The iPhone’s phone app, a fundamental tool for millions, is undergoing its most significant transformation yet with the arrival of iOS 26. This isn’t just a minor refresh; apple is rolling out a comprehensive overhaul packed with innovative features designed to enhance how you manage calls, block spam, understand voicemails, and connect with others across languages and devices. Get ready for a radically different, smarter, and more helpful calling experience.
A Fresh Coat of Paint: The Optional New Design
For the first time in years, the core look and feel of the Phone app are getting a major facelift in iOS 26. While all users will notice subtle visual enhancements, such as the new ‘Liquid Glass’ design elements consistent with the broader iOS 26 aesthetic across the system, the most dramatic layout change is entirely optional.
When you first update to iOS 26 and open the Phone app, you’ll see a clear choice. Apple presents you with the option to enable the brand new ‘Unified’ layout or stick with the familiar ‘Classic’ view. This is a welcome approach, giving users control over a significant interface shift.
Choosing the ‘Unified’ design consolidates several existing tabs. Your traditional Favorites, Recents, and Voicemail sections will now reside together under a single, central ‘Calls’ tab. This new hub aims to streamline navigation and put all your key call-related information in one place.
Crucially, this decision isn’t permanent. You have the flexibility to switch back and forth between the ‘Unified’ and ‘Classic’ layouts anytime through the app’s settings. Apple has ensured that regardless of your layout choice, the underlying new features remain accessible.
Smart Calling Features Powered Up
Beyond the visual changes, iOS 26 significantly boosts the intelligence of the Phone app, particularly in how it handles unwanted or unknown calls and frustrating hold times. These additions leverage Apple’s increasing focus on applying device intelligence to everyday tasks.
Call Screening Takes the Guesswork Out
Spam calls and unknown numbers are a constant annoyance. iOS 26 introduces a clever solution with the ‘Screen Unknown Callers’ feature. When a call comes in from a number not saved in your contacts, your iPhone can now automatically answer it before it even rings for you.
During this automatic pickup, your iPhone will ask the caller to state their name and the reason for their call. This interaction happens seamlessly in the background. By the time the phone does ring on your end, you’ll see a transcript or summary of what the caller said. This provides valuable context, allowing you to make an informed decision about whether to answer the call or let it go to voicemail. It’s a privacy-focused approach, mirroring the unknown sender filtering functionality already present in the Messages app.
Never Wait on Hold Again with Hold Assist
Being stuck on hold with customer service is a universal time-sink. The new ‘Hold Assist’ feature in the iOS 26 Phone app directly addresses this frustration. If your call is placed on hold and Hold Assist is active, you can choose to leave the call session and go about your day.
Your iPhone will intelligently detect hold music and wait for a live agent to pick up. Once it recognizes that a person is on the line and ready to speak, your iPhone will ring you back. This feature frees you from tethering yourself to your phone while waiting, allowing you to multitask and rejoin the conversation only when necessary.
AI Transforms Communication with Apple Intelligence
Integrating Apple Intelligence, the company’s personal intelligence system, brings powerful new capabilities directly into your calling experience within iOS 26.
Break Language Barriers with Live Translation
Connecting with people who speak different languages becomes significantly easier with Live Translation built into the Phone app. During a call, Apple Intelligence can provide real-time translation of the conversation.
The AI listens to both sides of the call and speaks the translations aloud, allowing participants to understand each other without needing a separate translation app. This feature extends beyond the Phone app and is also integrated into FaceTime and Messages, providing a more connected and global communication suite. While initial support is focused on key languages (reportedly 5 for calls and FaceTime at launch), this marks a major step towards seamless cross-language interaction.
Quickly Scan Voicemails with AI Summaries
Navigating a list of voicemails can be time-consuming. With iOS 26, Apple Intelligence enhances the voicemail experience by providing AI-generated summaries. Instead of having to listen to every message in full, you’ll see a brief synopsis of the voicemail’s content and purpose.
This feature helps you quickly grasp the key information from a message at a glance. You can then decide whether to listen to the full recording or take action based on the summary, saving you valuable time throughout the day.
Device Compatibility Note
It’s important to note that the advanced features leveraging Apple Intelligence, such as Live Translation and AI Voicemail Summaries, require the specific hardware capabilities found in newer iPhone models. Devices compatible with Apple Intelligence, generally those equipped with recent Apple silicon (like the A17 Pro chip or newer, including the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and the entire iPhone 16 series), will be able to utilize these AI-powered functions. Users with older iPhone models updating to iOS 26 will still benefit from the design changes, Call Screening, Hold Assist, and cross-device availability.
Phone App Expands Beyond Your iPhone
Leveraging the power of Apple’s Continuity features, which already allow you to make and receive standard phone calls on your Mac and iPad, iOS 26 and its companion updates bring a dedicated Phone app to these platforms.
In iPadOS 26 and macOS Tahoe, you will find a standalone Phone application. This provides a centralized place to manage your call history, contacts, and voicemails directly from your tablet or computer. These dedicated apps include many of the same core features as the iPhone version, but with a layout specifically optimized to take advantage of the larger screen real estate of Macs and iPads. This creates a more cohesive and integrated calling experience across your entire Apple ecosystem.
What Makes These Updates So Significant?
The changes arriving in the iOS 26 Phone app represent more than just new features; they address long-standing pain points and reflect a shift towards a more intelligent and integrated communication platform. The optional design update respects user preference while offering a modern alternative. Call Screening and Hold Assist tackle common frustrations like spam and waiting on hold, giving users back control and time. The integration of Apple Intelligence for Live Translation and Voicemail Summaries transforms communication, breaking down barriers and improving efficiency. Finally, extending a dedicated Phone app to iPad and Mac solidifies the seamless nature of the Apple ecosystem. These updates collectively make the Phone app in iOS 26 a powerful, user-friendly, and indispensable tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the new Call Screening feature work in iOS 26?
In iOS 26, the ‘Screen Unknown Callers’ feature automatically answers calls from numbers not in your contacts before the phone rings for you. It prompts the caller to state their name and reason for calling. You receive a summary or transcript of their response, giving you context to decide whether to answer the call when it subsequently rings, effectively filtering unwanted calls.
Can I choose which design I want for the Phone app in iOS 26?
Yes, absolutely. When you install iOS 26 and open the Phone app for the first time, you are presented with the option to enable the new ‘Unified’ layout or keep the traditional ‘Classic’ view. The new ‘Unified’ design condenses Favorites, Recents, and Voicemail into a single ‘Calls’ tab. Regardless of your choice, all other new features are available, and you can switch between designs anytime in settings.
Do all iPhones get the new Apple Intelligence features in the iOS 26 Phone app?
No, the advanced features powered by Apple Intelligence, such as Live Translation and AI Voicemail Summaries, are limited to newer iPhone models. These features require specific hardware capabilities found in iPhones compatible with Apple Intelligence, typically those from the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and the entire iPhone 16 series onwards, which feature the necessary processing power for on-device AI tasks.
