The new Phone app in iOS 26 won me over with two great features

iOS 26 overhauled one of the iPhone’s original and most iconic apps: the Phone app. Although I’ve never enjoyed phone calls, two great new features make them much better in iOS 26 and have made me a big fan of the app.

The Phone app was redesigned in iOS 26, but the best changes have nothing to do with design

Apple doesn’t introduce big app redesigns very often. And its recent record of major changes isn’t the best.

For example, the Photos redesign in iOS 18 proved to be very controversial, leading Apple to roll back some of the major changes. Likewise, the redesign of the Mail application in iOS 18.2 was not the best received.

In iOS 26, the Phone app was the last main app to be redesigned.

I don’t like the changes, but they didn’t really sell me either. After Apple’s experiments with Photos and Mail, I’m not surprised that the company offered an option to revert to the old phone design from the start.

But my indifference to the new design aside, Apple’s Phone app has become an absolute favorite update for me in iOS 26 thanks to two new features:

1. Call screening
2. Help to maintain

The call screening and on-hold support features make iOS 26’s Phone app one of my favorite updates.

Call screening and support on hold are both optional features, so be sure to enable them by visiting Settings ⇾ Apps ⇾ Phone.

Apple offers different filtering options, but I chose the “Ask reason for call” setting under “Filter unknown callers.”

Here’s what it does: “Calls from unsaved numbers will be asked for more information before the iPhone rings.»

This is a fantastic change and significantly reduces unwanted calls. Now I no longer have to waste time rejecting offers from telemarketers or letting unwanted calls distract me.

I also never have to wonder if a call is worth answering or not. For important calls, my lock screen tells me who’s calling and why, as soon as the ringtone rings. And if it’s a spam call, I won’t even be bothered by a ringtone.

Hold Assist is another great addition that reduces the pain of feeling stuck waiting forever.

You’ll find it titled “Hold Assist Detection” in the settings. Here’s Apple’s description: “Automatically detect when you’re put on hold so you can walk away. The iPhone will then notify you when it’s time to pick up.»

You can also tap the three-dot icon on the call screen and manually activate Hold Assist from there.

These two features, combined with iOS 26’s great new ringtones, have made the Phone app one of my favorite updates of the year.

Have you used the new features in the Phone app in iOS 26? How have they worked for you? Let us know in the comments.

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