One UI 8.5 could bring one of the most useful Google AI features to DeX

Circle to Search is one of the most important AI features that Google brought to Android phones and tablets. You can access it by just long pressing the home button or navigation handle at the bottom of your Android device's screen. But the feature isn't available if you are using DeX.

Last week, Google released the QPR2 version of Android 16. It brings several new features and improvements. One such feature is the ability to invoke Circle to Search in the Desktop Mode. This feature was spotted by Android Authority. You can long-press the app drawer button to start Circle to Search when your device is running Desktop Mode and is connected to an external display (wired or wireless), like a monitor or a TV.

One UI 8.5 is based on Android 16 QPR2, and the new DeX version that Samsung debuted with One UI 8.0 is based on Android 16's Desktop Mode. So, it is likely that Circle to Search will come to Samsung DeX with One UI 8.5.

We checked our Galaxy S25 Ultra to see if the new feature is available in the first beta version of One UI 8.5, but it isn't. Long pressing the home button displays a ‘Can't open Circle to Search on a connected display' message. And nothing happens when you long press the app drawer button on the taskbar. So, either Samsung hasn't implemented the feature in the current One UI 8.5 beta version yet, or the Google Search app needs an update.