Google’s Circle to Search could be expanded to more Android devices

Google’s visual search feature Circle to Search is being expanded to more Android devices, according to a new leak. The artificial intelligence (AI) feature that lets users quickly perform a web search on any visual element on the screen is currently only available on select Samsung and Pixel smartphones. However, that could change as a tipster claims that the Circle to Search feature will be added to the Tecno V Fold 2, which launched on Friday.

Circle to Search may be added to more Android devices

The feature made its debut in January with the Samsung Galaxy S24 series and was later expanded to older Galaxy smartphones and the Pixel smartphone series. Nine months later, the feature has stopped appearing in other smartphone brands. However, tipster Mishaal Rahman claimed in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) that Circle to Search will be coming to the Tecno V Fold 2.

Google is reportedly planning to expand Circle to Search to more Android phones next month, ending the feature’s exclusivity on Pixel and Samsung phones.

Several reviewers of the TECNO Phantom V Fold 2, including @bencsin and Nicholas Sutrich of Android Central, were told… photo.twitter.com/jssMYP1j1C

— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) September 13, 2024

Rahman shared an image of the feature on the Tecno foldable and claimed that the visual lookup feature will also be rolled out to “more Android phones next month”, ending Pixel and Samsung’s monopoly on it for good. The tipster did not share the source of the information.

Circle to Search is a visual lookup tool that can be accessed by long-pressing the Home button or the Power button on a compatible device. Once activated, the user can highlight an area on the screen by circling it, and the feature will automatically perform a visual web search to provide more information. Users can also use it to translate or copy text.

Despite the feature being relatively exclusive, Google has been steadily expanding its functionality and adding new ways to use the AI ​​feature. Last month, a report claimed that the tech giant was working on a “crop and share” functionality that would allow users to crop a portion of an image and share it directly with friends and family via third-party apps. The feature can also identify songs and music playing on the device or nearby.