This one iOS 26 characteristic makes me envious each time I exploit my Pixel

After a very long time, I have been genuinely content material with my Pixel expertise. The Pixel 10 has held up well over the previous month, with each {hardware} and software program performing easily.

In contrast, iOS 26’s Liquid Glass UI is not one thing for me. Furthermore, Apple hasn’t added any AI options to the combo that may make me need to purchase the brand new iPhone 17 or use an iOS 26-compatible iPhone day by day.

Alternatively, as anticipated, Google has packed much more AI and software program options into the Pixel 10 Professional, making it tough for me to modify to every other gadget after utilizing it. There are many options, such because the Magic Editor, Circle to Search, and Now Taking part in, which have develop into a part of my day by day routine.

That mentioned, after utilizing iOS 26 on my iPhone 16 Professional for over two weeks, I’ve come throughout one characteristic that I want my Pixel 10 had: direct ChatGPT integration with the screenshot device. It might not sound groundbreaking, however it’s one thing I might like to see Google add to the Pixel expertise. This is why.

You may ask questions or visually seek for something instantly

Apple has redesigned a number of elements of iOS with the iOS 26 update, together with the screenshot device, which it now calls Display screen Seize. Beforehand, the device solely allowed customers to crop, edit, annotate, and share screenshots, however with iOS 26, Apple has launched a brand new and helpful characteristic in collaboration with ChatGPT.

Now, by default, once you take a screenshot in iOS 26, you enter a full-screen preview that features the acquainted markup instruments, cropping choices, and scaling controls. Nevertheless, there are actually two new additions on the backside of the display: Ask and Search buttons.

Tapping the Search button performs a visible reverse picture search, letting you rapidly get extra context concerning the picture or its topic. It connects on to Google or apps like Pinterest, and you’ll even spotlight a particular space of the screenshot to look solely inside that part.

My favourite addition, nonetheless, is the Ask button. If you faucet it, ChatGPT immediately analyzes the screenshot and gives info associated to it. You may then proceed asking follow-up questions proper inside the screenshot interface. This makes it straightforward to discover, confirm, or perceive the content material of the screenshot with out switching apps.

This characteristic has turned out to be surprisingly helpful in day-to-day conditions. For instance, if I would like to substantiate the accuracy of one thing earlier than sending it to somebody, I can merely take a screenshot and ask ChatGPT to confirm it. It could test details, clarify ideas, analyze conversations, and even test my grammar earlier than I ship a message.

This has been tremendous useful for me when replying to emails and messages every single day. When I haven’t got entry to instruments like Grammarly on the go, particularly for official or delicate conversations, this ChatGPT integration looks like a lifesaver.

Past these two new instruments, iOS 26 additionally makes use of on-device AI to extract vital info from screenshots. So, for instance, if there is a date, cellphone quantity, or URL in a picture, the device can detect and convert it right into a clickable component, permitting you to name, create calendar occasions, go to hyperlinks, and extra immediately from the screenshot preview.

Pixel’s Circle to Search feels comparable, however nonetheless behind

It is helpful, however not as seamless or good but

On the Android facet, Google has already launched a considerably comparable characteristic referred to as Circle to Search. The characteristic was beforehand restricted to flagship telephones, however has since expanded to even finances and mid-range telephones.

As a substitute of taking a screenshot, the Circle to Search tool works by long-pressing the navigation bar on the backside and highlighting a particular a part of the display to look.

Similar to Apple’s new Display screen Seize device, Circle to Search helps you to carry out fast actions similar to creating calendar occasions, translating textual content, and even figuring out songs taking part in close by. Nevertheless, what’s lacking right here is deeper Gemini integration.

You may nonetheless search Google about what’s in your display and even ask questions on a picture, however that occurs not directly by the AI-powered abstract in Google Search. Gemini helps within the background, however there isn’t any direct interface for it in Circle to Search, which makes the expertise really feel incomplete.

Positive, you should utilize Circle to Seek for fast lookups, however you may’t do extra interactive duties like asking for alternate phrasing of a textual content, checking grammar in messages, performing calculations from a screenshot, or getting context-specific assist — issues that Gemini might simply deal with.

Hopefully, it is solely a matter of time earlier than Gemini finds its means into Circle to Search, permitting customers to immediately begin a chat or get a brief chat overlay associated to what’s on their display. However, till then, Apple’s ChatGPT integration in screenshots feels extra helpful and simply takes my award.

Model

Apple

SoC

A19

Show

6.3-inch 2622 x 1206 pixel decision Tremendous Retina XDR

Storage

256GB, 512GB

Ports

USB-C

Working System

iOS 26

The iPhone 17 is a significant improve over the iPhone 16, bringing 120Hz refresh fee, anti-reflective show, a 48MP ultra-wide digicam and a much bigger, sooner charging battery. It is the most effective base mannequin iPhone in years.