New, free call-screening tools from Apple and Google are providing an effective defense against the persistent problem of robocalls.
A new feature for iPhones and an expanded tool for some Android users can automatically screen calls from unknown numbers, offering a much-needed solution to a decade-long issue.
The ongoing problem of robocalls
For years, smartphone users have been inundated with spam calls. Previous solutions, such as apps that filtered calls from known scam numbers, have often been ineffective. The problem has recently worsened, as new artificial intelligence technology has made it easier for scammers to impersonate voices in calls related to student loans, credit reports, and missed deliveries.
While regulators and phone carriers have made efforts to crack down on robocalls, the volume of these unwanted calls has been on the rise again this year.
Apple’s solution for iPhones
Included with the iOS 26 software update, Apple has introduced a new call-screening tool for iPhones. When a call comes in from an unfamiliar number, the feature can answer on the user’s behalf without the phone ringing.
A live transcription of what the caller is saying appears on the screen, allowing the user to decide whether to pick up the call or ignore it.
Google’s Call Screen for Android
Many owners of Google’s Pixel phones have had access to a similar feature, called Call Screen, for several years. This week, Google announced that it has expanded the tool’s availability to more countries, including Australia, Canada, and Ireland. However, this technology is not yet available on most other Android phones.
Though these new call screeners from Apple and Google are not a perfect solution to the robocall problem, they represent a significant step forward in giving smartphone owners a powerful and free tool to combat persistent scammers.
