iPhone users can now access a functionality akin to Android’s “circle-to-search”. Although the naming differs, both the Chrome and Google applications enable users to encircle text or images for an instant search via Google Lens. However, there’s a catch: unlike Android devices where this feature is available throughout the system, on iPhones, it is confined to just the Google and Chrome apps.

To utilize this feature in the iPhone Google app, load a webpage, then tap the three-dot icon located at the upper right corner and select Search this Screen. In the Chrome app, open any webpage, tap the three-dot icon at the bottom right, and choose Search Screen with Google Lens. A gradient overlay will appear on the webpage, allowing you to encircle, tap, or emphasize the section you wish to explore.

Once initiated, Google Lens will analyze your selection and display relevant search results. For example, it can be incredibly useful when trying to identify local wildlife, as demonstrated when researching house crows that frequently visit. The feature quickly provides information about their dietary preferences—surprisingly, they tend to eat almost anything! Notably, both the Chrome and Google apps excel in speed and efficiency, adeptly handling a variety of search queries. This utility builds on Google Lens’ longstanding reliability, offering a more refined method of selecting search subjects.

Experimentation with different gestures yielded positive results; everything from a mere tap to a more intricate octagonal drawing worked seamlessly. For single words, tapping or highlighting is most effective, while larger text segments or images can benefit from more varied gestures. Google encourages users to adopt whichever gestures feel most intuitive, empowering creativity in the search process.

In addition to this feature, Google has unveiled plans to integrate more AI-driven summaries into Lens search results. While users will be unable to disable these AI outputs within Google’s applications, a variety of techniques can be employed to limit AI interactions in other browsers.