One UI 8.5’s Automatic Call Screening Takes Cues from Google Pixel

As development of Samsung’s One UI 8.5 progresses, more details are coming to light about the new features and improvements. A few days ago, we learned that the update will introduce an automatic call screening feature for spam protection. Thanks to a fresh internal build, we now know more about the tool, suggesting that the Korean firm is taking cues from Google’s Pixel playbook.

Here’s more on One UI 8.5’s automatic call screening feature

Bixby Text Call on your Galaxy phone can already answer incoming calls for you, but you must tap a button during the call. However, with One UI 8.5, Samsung is working on a smart automatic system that eliminates the need for user action. Furthermore, it can detect and automatically answer suspicious calls, displaying a transcript of the conversation on the screen. It also works when Do Not Disturb is on, and you can choose the language for call screening.

While digging through the latest One UI 8.5 test build, folks over at Android Authority discovered new settings that give users more control over automatic call screening. The strings suggest that Samsung will allow users to choose to answer all unknown numbers, spam and scam numbers, or unknown numbers except specific ones.

The publication also found different screening levels for the Korean market. These include all numbers, High (all unknown numbers), Medium (Spam and scam numbers, international calls, numbers with blocked caller ID, etc.), and Low (Spam and scam numbers). So, Samsung will offer more options for the home country. Hopefully, the same will be available to global users sometime later, if not at launch.

Interestingly, these automatic call screening options are similar to what Google offers on its Pixel phones. Pixel users have three main protection levels: Maximum (Screen unknown numbers and decline spam), Medium (Screen suspicious calls and decline spam), and Basic (Decline only known spam). So, it’s pretty clear that Samsung has taken inspiration from Google’s Pixel playbook. We’ll let you know if more details about the feature surface on the web.