Circle to Search tends to be a flagship feature of Android. Google is gradually improving and expanding it, but a new step could be taken soon. The company is reportedly looking to add an alternative, using Google Lens on Android smartphones.
What if almost all Android smartphones benefited from Circle to Search in less than two months? Indeed, Google will hold its Made by Google conference on August 13, to announce Android updates. A perfect moment, but which could in fact be an opportunity to offer an alternative to Circle to Search: a revisited Google Lens. And clues appear in the Google app, as revealed Android Authority.
Towards an evolution of Google Lens?
As a reminder, Circle to Search allows you to search by circling what is displayed on your screen. Practical for finding the perfect pair of sunglasses, or for getting more information about a place. It is in recent versions of the beta version of the Google application thatAndroid Authority has made some discoveries about Circle to Search. In fact, it would be added on many Android smartphones.
Source : Android Authority
Source : Android Authority
Source : Android Authority
The English-speaking journalists managed to activate a pop-up window in Google Lens: it mentions that you can search on the screen directly, simply by holding down the home button. This is the same operation as with Circle to Search, which also replaces the Google Assistant or Gemini activation button. The feature, when enabled, sort of scans the smartphone screen to identify text and images. You can circle any area to select text, an image, and thus carry out searches with it.
Google’s ambitions for Circle to Search, not without alternatives
In reality, these findings in Google Lens are a reflection of Google’s ambitions for this feature. The company wants to bring together 200 million users by the end of the year, or at least 200 million compatible devices. While Circle to Search was only available on the Galaxy S24s initially, it was extended to Google Pixels a few weeks after its launch.
Besides, Android Authority reveals that on-screen search via Google Lens would be tested on iOS and even on Chrome on computers, by Google. The latter would therefore intend to offer an alternative to Circle to Search that is in fact Google Lens. Enough to offer on-screen search availability to many Android users, although we do not understand why Circle to Search remains limited to a few models.
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