Google’s New “Circle to Search” Feature: The Good, The Bad, and The Funny
Ah, Google—the tech giant that somehow makes even the simplest tasks feel like a complex software update. And folks, they’ve just rolled out the expansion of their intriguing “Circle to Search” feature to nearly 100 Android devices. Seriously, are we living in the future or just in a really nerdy episode of Black Mirror? Let’s break this down.
What is “Circle to Search”? And No, It’s Not An Elaborate Yoga Pose!
First off, if you’re picturing some kind of instructional video on mindfulness and circles, think again! This is technology at its finest—an intelligent feature that helps users perform contextual searches just by drawing a circle around the desired text on their screen. While Google insists they’re all about making life easier, one can’t help but wonder if their ultimate goal is to see how many circles they can get people to draw on their phones. I mean, what’s next—“Square to Search”?
Expansion, Schmexpansion – What Devices Get the Privilege?
Now, let’s get to the juicy part—the devices that can use this hot-off-the-press feature. Included are the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Xiaomi 14T Pro. That’s right, folks! From high-end models to a ton of tablets, almost everyone gets a party invitation. But remember, just because you get an invite, doesn’t mean you’ll want to show up!
But Wait, There’s More! Sort Of…
Even amidst this celebratory tech expansion, discrepancies have popped up quicker than you can say “bug fix.” For instance, while the shiny Samsung Galaxy W22 is mentioned as compatible, it has a slight catch: it doesn’t offer Google services! It’s like giving someone the latest sneaker design that doesn’t come with laces. Good luck trying to run anywhere!
Is Everyone Really Invited?
And speaking of invitations, there are a few notable absentees like the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra and the Honor Magic V3. Google’s playing hide-and-seek, or perhaps they’ve decided to leave some devices in the dark. Classic Google—always keeping it mysterious, like a magician who’s never quite sure whether to reveal or conceal!
Future Updates – A Glimmer of Hope!
But before you toss your device out the window in frustration, take heart! Rumor has it that future updates may bring more devices into the fold, or at least correct some of these head-scratching omissions. However, if you’re waiting for specific timing, well, Google’s as vague as ever. They could deliver it today or… whenever they feel like it, really!
Why This Matters
The expansion of “Circle to Search” might not just be about making your life easier. It’s about building a cohesive ecosystem across different brands. In simpler terms, if everyone can join in the Googling fun, then maybe, just maybe, we can all avoid that awkward moment of not knowing which one of us has the feature while waiting at the bus stop.
So, What’s the Takeaway?
In the end, whether you find “Circle to Search” to be a neat little trick or just another techie gimmick largely boils down to your penchant for drawing circles on your smartphone. And if you own one of the nearly 100 compatible devices, congratulations! You might just unlock the secret to a more integrated mobile experience.
Now that’s something worth drawing a circle around!
Complete List of Devices with “Circle to Search”
For those curious souls who want to know if their beloved device made the cut, here’s the special list:
Samsung
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, S24+, S24
- S23 Ultra, S23+, S23
- S22 Ultra, S22+, S22
- S21 Ultra, S21+, S21
- Galaxy Z Flip 6, Z Fold 6
- Pixel 9, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a…
Honor, Xiaomi, and Motorola
Devices from these brands are also included but… let’s be honest, does anyone really read the fine print?
In summary, get ready to draw some circles and unleash the power of intelligent interaction! Or, you know, just whatever floats your boat! Happy Googling!
Google confirmed the expansion of functionality”Circle to Search” (Circle and Search in Italian) to numerous Android devices, including models from Xiaomi, Honor and Motorola, in addition to the already existing availability on Pixel and Samsung Galaxy devices. The total number of compatible devices is now close to 100as reported on the Google Play Console.
The update represents a significant step forward in integrating this technology into mobile devices from various manufacturers, significantly increasing the reach and accessibility of this useful feature for contextual search and intelligent interaction with textual information displayed on devices.
The list includes recent high-end models such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and it Xiaomi 14T Proas well as a wide range of other smartphone and tablet models.
Despite widespread support, some inconsistencies emerge from the list provided by Google at the source. Devices are mentioned that technically support the feature at the system level, but which do not offer Google services, such as the Samsung Galaxy W22, and therefore cannot use “Circle to Search”. Other omissions include devices recently updated with this feature, such as the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra and the Honor Magic V3, whose absences from the list were not explained.
Circle and Search is now supported on nearly 100 Android devices.
A future update may further extend the availability of the featurewith possible new additions or corrections to the list by Google. However, no precise indications on the timing have been provided at the moment.
The expansion of “Circle to Search” helps to make the user experience more homogeneous across different devices and brands, consolidating the Android ecosystem and improving the interoperability of advanced search and interaction functions.
Below we leave you with the list of models that have access to Circle and Search:
Samsung
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S24+, Samsung Galaxy S24
- Samsung Galaxy S23 UltraSamsung Galaxy S23+, Samsung Galaxy S23
- Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S22+, Samsung Galaxy S22
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S21+, Samsung Galaxy S21
- Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
- Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
- Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G
- Galaxy Tab S10+, Galaxy Tab S10+ 5G, Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra 5G
- Galaxy Tab S9, Galaxy Tab S9 5G, Galaxy Tab S9+, Galaxy Tab S9+ 5G, Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra 5G
- Galaxy Tab S9 FE, Galaxy Tab S9 FE 5G, Galaxy Tab S9 FE+, Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ 5G
- Galaxy Tab S8, Galaxy Tab S8 5G, Galaxy Tab S8+, Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G, Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra 5G
- Galaxy Tab S7 FE, Galaxy Tab S7 FE 5G
- Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2022)
- Galaxy Tab A7 Lite
- Galaxy Tab A8
- Galaxy Tab A9, Galaxy Tab A9+ 5G, Galaxy Tab A9+
- Galaxy Tab Active 4 Pro 5G
- Galaxy Tab Active 5 Pro 5G, Galaxy Tab Active 5
- Samsung Galaxy A73 5G
- Samsung Galaxy A72
- Samsung Galaxy A55 5G
- Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
- Samsung Galaxy A52, Samsung Galaxy A52 5G, Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
- Samsung Galaxy A35 5G
- Samsung Galaxy A34 5G
- Samsung Galaxy A23
- Samsung Galaxy A23 5G, Samsung Galaxy A23 5G UW
- Samsung Galaxy A16 5G
- Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
- Samsung Galaxy A13
- Samsung Galaxy A06
- Samsung Galaxy A04
- Samsung Galaxy M14
- Samsung Galaxy M23 5G
- Samsung Galaxy M35 5G
- Samsung Galaxy Jump 3
- Samsung Galaxy Quantum2
- Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro
- Pixel 9Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold
- Pixel 8, Pixel 8 ProPixel 8a
- Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a
- Pixel Fold
- Pixel Tablet
- Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a
Honor
Xiaomi
Motorola
