Google’s Circle to Search feature, which debuted in early 2024 alongside the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, is rapidly gaining traction as one of Android's most convenient and intuitive features. Initially, it was available only on select Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy flagship smartphones, but Google has expanded the feature's availability to other major smartphone brands, such as Xiaomi, Oppo, and Motorola. Now, Nothing has joined this growing list of manufacturers, bringing Circle to Search to its own lineup of smartphones. This marks a significant step toward the widespread adoption of this unique and highly useful feature across a broader spectrum of Android devices.
Nothing has officially announced that Circle to Search is now available on its Phone 2, Phone 2a, and Phone 2a Plus models, provided these devices are running the Nothing OS 3.0, which is based on Android 15. When Nothing first released Nothing OS 3.0, Circle to Search wasn’t included, as the feature required additional testing to ensure its smooth operation. However, after thorough refinement, it is now ready for use on these devices, further enhancing the functionality and usability of Nothing’s smartphone ecosystem.
To start using Circle to Search on a Nothing phone, users will need to enable it through the device’s settings. The process is straightforward: go to Settings > Special features > Gestures > Navigation mode > Circle to Search. If users are unable to find the option immediately, Nothing recommends restarting the phone and trying again. The great part about Circle to Search is that it works seamlessly with both gesture-based navigation and the traditional 3-button navigation mode, so no matter how the user has configured their phone’s interface, the feature remains accessible.
The functionality itself is simple but powerful. Circle to Search allows users to search for anything on their screen by drawing a circle around it, making it easier to gather information quickly and efficiently. Whether the content is an image, a block of text, or even a map or location, users can instantly search for more details without having to copy and paste anything into Google Lens. This makes everyday tasks, like looking up the definition of a word, translating text from an image, finding information about a landmark, or even getting directions to a particular place, far more convenient.
In addition to its basic capabilities, Google has been continually improving the Circle to Search feature since its launch. For example, one of the recent updates added the ability to search for songs, allowing users to quickly identify music playing around them. There are also ongoing rumors and hints suggesting that Google is working on future updates that may enable Circle to Search within videos, further expanding the range of use cases for this feature.
As for Nothing’s other devices, the company has confirmed that Circle to Search will be made available to them once they receive the Android 15-based Nothing OS 3.0 update. This includes the Phone 2a models sold in Japan and possibly the CMF Phone 1 as well. For users with these devices, the rollout will depend on the timing of the software updates, but it is expected to bring the feature to even more Nothing customers in the coming months.
With this integration of Circle to Search on Nothing phones, the feature’s reach continues to grow, and it’s clear that this simple yet powerful tool is becoming an indispensable part of the Android user experience. It simplifies searching for information and provides a seamless, intuitive way for users to interact with the content on their screens. As more brands adopt this feature, Circle to Search could become a standard for smartphones, enhancing the overall user experience across the Android ecosystem.
