Google's innovative Circle to Search feature, which revolutionized mobile search functionality earlier this year on Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices, is now making its way to Nothing's smartphone lineup through the Android 15 update.
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| A user interacts with a smartphone, showcasing the innovative features introduced in the latest update |
Feature Availability and Device Support
The Circle to Search feature is now accessible on three Nothing smartphone models: the Nothing Phone (2), Nothing Phone (2a), and Nothing Phone (2a) Plus. The rollout comes as part of Nothing OS 3.0, based on Android 15. While the Phone (2) and Phone (2a) are receiving stable updates, the Phone (2a) Plus is currently running a beta version with the feature enabled.
How Circle to Search Works
The feature implementation offers an intuitive search experience for Nothing Phone users. By performing a long press on either the home button (for three-button navigation) or the navigation bar (for gesture-based navigation), users can activate the search function. Once activated, users can simply circle items on their screen or tap and highlight text to initiate a search, providing a more natural and interactive way to search for content.
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| An illustration of the Nothing Phone's interface, emphasizing the intuitive search experience of the Circle to Search feature |
Update Requirements and Build Numbers
Nothing has implemented specific build requirements to ensure optimal functionality. The Phone (2) requires build Pong-V3.0-241207-0124, while the Phone (2a) needs Pacman-V3.0-241210-2057. The Phone (2a) Plus beta users must be on build PacmanPro-V3.0-241126-1448 to access the feature. These specific build requirements reflect Nothing's commitment to thorough testing and quality assurance.
Future Expansion Plans
Nothing has confirmed plans to extend Circle to Search functionality to other devices in their lineup, including the Japanese variant of the Phone (2a), once they receive the Nothing OS 3.0 update. This phased rollout approach ensures system stability while gradually expanding the feature's availability across their device ecosystem.
