Of all the hours you spend on your smartphone every day, precious few involve making or receiving calls.
Some can even help you make better phone calls.
Though many of the entries below apply to both iPhones and Android devices, not all do.
IOS 18 for iPhones and Android 15 will soon supersede those operating systems.
Both are in late-stage testing with Apple and Google, respectively.
If past is prologue, todays exclusive feature may show up next year on its competitor.
Accessibility
1.
It works in tandem with another feature called Live Speech.
The iPhones similar feature, still in beta testing, is calledLive Captionsand can be enabled underAccessibility tweaks.
Choose theOne-Handed Keyboardoption on iPhones and certain Android devices.
On Androids, search forOne-handed modeinSettings and choose either right- or left-handed mode.
Entertainment
4.
On Androids, you might choose Google Chromecast, among other options.
This remote control option is accessible inControl Center.
Android devices vary, but you might always download a compatible TV remote control app in Google Play.
Get news briefs
News happens around the clock, and news junkies want to stay informed.
you’re free to get alerts and headlines on your phone and dig deeper to learn more.
Androids and iPhones have no shortage of free news apps.
Or you could askGoogle Assistant, built into Androids and available for iPhones, andeven hum a few bars.
On iPhones, fire up the feature automatically inSettings|General|Picture in Picture|Start PIP Automatically.
On a Google Pixel, tapSettings|Apps|Special app access|Picture-in-pictureand choose the apps to allow the feature.
Listen to podcasts
Free podcasts on almost any topic are all the rage.
Apple puts aPodcastapp on all iPhones.
Apple removed its headphone jacks in 2016 and never looked back, allowingwireless Bluetooth technologyto take up the slack.
After selectingBluetooth, pair your phone with the appropriate wireless accessories.
Health
11.
Assess risk of falls
An iPhone can evaluate your danger of falling.
YourWalking Steadinessis rated as OK, Low or Very Low.
Apple also shares exercises that may help someone with stability problems.
For reliable measurements, you must have your iPhone in a front pocket or holster near your waist.
you might also list your medications.
Android users can turn to third-party alternatives such as CommonHealth, available as a free download in Google Play.
Users of iPhones can track this information in theHealthapp.
Apple says the data is encrypted and stays on the phone.
Tap theBrowsetab, thenCycle Tracking.
For Android users, numerous period and ovulation trackers are available in Google Play.
On Androids, start inSettings underDigital Wellbeing & parental controls.
On iPhones, head toSettings|Focus|Sleep.
Phone calls
16.
Turn on theVoice Isolationfeature, which prioritizes the sound of your voice and blocks other noise.
While on the call, swipe down to summonControl Center, tapMic Mode|Voice Isolation.
Google offers a similarClear Callingfeature on Pixel 7 and later models.
InSettings, tapSound & vibration|Clear Calling|Use Clear Calling.
Screen phone calls
Google Pixel owners can send unwanted callers to Google Assistant.
The digital assistant will answer on your behalf and ask the purpose of the call.
This often willward off robocalls.
This isn’t so on cellphones.
Silence unwanted callers
Not every unknown caller is a spammer.
Photography
20.
Create photo memories
Relive precious memories through the photos stored on your gadget.
Apple is in the process of redesigning the Photos app in iOS 18.
Google Photos also can organize select photos and videos automatically in a featured timeline of memories.
On a Pixel, tap theMemoriestab inside thePhotosapp.
On a Samsung Galaxy, open theGalleryapp and tapStories.
Apple lets you share photos and videos with up to five people by setting up aniCloud Shared Photo Library.
you’ve got the option to even let friends collaborate on photos in this collection.
Start inSettings, then tapPhotos|Shared Library.
it’s possible for you to share a collection of pics in Google Photos too.
Tap theGoogle Photosapp, tapPhotos, snag the images to include and tap+ Add To| Shared Album.
Youll get to name the album before choosing the people you want to share it with.
Replace faces in photos
Group photos are tough to capture perfectly.
People blink or arent smiling.
Choose the photo you want to doctor and tapEdit|Tools|Best Take.
Then you’ve got the option to pore through each individual mug to find that best take.
Families in the future may play a guessing game about whether a favorite photo wasreal or doctored.
To copy photos to a recipients phone, select them and tapShareon the senders phone.
The photos land in the recipients Photos library.
Take a level photo
An otherwise perfectly good photo can be ruined when the picture is crooked.
The Google Pixel is among the Android phones with a level built into itsCameraapp.
As you orient the Pixel, youll see two unobtrusive lines, one yellow, one white.
When the camera is straight, a single yellow line is formed.
Apple has a similar level feature on iPhones.
A broken white line appears in the viewfinder when youre about to frame a reasonably straight photo.
As you tilt the phone right or left, the line breaks up more.
Youll know the camera is properly oriented when the white line turns solid yellow.
Security
26.
ApplesHomesmart home hubapp is already installed on iPhones, and Samsung hasSmartThingson its Galaxy handsets.
For other Android phones, you may choose to fetch Google Home from Google Play.
As a result, the dark web can be a haven for cybercriminals looking to sell your personal data.
Google Pixels haveGoogle Oneinstalled, and the app can be downloaded for other Android devices and iPhones.
Google will provide guidance for how to deal with issues that surface.
InSettings, tapFamily Sharing, and scroll down toLocation Sharing.
Tap the switch next to each family member you want to share your location with.
On Androids, you’ve got the option to share your location throughGoogle Mapswith someone in your Contacts.
you’re free to share your location for one hour or until you turn this feature off.
For now, savedpasswords and passkeyson iPhones are stored inSettings underPasswords.
On a Samsung Galaxy phone, passwords may be securely stored under theSamsung Passauthentication platform.
Summon help in an emergency
No one knows when youll have to cope with amedical or other emergency.
On iPhones, one way to summon help is to rapidly press the phones side button five times.
Similarly, on Google Pixel, press the power button five times.
On both phones, enableEmergency SOSinSettings.
An iPhone 14 or later is required.
Satellite messaging is also coming to certain Android devices as part of Android 15.
If you dont check in, your contacts will be notified.
TapMore|Check In.Choose a location and the estimated travel time whether you are driving, walking or using public transit.
Youll be prompted if running late.
An Emergency SOS call will be made if you dont respond.
