Google claims iOS 26 borrows three Android features

Google recently released an ad highlighting that Apple’s iOS 26 update includes three features already available on Android’s Pixel phones for years. The ad, part of the #BestPhonesForever campaign, shows a friendly chat between an iPhone and a Pixel 9 Pro, poking fun at iOS 26’s “new” additions. First, Live Translate, which lets users translate conversations in real time, has been a staple on Pixel devices since 2019.

Apple’s version in iOS 26 now offers similar functionality. Next, Hold Assist, a feature that waits on hold during calls and alerts you when someone picks up, has been on Pixel phones since the Pixel 5 in 2020. Apple’s iOS 26 introduces this as a new tool for iPhone users. Finally, Call Screening, which filters out spam calls by analyzing them, has been a Pixel feature for years. iOS 26 now includes a similar system to block unwanted calls.

The ad playfully suggests Apple is playing catch-up, with the iPhone character admitting it’s “inspired” by Pixel’s innovations. Google’s lighthearted jab emphasizes how these features, long familiar to Android users, are now appearing in Apple’s ecosystem. While Apple fans might argue it’s about refining existing ideas, Google’s ad aims to show Android’s lead in these areas. The campaign continues to spark fun debates about which phone does it better.