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       A new iPhone shortcut replicates Android's best new feature
        
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       One of Android's best new features, Circle to Search, is unfortunately
       not available to iPhone users. But Google is throwing Apple fans a
       bone with a solution that essentially replicates the function.
        
       Google's design manager for Google Lens, Minsang Choi, shared a new
       iOS shortcut in a post on X that's designed to leverage the Action
       button on iPhone 15 Pro devices. When activated, the shortcut takes a
       screenshot of whatever you're looking at and immediately funnels it
       into the Google app and runs a Lens scan. "It's basically Circle to
       Search, but faster," Choi exclaims.
        
        _The Google app shortcut in action._ GIF: Umar Shakir / The Verge
        
       Over on , author Abner Li discovered that the shortcut can also be
       used by iPhones that support the Back Tap. The accessibility feature
       lets you double-tap or triple-tap the rear of your iPhone and activate
       system functions like Magnifier, turn on the Flashlight, or in this
       case, run an iOS shortcut.
        
       If you'd like to try the new Circle to Search-ish feature using Back
       Tap, first confirm you have an iPhone 6S or newer running the latest
       iOS, then:
        
       Now when you're browsing around on your phone, you can just tap the
       back of your phone and the shortcut will automatically take a
       screenshot and run a Google Lens scan. It's not precise like on
       Android where you just circle what you want, but it works!
        
        
        
        
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