5 Apps That Let Your Phone's Camera Identify Almost Anything Gone are the days when smartphones used to be more about themselves and less about the cameras. Today's phones are built around cameras and not the other way around. Your phone's camera is no longer just a way to take photos and videos; it's basically a pocket encyclopedia that can tell you about anything you point it at. Be it a mystery plant that you spotted on the road or a pair of sneakers that you found your friend wearing. This shift did not happen overnight. It's the result of years of AI and image-recognition work quietly baked into apps most people already have installed. Your smartphone's camera has turned into a translator, a plant guide, a personal shopper, and even a stargazing companion. The best part is that for most tasks, you don't need to install any third-party apps. You can use Google Translate or iPhone's built-in translator to convert text from one language to another and have it read aloud. No matter what app you're using, it has the same underlying idea — your camera is doing the identifying so you don't have to guess or do a web search manually. We have compiled a list of the best apps that can let you learn about or understand things just by pointing your camera at them. Each one lets you learn about different categories like plants, fashion, home decor, and general objects just by pointing your camera at them, so you're never stuck wondering. Google Lens Google Lens is the closest thing you can get to an app that identifies anything your camera can see and tells you about it. When you start using Google Lens, you'll understand (and might appreciate) how far technology has advanced. Built into