Guide to Using Google Gemini on Smartphones

Google Gemini represents the futuristic phase of digital assistance by Google, available on Google Pixel 9 and other Android devices, as well as iPhones. Whether contemplating the switch from Google Assistant or exploring its features, this article provides insights on utilizing Gemini effectively.

Google Gemini is being hyped as the next big thing in digital assistants, and it’s not just for the shiny new Pixel 9—older Pixels, other Android phones, and even iPhones can get in on the action. Best part? It’s free, though you’ll need a Google account to dive in. There are two flavors: the no-cost Gemini 1.5 Flash and the souped-up Gemini 1.5 Pro, which comes with a Google One AI Premium subscription (that’ll set you back $20 a month, but hey, it’s for the enthusiasts).

Chatting with Gemini is a breeze, whether you’re typing, talking, or even throwing images its way. Gemini Live tries to mimic a real convo, but if you’re old school, the standard voice input hasn’t gone anywhere. Honestly, the AI’s the same under the hood, so pick your poison.

Missed what you said earlier? Hit up the speech bubble icon (if you’ve got it turned on) to revisit your chat history. It handles all the usual AI bot stuff—think along the lines of Copilot or ChatGPT. Feel like giving feedback? Thumbs-up or down, share the love (or not), or shoot those genius responses straight to Google Docs or Gmail.

Gemini can whip up images using Google’s Imagen 3, though free users might hit a snag with people pics. Want to get creative? Toss in a gallery upload to spice up your prompts. Paying subscribers get extra perks, like tossing PDFs into the mix for quick summaries or edits.

Google’s rolling out Gemini’s features bit by bit with extensions, but let’s be real—it’s not quite caught up to Google Assistant yet. Assistant’s still the king when it comes to supporting more services, devices, and those fancy routines that hardcore users love.

If Gemini’s not your jam, you can always switch back to Google Assistant in the settings. But keep an eye on Gemini; it’s gearing up for some serious upgrades and might just steal Assistant’s crown one day.