Kerry Wan/ZDNET
Apple's WWDC annual developer conference in June signaled the first major redesign of iOS since 2013, with flashy demos of iOS 26's Liquid Glass design and AI-driven features. Apple sometimes takes its time bringing features to its many surfaces, but when it does, it's often a highly polished and well-considered take on a familiar theme.
With the public beta release of iOS 26 this week, let's unpack a few ways where Apple's software is catching up, and how it stacks up against its Android counterpart.
1. Call Screening and Hold Assist
Kerry Wan/ZDNET
Apple's new Call Screening automatically answers unknown numbers in the background, transcribing caller responses in real time. Hold Assist detects hold music, mutes the call, and alerts you when a live agent returns.
Also: How to download the iOS 26 beta on your iPhone right now (and which models support it)
It's slick, but Android has had this nailed since 2018. Google's Call Assist suite features Call Screen, which debuted on the Pixel 3. It filters spam calls before they ring and provides real-time transcripts. Hold for Me arrived in 2020, using Duplex AI to wait silently on hold. Apple's version adds nuanced voice detection, but the core idea of reclaiming time from telemarketers is a well-known Pixel staple.
2. Spam Detection
iOS 26 routes suspected Spam messages to a dedicated Unknown Senders folder so they stay out of the main feed. Those messages remain silenced and will not appear as notifications unless they've been explicitly given the green light.
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