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Google Magnifier helps me see very small print (when I can't find my glasses)
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If glasses aren't on my face, I can't read, especially small print. No matter how far I stretch my arms, those tiny letters won't come into focus. Although I'm rarely without my specs, there are times when I'm not, and when that happens, I take out my Android phone, open the camera, and zoom in.
That strategy doesn't always work. For one, the Android macro option produces mixed results. Second, the zoom can get a bit blurry when an object is close up. Third, when zoomed in that far, you need a steady hand.
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The good news is that Google created an app specifically for this instance. The app is called (aptly enough) Google Magnifier; it's free and does one thing: it magnifies what the camera is seeing. I installed this app on my Pixel 9 Pro, and it has simplified my life in one important way.
You might be thinking that this app fulfills the same function as the camera's zoom. However, while the functionality is similar, the outcome isn't. You see, Google Magnifier does an amazing job getting those words in focus and offers a feature that the camera does not.
When using the Google Magnifier, you can have it search for specific words. Say, for instance, you're looking at the ingredients on a small bottle and having trouble finding the words soybean oil. Hold your phone to the bottle with the app open, type "Soybean oil," and then tap the search icon.
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The app will then highlight the text you're looking for on the bottle. You can then zoom in further if you choose.
This feature alone makes Google Magnifier worth using.