures on the screen to translate into a search action. A user with the latest Pixel 9 Pro Fold might see a celebrity wearing something they really like and they could circle the image on their device to look up the designer or what the product is priced at. By pressing the home button or navigation bar, they can activate the tool and then use gestures to select the item they want to know more about.
Gestures like scribbling on the object or highlighting text work just as efficiently. The search feature can also be paired with text prompts to satisfy your curiosity. So, if you see a dish and want to know what it is and confirm that it is gluten-free, you can type out your question alongside the gesture.
Only a month ago, Google’s Circle to Search capabilities also expanded to music detection, allowing users to detect the sound playing on the device or in their environment. The tool also allows users to sing or hum to try and search for a song and, our poor musicality aside, it’s quite a useful tool. While apps already exist for this very reason, Google eliminates the need for a third-party app and allows you to find what you need without ever having to leave the app.
The Google Circle to Search update works quite similarly to the Google Lens tool which allows you to look up information for stored images or from the world around you, but the one benefit is that you never need to leave the app you’re currently on. Apple is just getting to introduce its own Google lens competitor, Visual Intelligence, so if you’re an iOS user, you can look forward to its arrival exclusively on the iPhone 16 series instead.
The Apple feature has been mocked for repackaging a tool that already exists, but even when the Circle to Search feature was introduced, many were quick to point out that you could achieve almost the same results by activating your Google assistant. Most features that are “revolutionary applications of AI” today continue to be slightly enhanced versions of existing tools, but they all succeed in cutting down the friction between the user and the intended results on their device.
Which Brands Get to Capitalize on Google’s Circle to Search Expansion?
Google hasn’t made any statements on its Circle to Search expansion plans or any announcements on exclusive deals on who gets to utilize the feature. We’re going to assume that all flagship devices from other brands like OnePlus and Motorola running on the Android systems could be expected to showcase the feature from here on out.
With Circle to Search expanding across Android, we also find ourselves wondering if there is any potential for backward compatibility with older models. All signs point to the feature being exclusively available on the latest Android phones, but there could be room for a few older models to get the Google Circle to Search update eventually. Older Pixel and Samsung models have already seen the feature trickle down to them, but will we see Circle to Search on older non-Galaxy or non-Pixel phones? For now, it is unlikely.