Robert Triggs / Android Authority
TL;DR In addition to the Android 16 QPR2 update for Pixels, Google is also bringing new features across its apps for the wider Android ecosystem.
Key updates include the “Urgent” Call Reason in the Phone app, scam detection in Circle to Search, new Emoji Kitchen sticker combos, and pinned Chrome tabs.
More Expressive Captions, Fast Pair for hearing aids, upgraded Voice Access with Gemini assistant integration are the new features that enhance accessibility.
Google is rolling out Android 16’s second major update for the year, giving Pixel users a reason to cheer early. While the rest of the Android phone ecosystem has to wait for their OEM to announce and roll out updates, Google also has some new features in store for everyone. Here are the new features Google is bringing to all Android phones!
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One of the biggest new features coming to the broader Android ecosystem is the new Call Reason feature in Google’s Phone app. We previously spotted the Call Reason feature last month, and much like we anticipated, Google’s Phone app will let you mark your calls as “urgent,” notifying your contacts that they should pick up the call. Saved contacts will see this “urgent” notification on their incoming call screen and know that the call is time-sensitive.
If the user misses the call, the “urgent” note will remain in their call history, allowing them to respond quickly when they check their phone. Google says this beta feature is coming soon.
Here are the other features that are coming to all Android phones: Check for scams with Circle to Search: Users can now use Circle to Search on content that they suspect is a scam. This will bring up a helpful AI Overview that will help you figure out if the content is likely a scam. The AI Overview will provide relevant guidance and suggested next steps, making it easier to screen suspicious messages without needing to switch apps.
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