What you need to know
- Google is introducing a similar feature to Circle to Search on iOS for the first time.
- Search Screen with Google Lens allows users to search within Chrome or Google apps on iOS, along with AI Overviews.
- This feature will also be available on Android in the future.
Google is implementing a feature similar to Circle to Search on Chrome and Google Search apps for iOS. In a blog post on Feb. 19, the company announced updates to Google Lens on these apps, enabling users to “select and search what’s on your screen” without needing to take a screenshot. This functionality closely resembles how Circle to Search operates on top Android devices.
Although the Google Lens updates won’t be accessible throughout iOS like Circle to Search due to Apple’s restrictions, users can experience a comparable feel on the Chrome and Google apps for iPhone, especially when looking up content from websites rather than social media apps.
Using Search Screen with Google Lens is straightforward. After finding content in Chrome or Google Search apps, tap the three-dot menu in the toolbar and select Search Screen with Google Lens at the bottom. Then, interact with the screen by tapping, drawing, or highlighting to initiate a search. Depending on the query, an AI Overview might be provided to summarize the results.
According to Google, the update is beginning to roll out for English-language users in regions where AI Overviews are available. This feature will debut on the Google app for Android and iOS first, followed by the Chrome desktop and mobile apps. The new Google Lens functionality was successfully tested on Chrome and Google apps for iOS on an iPhone 16 Pro running iOS 18 by Android Central.
It appears that this functionality will also be extended to the Chrome and Google apps for Android, despite some overlap with Circle to Search on those devices. This isn’t the first time Google has introduced AI features previously exclusive to Android on iOS; Gemini Live, a conversational AI interface, also made its way to iOS after debuting on Android.
Currently, accessing Search Screen with Google Lens on the Chrome for iOS app can be cumbersome. However, Google plans to add a Lens icon to the address bar in the future for easier access to this feature.