Last year Google announced Google Lens where the feature was baked into the Pixel 2 handsets and where it was also accessible via Google Assistant. Google later expanded the feature’s availability into Google Photos but for those who’d rather have a standalone version of the app, Google is more than happy to oblige.
The company has recently released a standalone version of the feature where you will be able to launch it directly as opposed to have to go through other apps like the ones we mentioned above. The app will be available on all Android phones that are running Android Marshmallow or higher, so if you’re running an older handset then we guess you’d be out of luck.
Google Lens as a standalone app pretty much does the same thing as you’d expect in the Google Assistant or Google Photos version. The app will launch into a live viewfinder mode and users will be able to point their phones and cameras at objects around them to get Lens to identify it and pull up more information on it.
Like we said nothing has changed but if you prefer using Lens as a standalone app, then head on over to the Google Play Store where you will be able to get your hands on it for free.