{"id":357746,"date":"2025-08-19T21:28:17","date_gmt":"2025-08-19T21:28:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/357746\/"},"modified":"2025-08-19T21:28:17","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T21:28:17","slug":"heres-everything-new-for-the-phone-app-in-ios-26","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/357746\/","title":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s everything new for the Phone app in iOS 26"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\"\"<\/p>\n

Apple\u2019s Phone app is getting its biggest changes ever this year in iOS 26, with a completely revamped layout, call screening tools, Apple Intelligence features, and more. Here\u2019s everything new that\u2019s coming to your Phone app in iOS 26.<\/p>\n

Brand new design<\/p>\n

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Apple is completely overhauling the design of the Phone app in iOS 26.<\/p>\n

But unlike last year\u2019s big Photos redesign, this time Apple\u2019s making the new layout entirely optional.<\/p>\n

When you first install iOS 26 and launch Phone, you\u2019ll get asked whether you want to enable the new design.<\/p>\n

All iOS 26 users will get Liquid Glass elements<\/a> and other minor UI changes inside Phone. But you can choose whether to adopt Apple\u2019s new \u2018Unified\u2019 layout, or stick with what\u2019s now called the \u2018Classic\u2019 view.<\/p>\n

Whatever you do, the choice is reversible. You can switch between each layout at any time.<\/p>\n

But if you opt for the new design, the Favorites, Recents, and Voicemail tabs will be condensed into a brand new \u2018Calls\u2019 tab, which now serves as a go-to hub in the app.<\/p>\n

Call screening for unknown numbers<\/p>\n

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iPhones today are much smarter than they were back in 2007, and now Apple\u2019s applying some of those smarts to the way phone calls are handled.<\/p>\n

iOS 26 offers a new \u2018Screen Unknown Callers\u2019 option that\u2019s pretty neat.<\/p>\n

Essentially, your iPhone will answer incoming calls from unknown numbers and automatically ask who\u2019s calling and why. This all happens before the first ring ever makes you aware of the call.<\/p>\n

So when that first ring happens, you\u2019ll have more information to decide whether to answer or not.<\/p>\n

On that note, the new Messages app feature<\/a> to filter unknown numbers into a separate section of the app is coming to the Phone app too.<\/p>\n

Hold Assist saves you from long waits<\/p>\n

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Similar to call screening, the Phone app in iOS 26 also offers a \u2018Hold Assist\u2019 feature. <\/p>\n

When you\u2019re put on hold during a call, with Hold Assist you can hop off the call and go about your day. <\/p>\n

Your iPhone will wait for a live agent to become available, then ring to notify you that someone\u2019s actually ready to talk to you.<\/p>\n

Apple Intelligence for translation and voicemail<\/p>\n

\"Apple<\/p>\n

Using Apple Intelligence, the Phone app can do two new things in iOS 26:<\/p>\n

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  1. Live Translation lets you have calls with people who speak a different language, with AI speaking the translations aloud.<\/li>\n
  2. Voicemail transcripts will now benefit from AI summaries to help you get a quicker sense of why someone\u2019s calling.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    These features, like many others<\/a>, will be limited to newer iPhone models that support AI.<\/p>\n

    New ringtones<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Perhaps one of the most popular new Phone features in iOS 26 will be the assortment of new ringtone options.<\/p>\n

    Available inside the Settings app under Sounds & Haptics, you\u2019ll find seven brand new ringtones<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Most of these are alternate versions of the default Reflections ringtone:<\/p>\n