Android and iOS have been coexisting for quite some years now. It’s normal for them to copy and modify different features from the competition and one of the latest additions is Google’s call filter in Apple iOS devices.
The new iOS 26 design shown at the WWDC 2025 also includes a call filter for Apple clearly based on Google’s Android one. The Android call filter works very well because of the evolution in software design. Now Apple users will experience a similar experience when stopping spam calls.
iOS 26 Apple call filter is similar to Google’s
With each new version of hardware and software, the similarities increase. The latest feature for iOS 26 is a call filter for Apple very similar to Google’s spam filter. The interface recalls that of the Pixel device family as well as other Android phones through the Phone app.
During the WWDC 2025 keynote Apple showed how iPhone prevents spam calls. The new iOS 26 uses a unified layout combining Favorites, Recent and Voice messages in a single spot.
Using the Call Screening feature you can track the user voicemail directly, eliminating interruptions and asking for name and motive of the all. It understands the answer and gives the user information in order to accept or decline the call.
The Hold Assist works when you are on hold in a call. Thanks to it, iPhone will warn you when an agent is on the line to avoid long waits or melodies. This is the only feature that Google didn’t include. All the other services have a similar tool in Android.
Google Pixel call filter vanguard
Google introduced first in the Pixel Family a Google Assistant tool to filter calls. The answers in Android have improved with time and they make communication smoother and easier.
In the Pixel 8 devices there’s a feature to indicate which numbers are urgent. In the new Android 16 there will also be improvements. During Google I/O 2025 we saw that Artificial Intelligence will play a bigger role to filter numbers that you don’t have in your contact list.
The spam filter also includes messaging apps and can help you to detect all kinds of scams. From crypto to identity theft and technical support scams. Thanks to AI the new Google call filter can make the difference. In order to prevent bank scams, the call filter app in Android will also warn you if you open a banking app while talking with a strange number. It’s a friendly warning to be aware of any possible danger.
Google’s call filter defeats Apple but the fight goes on
You can activate the spam filter in any Android device. Although some features are only available in the beta version, you can download the Phone app from Play Store and start enjoying the security for you calls.
Install Phone and select it as your default call app. Then you must go to Settings and turn on the Spam and call identification section. There are several options you can enable in just a few seconds.