Android smartphones will learn to scan QR codes from afar

Google is testing an updated QR code scanner in the Android operating system that will be able to read the code even at a considerable distance.

Here's How It Works

The updated scanner automatically detects a QR code in the camera frame, zooms in and reads it. For example, if the code is high up on an advertising banner - you don't have to get closer to it, the scanner already reads it. Or, for example, the scanner can read the code at the other end of the room.

The feature isn't quite available for devices yet, but it's in the latest APIs that Google is making available to developers. If developers implement the code scanner API, users won't need to provide permissions for the camera, saving developers time by not having to create their own interface. Simply put, Google's machine learning will only render the barcode object in the app, protecting users' personal data and ensuring their privacy.

The new feature could appear on devices running Android 13 or newer, as their QR code scanner uses the same ML Kit barcode scanning library where the feature is added.

Source: The Verge, @MishaalRahman