Samsung Unveils New Feature Boost for Millions of Galaxy Phones
After teasing budget phone users with the promise of a new AI-powered tool, Samsung is now delivering on that promise by rolling out an update to millions of Galaxy devices.
The feature, known as Circle to Search, initially debuted on the Galaxy S24 in January and has been a central part of Samsung’s Galaxy AI marketing campaign. This innovative tool is now being made available to a broader range of devices, including the Galaxy A55, A54, A35, and A34. Additionally, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE and Tab S9 FE+ will also receive this exciting update.
According to SamMobile, the Galaxy Quantum 4 is also set to receive the update. With the earlier rollout to the Galaxy S21, the site estimates that a total of 25 million phones are now benefiting from this AI tool.
Samsung had previously announced that 100 million devices would receive Galaxy AI via the One UI 6.1 OS update, indicating the company's commitment to placing mobile AI tools in as many users' hands as possible. This focus on the widespread distribution of Circle to Search highlights Samsung's strategic efforts to make AI accessible to a broader audience, even on devices with less powerful hardware.
Unlike some of Samsung's other AI features, Circle to Search is not dependent on high-performance hardware. Essentially, it is an enhanced version of Google Lens, a tool already compatible with nearly all Android devices.
Samsung and Google have expanded the capabilities of Circle to Search significantly, moving beyond its initial function of drawing circles around images to initiate a Google search. The feature now includes the ability to translate text, scan QR codes, and even offer a homework help function that provides step-by-step guides for solving math problems.
In addition, Google is pushing the boundaries of Circle to Search even further with the introduction of a new audio identification feature, which is currently being rolled out to select Android users.
A Reddit user recently discovered a new symbol appearing next to the translation option within Circle to Search, enabling music track identification. This functionality is similar to the Now Playing feature found on Pixel phones, which displays track information on the lock screen when music is detected. However, the new Circle to Search feature allows users to actively instruct their devices to listen for specific songs, potentially offering an alternative to third-party apps like Shazam.
It’s likely that Google will continue to enhance Circle to Search with additional AI-powered features as part of its broader strategy to integrate its Gemini technology into more devices. It will be interesting to see if Samsung and Google extend other less demanding features, such as Live Translate or Chat Assist, to older devices in future updates.
