Android fans swear by ‘genuinely useful’ shopping trick for cheaper prices as Samsung update puts it on even more phones
A NIFTY Android feature can help save you money while online shopping, helping dig up discounts and offers you didn’t know about.
Circle to Search, which was only unveiled at the beginning of the year, lets Android users initiate a Google search simply by circling something on their screen.
Let’s say you see a dress you love on a website, on select Android devices you can circle it to scan the internet for other sites the item is being sold on.
Sometimes, these outlets can be hosting their own sales, or, the dress might be available on a second-hand site like Ebay.
“I saved money while shopping online,” one Android owner boasted in a post on Reddit.
“I used reverse image search and it showed me same product on other sites at a lower price.”
Another added: “It’s genuinely one of the most useful handy new android features in years. I feel like I would go mad if I didn’t have it.”
How to use Circle to Search
To use the Circle to Search feature, simply follow these steps:
- Start Circle to Search:
- On 3-button navigation mode, touch and hold the Home button.
- On gesture navigation mode, touch and hold the navigation bar.
- The Google Search bar and a gradient appears.
- Circle, highlight, scribble or tap the part of the image or text that you want to search.
- For more accuracy, use your two fingers to zoom or move around your screen before you circle.
- When you’ve finished and want to return to your original app context, swipe down, use the back gesture or tap X on the top left.
The popular Google feature is available on eight Pixel phones, and will be available on the upcoming Pixel 9 lineup.
Samsung adopted the Google feature for its newest Galaxy S24 phones in January, and has been has since been rolling it out to more devices ever since.
The company issued the feature to the Galaxy A34 phone in a new software update earlier today.
Just last week, Samsung released the feature on four more devices, the Galaxy A55 5G, Galaxy A35 5G, Galaxy Tab S9 FE and the Galaxy Tab S9 FE+.
“Circle to Search has quickly become a fan favorite since launching on the Galaxy S24 series,” Samsung wrote in a recent blog post.
The feature is now available on dozens of Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets.
Full list of eligible Android devices:
- Samsung Galaxy S24, S24 Plus and S24 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, S23 Ultra and S23 FE
- Samsung Galaxy S22, S22 Plus, S22 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, S21 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Flip 3
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, S9 Plus, and S9 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy A55 5G
- Samsung Galaxy A35 5G
- Samsung Galaxy A34
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+
- Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro
- Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro
- Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro
- Google Pixel 6A and 7A
- Google Pixel Fold
- Google Pixel Tablet
It’s important to note that this feature doesn’t work on certain apps, like banking and other confidential apps, according to Google.
And although many Android owners love it, some users say the feature gets in the way of certain gestures, and have disabled it.
Others said they struggled to find anything to use it for.
How to turn off Circle to Search
If Circle to Search isn't your thing, or it's simply getting in the way, you can disable it with these instructions:
On 3-button navigation mode:
- Open your device’s Settings app.
- Search for Circle to Search.
- Tap Circle to Search.
- Turn off Circle to Search.
On gesture navigation mode:
- Open your device’s Settings app.
- Search for Circle to Search.
- Tap Circle to Search.
- Turn off Circle to Search.