Google Circle to Search feature was first introduced with the Samsung Galaxy S24 series launched early this year. Google later shipped this feature to the Pixel 8 series.
The focus for the Galaxy S24 series was Galaxy AI which brought its suite of AI and Generative AI-powered features to their 2024 flagship lineup.
Galaxy AI features both on-device and Cloud-based processing with skills like live translate calling, generative photo editing, Note Assist that summarizes, formats and translates notes.
The best feature by far is Google Circle to Search, a new way to search on your Android phone by circling, highlighting, scribbling or tapping what you’re curious about. This feature allows you to round up answers fast without switching apps with just a long press on the home button or navigation bar, you activate Circle to Search.
You can choose items with preferred gestures, like circling sunglasses or scribbling a bag, to quickly find similar, shoppable options from online retailers. It’s a fluid process that keeps you engaged without interrupting your current activity.
Samsung is rolling out the Google Circle to Search feature and a few Galaxy AI features to its older flagships later this year such as the S23 FE, the S23 series, the Tab S9 series, the Z Fold5 and the Z Flip 5, the S22 series, the Z Fold4 and the Z Flip 4, Tab S8 series, the Z Fold3 and the Z Flip3, the S21 series.
Google plans to ship the Circle to Search feature to other non-Samsung and non-Pixel devices later this year. You’ll have to wait until October to see this feature on OPPO, OnePlus, Infinix, TECNO, Vivo and other Android smartphone brands. It will probably come out of the box with the upcoming Pixel 9 which will reportedly launch around this time.
Google will likely license the Circle to Search feature so other Android smartphone makers will have to pay up just as they do to ship Android with their devices.
It’s worth noting that these smartphone companies already have their AI features with their custom Android user interfaces such as OPPO’s AndesGPT, AI-powered Ella on TECNO, AI-powered Folax on Infinix, and HyperOS AI-powered features on Xiaomi.
