I have a bit of tunnel vision when customizing my One UI skin on my primary driver. As a result, I tend to ignore some of the core Google offerings built into my device.
So, I decided to do a quick overview of Android features on my Samsung Galaxy S25+.
I was surprised by how many features I left in the dust, and, surprisingly, they are now much more handy than before.
5 Android features that make productivity feel like cheating
Android tricks that feel oddly powerful
Circle to Search to find the source or context
I completely forgot about it after a year since it came out
I knew Circle to Search existed, and most people rave about how amazing it is to use.
While I know how to use it and understand the important uses, I never think about actively using the feature naturally.
That’s mainly because Circle to Search didn’t integrate seamlessly with Samsung devices until the release of the Galaxy S24 series in late January 2024.
Then, I had only a Samsung Galaxy S23, and the feature didn’t expand and support older devices until March that year.
By then, I had simply forgotten about it, so using the feature was never integrated into any of my routines or registered in my muscle memory.
But even after a few years, I still see people get excited about it. So I finally convinced myself to give Circle to Search on my Galaxy S25+ another shot.
It works decently, as I remember. I like that I don’t have to switch apps to find anything on my screen (I have a habit of opening new tabs on my mobile browser, instead).
I long-press the home screen button, and then Circle to Search appears.
To interact with the element on screen, I draw a circle around it. So far, my most common uses of it have been to search for a term or word or to find an image on the web.
I tried this on the Wordle app. Sometimes I don’t know whether the word I am about to guess is common, so I use Circle to Search to look it up.
I like the built-in translation tool, but unfortunately, I don’t use it that often.
I can see why others might find it helpful, since you can use it to translate ingredients, recipes, and even menu items (I tested it a while back when the tool came out with my Japanese basket snacks, since one of my snacks included actual squid powder, which made me feel ill, so now I use it to check foreign packages).
Google also announced that, with the Pixel 10 and Samsung Galaxy S26, Circle to Search will support multiple objects on-screen to provide more detailed context.
I much prefer this since if I am interacting with a photo, I don’t want to circle small components individually to identify or learn more about them.
That’s one of the reasons I stopped using it: I was tired of having to be precise with my circles to get more context in Google search results.
Though, as of now, I am using Circle to Search for an entirely different reason. I use it to make my own YouTube playlists.
When I am working on my PC, I rely on an AI algorithm to suggest a mix of tracks to play for a few hours. But sometimes, there’s a peppy, energetic song that plays.
The Circle to Search audio function helps me identify the songs, even if they are remixes.
Circle to Search’s listening feature can also detect a tune you’ve hummed.
I simply play on my computer, then use the microphone button in Circle to Search, and it captures the song’s audio for a few seconds to search for it.
Performing this action prevents me from having to scroll through a long thumb list or check each time-stamp. I can search for it and add that track to my YouTube list.
It’s very helpful for music discovery. I like making custom lists on YouTube and Spotify so I can play them while exercising. As a result, I selected songs I previously liked, and Circle to Search is how I index them.
The tool isn’t perfect. Sometimes, it doesn’t always pick up the audio, and I can’t find the right track.
Still, so far it has done decently well, even when I needed it to identify Nightcore mixes and find songs used in TV shows and movies (especially in movie ending credits).
Private DNS to block ads and tracking
It is designed to protect your online privacy
I’m not a fan of in-app ads, but I have a high tolerance for them. I understand that some developers need to include ads to keep features free.
So I usually try to avoid being too aggressive with ad blockers, but unfortunately, I have had to deal with too many intrusive ads recently.
A single miss on the exit button brings me to the app or product page, and I dislike it. Or some ads have been really difficult to identify the actual close option due to stalling mechanics.
It’s tiring to maneuver, and these ads are far too disruptive. So I finally paid attention to my built-in Private DNS to block these ads properly.
You can find the Private DNS in your Connection settings on Samsung, or in your Network & internet settings on your Google Pixel.
Setting it up will secure DNS queries using TLS. Your device will default to Automatic, but if you want to block ads and stop website tracking, you’ll need to configure it using the Private DNS provider hostname.
After you’ve set it up, you shouldn’t see ads. Though be mindful that this isn’t perfect, and you could lose your network connection if you can’t connect to the server.
Plus, some websites and app functionality may break when using it, or it won’t always work.
If you want more control over what you block and what you don’t, you may also want to consider an ad-blocking app.
I’m okay with this feature since it is easy to turn on and off through my settings. If there are days when I am willing to sift through ads to support my favorite website or service, I just disable it.
But if I want to have a serious story session with my favorite AI chat app without having ads breaking my immersion, I am going to lean on this tool more.
Don’t let the flashy Android features bury the important ones
While I’ll admit that Circle to Search is probably the flashiest of the two I highlighted, the audio identification feature is a little more niche than the standard search for whatever is on your screen.
But I stand by that some of the more boring settings are also the most crucial, especially those related to your personal privacy and security.
We worry constantly about how apps and services are invading our privacy. If you look closely enough, you’ll find that there are actually some built-in Android features that can protect you.
