Google is expanding voice customization in its mobile search experience by introducing new voice options for spoken search results on Android and iOS.
While the company has previously released various voice choices for its digital assistant and the Gemini AI, the voice used for spoken search results has remained a single default female voice—until now.
According to reports from Android Police and Android Authority, users running the Google app beta version 16.19.42 on devices like the Galaxy S23 FE, and version 16.20.48 (stable) on devices like the Pixel 8, are starting to see the new voices become available. The same options are also showing up in the iOS version of the Google app.
Google Search’s new voices for Android (left) and iOS (right). (Image: Android Police)
New Voice Options:
- Android: Two new female voices (Cosmo and Terra) and two male voices (Neso and Cassini).
- iOS: Four distinct options named Jungle, Lime, Royal, and Sapphire.
These additions mark a notable shift from the previous limitation of a single female voice, providing users with more personalization in how search results are read aloud.
How to Change the Voice:
To switch to a different voice in the Google app:
- Open the Google app.
- Tap your profile picture in the top right corner.
- Go to Settings > Voice.
- Select from the list of available voices.
However, one downside is that the app doesn’t offer previews of the voices before selection. Users must manually choose a voice and initiate a spoken search to hear how it sounds, making the process somewhat trial-and-error.
Currently, the new voice options are only available in English, and there’s no timeline yet for support in other languages. This suggests a gradual rollout, likely to gauge user feedback and fine-tune performance before expanding globally.
There is no cost associated with this update—it is available for free through the Google app on both Android and iOS platforms. Users simply need to be on the appropriate app version, which can be accessed either by enrolling in the Google app beta program or through a regular update, depending on the platform.
Filed in . Read more about Google and Google Search.
