When Samsung introduced a dedicated Bixby button on its smartphones, many users were initially ticked off by it simply because they could not remap it. Now it seems that Google wants something similar as well because at MWC 2019, Google has announced that several Android handset makers will be launching phones with dedicated Google Assistant buttons.
This include devices from the likes of LG, Nokia, Xiaomi, TCL, and Vivo, just to name a few. This will cover a variety of devices such as the recently announced LG G8 ThinQ, the LG K40, the Nokia 3.2 and 4.2, and the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G and the Mi 9. By including a dedicated button, it will allow users to quickly access Google Assistant features that might have otherwise taken users several taps.
By tapping the button once, users will be able to launch Google Assistant. Double tapping will bring up Assistant’s visual snapshot feature and provides users with contextual information about their day and location, while a long press and hold will bring up the walkie talkie feature which will be useful for longer queries or dictation for emails or text messages.
It is unclear if these buttons can be remapped as we’re sure that while Google Assistant is more widely-used compared to Bixby, users would like to have a choice. Samsung had previously blocked users from remapping its Bixby button, but they have since had a change of heart.
Filed in . Read more about Google, Google Assistant, MWC and MWC 2019.