I switched from a Google Pixel 3 XL in 2021 to Apple’s iPhone 12 Pro Max, and in the years since, I’ve dearly missed Google’s Hold For Me. This feature is so useful in saving me from the misery of listening to awful hold music whenever I needed to call up a business, my health insurance provider, my cellphone carrier or any of the other myriad adulting tasks that still require speaking with a representative. Instead, the Google feature would helpfully silence my phone while keeping the call active, listen to the hold music for me and then ring when it’s time to return to the call while alerting the representative that I’ll return shortly.

And so at the Worldwide Developers Conference 2025, when Apple announced Hold Assist — which sounds awfully similar to Pixel’s Hold For Me — I was thrilled. I’ve been eying a switch back to Android for the rumored Pixel 10, partly because I’ve missed having these call controls for everyday issues. But with iOS 26, Hold Assist should detect hold music, and then give you the option to silence the call while keeping it active. Then, when the representative comes back on, the phone will notify you when it’s time to return to the call. We’ll have to wait until at least the public beta to start trying this feature out, but on paper, it sounds almost exactly like the Pixel feature.

While I’m glad that the iPhone will finally have an equivalent to this feature, it’s worth pointing out that it’s taken a long time for such calling enhancements to make their way outside of Google’s Pixel line. Google introduced Hold For Me in 2020, but most other Android phones made by Samsung, OnePlus and others do not include their own take on the idea. 

The new Call Screening feature for iOS 26 is similar to the Pixel’s Call Screen option, but it sounds like Apple’s rendition will take a more automated approach. Apple’s Call Screen will collect information like the person’s name and purpose from an unknown caller for you, and then present it as a summary to help you decide if you should pick up. You can also send more prompts as needed if you’re still unsure.

Google’s solution lets you pick the questions that are asked to the caller and, instead of a summary, you watch as a text transcription of the call takes place. 

What I appreciate most about these features is that they remember that the iPhone is a phone at the end of the day. And spam callers remain just as much of a problem now as ever, especially as AI voice clones add even more issues to the kinds of scams trying to reach people.

Until these features are available when iOS 26 arrives later this year, I will just continue to bring my patience to the next time I have to call up my health insurance provider. And keeping my fingers crossed that hold music can become a thing of the past when Hold Assist becomes widely available. 

There’s one big feature I’m looking forward to in iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and MacOS Tahoe 26, and it’s one that Apple should have added ages ago: call and text screening. It could do more than keep me from talking to strangers — it could keep me safe from scammers looking to steal my information or my identity.

Similar to features from Google and Samsung, Apple’s Call Screening vets unknown callers by checking what they want before sending them your way. The company announced the capability at its Worldwide Developers Conference 2025 keynote.

This could help curb the threat of AI voice clone scams, which allow scammers to create AI voice clones with just 3 seconds of recorded voice. These call and message screening features may come years after many of Apple’s competitors have already implemented them, but it’s an easy W for Apple nonetheless.

There’s also a new text message filtering capability that places messages from unknown senders into a separate folder for you to review or ignore. This could help limit the number of people who fall for job, toll or other text phishing scams. 

I get two, maybe three of these text messages a week. Having them on their own little island may not stop the frequency at which they’re sent, but it will certainly provide some peace of mind that I won’t accidentally click a scam link or fall for an AI phishing scam. Plus, a less cluttered inbox is always nice.

Apple’s new features come at a good time, too. A recent CNET survey showed that 96% of Americans receive at least one scam message from email, phone calls or texts each week. While Apple may be late to the party, anything that helps fewer scams reach you is a welcomed addition.

With time running out to get a great Father’s Day gift, this Amazon deal could be just the ticket. The retailer is currently offering a $5 promo credit on Google Play gift cards worth $50 or more, and you don’t even have to enter any discount codes or clip any coupons to do it. The savings are applied at checkout, and there are digital and physical gift cards available for you to choose from.

Amazon is currently offering Google Play gift cards in various denominations, but note that the $5 promo credit is applicable only to cards worth $50 or more.

Gift cards can be redeemed for any item available at the US Google Play store, including apps, games and other Google products. All the receiver needs to do is scratch off the barcode included on the card and use the available funds. With no expiration dates to worry about, this is a great gift for gamers, Android fans or anyone who regularly uses Google products.

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.  

If you prefer a faster option, then you can also choose a digital Google Play gift code. Essentially, it’s a digital gift card that can be delivered to your chosen recipient via email or text. Purchasing these gift codes in values of $50 or more also gets you an Amazon $5 promo credit. Both the gift card and gift code are for use at US Google Play stores as well.

Why this deal matters

Treating Dad to the right gift can be difficult, especially for those fathers who seem to have it all already. So why not give him the gift of credit for use on his Android phone and the Google Play Store and let him pick something for himself instead? And because digital codes are available, you don’t have to worry about your gift card arriving on time.