There's a lot to like with the Google Pixel 3, but of all the features to whet this nerd's appetite, the ability to screen calls — and to read transcripts of the often awkward exchange — was the one that instantly made my mouth water in anticipation. The concept of being able to ward off telemarketers and solicitors without missing important phone calls is a tempting one, and even if the feature is quite obviously still rough around the edges, it's a feature that the owners of previous Pixel models have been anxiously awaiting. Call screening came to Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL almost a month ago, and now, it seems that original Google Pixel and Pixel XL owners are getting their Christmas present early.
Some Pixel owners have reported Call Screening's appearing in their Phone app's settings, but it's been sporadic so far. We weren't 100% sure this feature would make it all the way down to the 2016 models, so this is welcome news to those of us still hanging on to the original Pixels — I still love the camera on mine — and if you're wondering if you've got the new feature, here's how to check.
- Open Phone.
- Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
- Tap Settings.
If you see Call Screen, you've got it, congrats! If not, it hasn't trickled out to your device yet, but hopefully it will appear soon.
Do you have Call Screening already? Has anyone actually listened long enough for you to actually see who it was and answer the call? Has your family threatened you violently for screening their calls with some confounded robot? Do you think they need to shorten the Call Screening preamble or is the feature just fine how it is right now? Let us know!
