Google is making it easier to access its Google Lens visual search tool on its Pixel and Nexus smartphones. Users previously had to access Lens through Google Assistant but it’s going to be much easier now that Lens has been baked into the camera apps for the Pixel and Pixel 2 as well as certain Nexus and Android One smartphones.
Google had previously confirmed at I/O 2018 last month that it would add its visual search tool to third-party camera apps. It was obviously expected that the company would add Lens to the camera app on its own smartphones as well.
Google Lens in the Google Camera app will now be just another mode like the Portrait, AR Stickers, and Slow Motion modes. It can be accessed from the navigation drawer and once the mode is selected, it brings up the same Lens experience that can be accessed through Assistant.
Users can then tap anywhere on the screen to start searching and results will load in the panel below which also contains a microphone icon which lets them launch voice search. Users can return to the live camera viewfinder by simply tapping the back button. Similar camera-app based Lens experiences are already available on a variety of handsets from manufacturers like Sony, LG, and Motorola.
The latest Google Camera update which adds Lens to camera modes is now available for the Pixel, Pixel 2, select Nexus and Android One devices.
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