iOS 26 gave the Phone app its first major redesign in years, and while the visual changes didn't immediately win me over, two new features completely changed my opinion. Call Screening and Hold Assist have transformed how I handle phone calls—features that actually make the experience better rather than just looking different.

Call Screening, found in Settings → Apps → Phone, asks unknown callers to state their reason before your iPhone rings. I've set it to "Ask Reason for Calling" under "Screen Unknown Callers," and it's dramatically reduced spam calls. My Lock Screen now shows who's calling and why before I decide whether to answer—spam calls don't even trigger my ringer anymore.

Hold Assist detects when someone puts you on hold and notifies you when it's time to pick up, so you don't have to listen to hold music or wonder if you've been disconnected. Both features are opt-in, so users need to enable them manually. Combined with iOS 26's new ringtones, these additions make the Phone app actually useful again.