Google updates phone app with fresh call screen and history tools
Google recently shared a blog post highlighting its Pixel Call Assist features, announcing a new call screen design and handy filters for call history. In the past, Pixel 9 users tapped “More” to use Call Notes or Audio Emoji. Now, Google has added big, easy-to-see buttons for Call Assist and Audio Emoji right above the usual round buttons: Keypad, Mute, Phone, and a simpler More option.
When you tap the arrow next to these buttons, a pop-up sheet appears with a large “Call Notes” card, showing live call transcripts and summaries. Beta users noticed this in January, and Google confirmed it’s now rolling out widely. The company said, “We’ve refreshed the Pixel phone call screen to give you fast access to Call Assist, Call Notes, Direct My Call, and Audio Emoji.” For now, this update is only on the Pixel 9 series, the only phones with Call Notes.
New Look vs. Old Look
The updated design is cleaner and quicker to use, especially on the Pixel 9 Pro. Alongside this, Google introduced “new filters” for the Recents tab to tidy up your call log. You’ll see options like All, Missed, Contacts, Non-spam, and Spam, plus a taller search bar. These filters help you spot missed calls, find calls from friends, or skip spam numbers, keeping your history organized. This feature is popping up in the beta version (162) of the Phone by Google app, even on non-Pixel phones.
Extra Goodies
Google’s post also covers other cool tools like reverse phone number lookup, Direct My Call, Hold for Me, and smart Call Screen replies. Plus, there’s a neat trick with Live Caption: it lets you “read” incoming calls and reply by typing. A text box and keyboard show up, displaying the caller’s words. Type your response, and the app reads it aloud to them. You can even pick a voice for this in Live Caption settings (Settings > Accessibility > Live Caption > Live Caption in calls). These updates make the Phone app simpler and more helpful for everyone!