Pixel phones have gained a new 'Call Screen' trick

Pixel phones will now reportedly ask whoever’s calling if the call is urgent. Giving Android users another way to ensure they aren’t interrupted during whatever it is they’re doing. This neat new trick is part of the Call Screen feature on Google’s Pixel phones including its most recently released devices with the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

There are a lot of reasons to want a Pixel phone. But Call Screen is certainly one of the more useful reasons. Everyone hates spam calls and thanks to the generative AI on a Pixel device, Call Screen can take care of these by simply making it so you never even have to notice they’re there. Google is even set to improve the feature by adding more contextual responses for certain types of calls.

The Pixel Call Screen feature will now ask your contacts if calls are urgent

Call Screen would already make it possible to screen and filter out calls from both spam and unknown numbers. But sometimes you get calls from friends or family and you just don’t want to be bothered. Or you’re currently busy and you’d rather take the call later. With the new Call Screen trick the phone can ask your contacts if a call is urgent so you know if it’s a call that you really should pick up right away.

The feature was spotted by Mishaal Rahman over on X (via Android Police) where he notes that a new “ask if urgent” chip from Google Assistant pops up on the screen when a contact calls in. The ask if urgent chip may only show up for contacts. Although it hasn’t been confirmed if this is the case. It’s also unclear if all Pixel phone users will be able to see this new chip. But it does appear that it has been rolling out prior to the last few days. So if you don’t notice it yet, it could pop up between now and the coming weeks.