iOS 26 envy? 5 iPhone features you can already use on your Android (Samsung included)

Apple's WWDC annual developer conference in June 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.

With the public beta release of iOS 26 this week, let's unpack a few ways where Apple's software is catching up, and how it stacks up against its 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 ...