Google launched Circle to Search (CtS) in January this year on the Galaxy S24 smartphone series. It allows users to search for anything on the screen simply by drawing a circle around the object. The company also made the feature available to Pixel devices that same month.
For Galaxy phones and tablets, CtS can work even when you use the app in split-screen mode. However, this does not happen on Pixel devices. But Google seems to be working to address that limitation through Android 15.
A new report has shared that in the Android 15 beta on the Pixel 8 Pro, the Pixel Launcher app (which powers the home screen and app drawer) has a flag, which when enabled will allow you to use the CtS function to search even when the device is in split-screen mode, similar to Galaxy smartphones and tablets.
Currently, there is no word on whether Google will provide this feature in the stable version of Android 15. But if it does, it is a useful addition. Luckily, Galaxy device users don't have to wait for this and it's also one of the reasons why many people prefer One UI over stock Android.
As of April 2024, Circle to Search is available on the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, and Galaxy Tab S9 series. And next May, it will be available on the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S21, Galayx Z Fold 3, Galaxy Z Flip 3, Galaxy Z Fold 4, and Galaxy Z Flip 4 series as well as the Galaxy Tab S8 series through the One UI 6.1 update.