Apple copies Android features in iOS 26 announcement
- Apple unveiled features in iOS 26 that closely resemble existing Android functionalities.
- Notable features include automatic call screening and Hold Assist for customer service calls.
- These announcements indicate a growing trend of feature adoption from Android to iOS, enhancing user experience.
In June 2025, during its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple unveiled the latest features in iOS 26, which strikingly resemble functionalities already present in Android operating systems. Among the highlights was a feature that allows users to automatically screen and answer incoming calls, designed to filter out potential spam. This feature, akin to one launched years prior on the Pixel 7, marks a significant shift, moving from a manual activation to an automated process. Enthusiasts transitioning from Android to iOS have long missed such functionalities, and the introduction of this feature is seen as a welcome improvement in Apple's user experience. Another notable feature unveiled was 'Hold Assist,' which enables users to put their phone down during long hold times, receiving notifications when a customer service representative is available to talk. This feature is similar to one presented by Google in 2020, fostering a more user-friendly experience when dealing with lengthy customer service interactions. These advancements reflect Apple's ongoing efforts to enhance its phone app, rivaling features that have already begun to appear in devices from other manufacturers. Additionally, Apple showcased a live language translation tool integrated within the phone app, reflecting offerings that have been available in Samsung devices for a while. Similar translation options extend beyond voice calls, applicable to messaging as well, indicating Apple's intent to stay competitive in the digital communication space. Furthermore, some features focus on providing contextual awareness for users, allowing suggestions based on the content currently visible on the user’s screen, paralleling Google's approach since 2012. Overall, the announcements at WWDC this year have been received with a sense of déjà vu among tech observers. While Apple has historically been at the forefront of innovations, this year's reveal has reignited discussions about the company's trend of adopting and enhancing features already available on Android devices. Consumers are likely to benefit from these added functionalities, which aim to streamline user interaction significantly, but the inspiration drawn from competitors cannot be overlooked.