Gemini being Google’s AI, it is not surprising that it has released various variants focused on specific sections: Gemini Nano is the local counterpart, which does not need the cloud and its servers to work, and implements several smart functions on Android.
Of course, since this entirely depends on the mobile hardware, it must be compatible. Google launched Gemini Nano on the Pixel 8 Pro, then expanded it to the rest of the models in the family. Samsung, Motorola, Realme and Xiaomi have also launched compatible mobile phones. Find out if yours works with AI on the device from Google: If it is on this list, you can enjoy Gemini Nano.
What is Gemini Nano and what features does it offer?
While large companies rely on increasingly efficient LLMs (large language models) with millions and millions of parameters, Gemini Nano focuses on the most basic. The most equipped models do not fit in our pocket, since the smartphone hardware does not have the power necessary to operate them. Thus, some players in the sector offer smaller versions, capable of running locally on mobile devices
Gemini Nano is the optimized version from Google for Android mobiles: it was unveiled in December 2023, and since then it has reached different devices. It started with the newest Pixel at the time, the Pixel 8, and now the new Pixel 9 pushes its limits even further. Plus, it hasn’t been the only company interested in Gemini Nano: Xiaomi and Samsung already have smartphones that use Nano without breaking a sweat.
As we mentioned, the new Google phones have improved features from the last generation. This is a version of Gemini Nano multimodalthat is, it also allows input of images, voice and audio, in addition to text, which is the most essential part.
As if that wasn’t enough, this new version is twice as large as the previous one, according to Google itself. Of course, for now exclusively for the Pixel family. Now let’s have access to one or the other… What AI features does Gemini Nano provide?
- Gboard Help (Google keyboard) to generate intelligent responses: WhatsApp is one of the applications compatible with these Gemini Nano responses.
- Provide transcriptions in the recorder app– Pixel 8 can generate transcript summaries of audio recordings, with a limit of 15 minutes.
Although these are part of the Pixel 8, the rest of manufacturers With compatible models, they only benefit from the Magic Compose function of Google Messages. The feature saves the latest messages to generate context-related suggested replies.
And finally, if you own a Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, or Pixel 9 Pro XL You will already benefit from it: strengthen the AI functions in exclusive applications like Pixel Screenshots, Google Phone or the new Google time for Pixels. It will continue to implement more features as they develop, we know they won’t stop at this point.
Android phones compatible with Gemini Nano
Do you have a relatively recent smartphone from Google, Samsung, Realme, Xiaomi or Motorola? It can be compatible with Gemini Nano. For now, most of them belong to the high end, as can be seen in the full list:
MediaTek chips are also compatible with Gemini Nano. They allow mobile phones like the Xiaomi 14T to run Google’s local AI
As we mentioned before, depending on the model you carry in your pocket, Gemini Nano will offer you more or fewer functions. Anyway, in the future more apps will become compatible and so will the list of phones that can run it will continue to expand.
Cover image | Composition with images by Google and Iván Linares for Xataka
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