Five 'new' iOS 26 features that feel familiar (I've been using them on Android for years)

Apple's WWDC annual developer conference signaled the first major redesign of iOS since 2013, with flashy demos of iOS 26's Liquid Glass design and AI-driven features. Apple sometimes takes its time bringing features to its many surfaces, but when it does, it's often a highly polished and well-considered take on a familiar theme. 

Let's unpack a few ways where Apple is catching up, and how they stack up against their Android counterpart.

1. Call Screening and Hold Assist

Apple's new Call Screening automatically answers unknown numbers in the background, transcribing caller responses in real time. Hold Assist detects hold music, mutes the call, and alerts you when a live agent returns. 

Also: How to download the iOS 26 beta on your iPhone right now (and which models support it)

It's slick, but Android has had this nailed since ...