Circle to Search expands to Honor phones, ending its Samsung and Pixel exclusivity

Google’s most famous AI feature is spreading its wings

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Honor has confirmed that Circle to Search will begin rolling out to two of its most popular smartphones, theHonor Magic V3andHonor 200 Pro, in the coming months, signaling an end to the feature’s exclusivity forSamsungandGooglePixel phones.

The AI-powered Google tool – which allows users to search the web for anything they see on their phone screen with a simple circle, scribble, or tap – debuted on theSamsung Galaxy S24series in January, beforetrickling down to the Google Pixel 8 line in February. Google thenexpanded Circle to Search to mid-range Samsung and Galaxy phonesin August.

The feature is available now on the Honor Magic V3 foldable, though Honor 200 Pro owners will have to wait until “later in the year” for access. A recent tip hinted thatCircle to Search could be coming to the Tecno Phantom V Fold 2 soon, too, so it’s safe to expect that flagship devices from all manner of manufacturers – think OnePlus, Xiaomi, Motorola, and so on – could likewise benefit from Google’s innovative search tool in the near future.

For Honor, this is a big deal. Thebest Honor phonesare among thebest phonesmoney can buy in the UK and Europe, but despite their market-leading hardware, the company’s flagship devices have arguably lagged behind their flagship Android counterparts in the software department.

That’s not to say Honor’s mobile software is downright bad – the company’sAI-powered camera modes are some of the most interesting on the market, and itsMagic Portal feature is similarly impressive– but Honor’s Magic OSoperating systemhas certainly proven a quirkier beast than, say, the stock Android interface you’ll find on thebest Pixel phones.

The addition of Circle to Search to Magic OS brings a reassuring dose of familiarity to the best Honor phones, and with Honor’s Magic Capsule tool already mimickingApple’s Dynamic Island, devices like the Honor Magic V3 now offer a potent mix of Android and iOS-like features; arguably the best of both worlds.

As for Google, this latest expansion of Circle to Search brings the company one step closer to fulfilling itsinternal goal of adding the feature to 200 million phones by the end of 2024. iPhones next, Google? Pigs might fly.

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Axel is TechRadar’s UK-based Phones Editor, reporting on everything from the latest Apple developments to newest AI breakthroughs as part of the site’s Mobile Computing vertical. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well-versed in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and his coverage extends from general reporting and analysis to in-depth interviews and opinion. 

Axel studied for a degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick before joining TechRadar in 2020, where he then earned an NCTJ qualification as part of the company’s inaugural digital training scheme.

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