Surprise and confusion as Google's Circle to Search snubs Pixel 7a and Pixel Fold

Google’s latest March Feature Drop brought the intriguing Circle to Search functionality to the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, but the expansion has been met with confusion and some anger. Owners of the Pixel Fold and Pixel 7a are baffled after discovering their devices don’t support the new Circle to Search feature despite sharing the same Tensor G2 chipset as the newly supported Pixel 7 and 7 Pro.

Circle to Search, originally introduced on the Pixel 8 lineup and Samsung Galaxy S24 phones, allows users to circle any image, text, or video on their screen, triggering Google Search to provide relevant information. It’s a surprisingly useful tool that has been well-received, so it’s a bit surprising and frustrating at the same time that the feature is missing for Pixel 7a and Pixel Fold users.

Adding to the frustration, Google initially listed the Pixel Fold as a supported device, only to remove it after updating the announcement. The company has failed to provide any clear explanation for this perplexing decision, leaving Pixel Fold and 7a owners feeling shortchanged.

Social media is ablaze with users expressing their disappointment (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10). Many argue that with the shared chipset, there’s no technical reason to exclude the Pixel 7a and Pixel Fold from devices that support Circle to Search. The lack of transparency from Google is further fueling the fire, giving the impression that support for these devices is being arbitrarily withheld.

Google owes its users a better explanation. If there are legitimate technical limitations, they need to be clearly communicated. Otherwise, it appears that even within Google’s own ecosystem, certain devices are being prioritized for features over others without a satisfying rationale.

We’ll keep an eye on this development and update this article if and when Google shares any official statement.