Do you already use the search feature on your phone? [Poll]

Circle to Search is rolling out to all Tensor-powered Pixel phones. It was launched on the Galaxy S24 series, and until recently, was limited to the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro.

It made us think about that

This week, Research began rolling out the Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, and Pixel 7a. It now also arrives on the Samsung Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy Z Fold5, Galaxy Z Flip5, and Galaxy Tab S9 series.

This server-side update depends on the presence of The latest version of the Google app is installed. On most phones, it will be enabled by default and you can long press on the navigation bar once you turn it on.

Circle to Search lets you search directly for things you see on your screen without leaving the app you're using. Many people might be confused about the utility, but here are some reasons why you might find it useful day to day:

• Enhanced shopping: Have you ever seen a cool outfit in a video or social media post and had to learn more about it? The search circuit allows you to quickly identify those items, find similar items online, get the best prices or find cheaper alternatives.
• Exact search: Tired of writing extensive descriptions? Circle to Search lets you pinpoint exactly what interests you through a circle, highlight, or scribble. This can lead to more accurate and relevant search results.
• Select images: In addition to identifying things, you can use them to answer your questions about them. For example, imagine seeing a historical landmark in the photo. You can circle it and ask “When was this built?” To get more information without knowing the initial search query.

There are other uses for Circle to Search beyond this scope, but these are just a few basic examples that might be useful to get you started. It's not necessarily a “killer” feature for eligible phones, and some may consider it another Google gimmick.

For starters, it can be very easy to activate accidentally, leading to the annoyance of locked screens that require you to close the pop-up panel when you want to go somewhere else or use another app.

While it's not perfect, it's a nice added tool that could be useful to a lot of people — Samsung even claims it's more popular than the Galaxy AI features. As the rollout continues and many people are already able to use the functionality, let us know in the survey if you've tried Circle to Search and if it's become a favorite tool for you!