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Google Lens rolling out to more Android devices
June 04, 2025
After announcing duringMWC 2018that more Android smartphones will eventually supportGoogle Lens,Googlekept its word and started rolling out the feature for devices that have Google Photos installed.
This is a staged rollout, so do not fret if you do not get the update right away. Also, certain smartphones will eventually support Lens through Google Assistant, including flagship devices fromSamsung,LG,Huawei,Motorola, HMD Global/Nokia, andSony.
Lens will also be available for iOS devices, but Google did not say when the roll out would start.
The road getting to this point has been a long one. Googlefirst announcedLens during its 2017 I/O developer conference and said the feature would roll out within Photos for Pixel smartphones. Lens then made its way to Google Assistantin November, but remained a Pixel-exclusive feature. You do not need to snap a picture for Lens to work in Assistant, since you may just tap an object in the viewfinder and have Lens attempt to identify it.
Whether you use it in Photos or Assistant, Lens uses machine learning to identify real-world objects. Lens also pulls off neat tricks, such as scanning QR codes and connecting to Wi-Fi networks by scanning the password on the back of your router.
Lens was very much experimental and temperamental, but Google continues to make fixes and add more features.The Next Webreported that the most recent update allows Lens to identify and provide contextual information to landmarks. You can also use Lens to create contact information from business cards.
Googleteased featureslike integrated AR experiences, improvements to natural object recognition, and buying objects that Lens recognizes. We should hear more about these features, along with others, during Google I/O 2018 in May.
What is Google Lens?
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