Android’s Expressive Calling feature is way overdue, and should be on iPhone too

• What is Android’s Expressive Calling?
• So why is Expressive Calling a big deal?
• Bringing Apple into the picture

It’s tough to make the actual phone functions of a smartphone sexy, for the reason you’re probably thinking of — most of us use our devices for everything but calling these days. I’ll gladly browse Reddit, play games, track fitness, or put on a soundtrack for my EUC rides, but receiving a five-minute phone call feels like an intrusion from another century. The person didn’t get the memo, somehow.

One of the rare phone upgrades to catch my attention recently is an Android feature Google is working on, dubbed Expressive Calling (so far). On the surface, it might not seem that significant, but it could reshape how all phone calls work going forward, albeit with some pitfalls I’m worried about. I’m even betting that Apple will latch onto it, unlike some of Google’s more fringe experiments. The reasons should become clear pretty quickly.

What is Android’s Expressive Calling?

Call screening before the call

Currently codenamed “expresso,” Expressive Calling is a feature discovered in a recent beta APK file scrutinized by 9to5Google. There aren’t any screenshots of the feature yet, presumably because it isn’t fully fleshed out, but the gist is that you can attach a Call Reason to some outgoing calls, increasing the chances of the other person picking up. Think of it as proactive version of the screening supported on Pixel phones and in iOS 26.

Those Call Reasons so far appear to be canned responses delivered via SMS, such as “catch up,” “news to share,” and “quick question.” If it’s an emergency, you’ll be able to use “it’s urgent.” This last one gets special treatment — if it’s supported on the receiving phone, urgent calls can trigger a sound, and even break through Do Not Disturb modes. You should still get some sort of tailored notification for other Expressive Calls.

The gist is that you can attach a Call Reason to some outgoing calls, increasing the chances of the other person picking up.

Remaining details are scarce. It appears that both callers will need Expressive Calling on for the feature to work, and there should also be some sort of “visual and haptic feedback,” as Google puts it. That could imply some sort of special calling card with a custom vibration pattern, but not necessarily.

There’s no clue when the feature will roll out, either. It could have to wait for Android 17, expected towards the end of 2026, but Google also has a habit of scattering smaller feature additions throughout the year. A spring or mid-summer release isn’t out of the question.

If I were to guess, I’d say that Google is initially going to reserve the feature for Pixel devices. That would be consistent with other Android calling features like Hold for Me and automatic call screening, although it would likely to have to expand beyond Pixels to be of much value. There’s actually a lot to say on that point, as you’ll see.

So why is Expressive Calling a big deal?

Signal to noise

I deal with spam calls several times a week on average. Typically these come in the form of fake delivery notifications, Chinese-language robocalls, and my ISP/wireless carrier trying to upsell me.Some of you might deal with fewer calls or none at all, but I’d wager a lot of you actually deal with more, perhaps several daily. You probably also deal with scams I’ve never experienced, such as those car warranty claims.

On their own, individual spam calls may not matter much, especially if automatic screening forces unknown callers to explain themselves before your phone rings. Over time, though, those minutes can add up, and calls at the wrong times can be disruptive. I spend at least nine hours a day deep in writing — the last thing I need are additional distractions stretching that out further. Heck, I resent the idea that spammers feel entitled to my attention.

Assuming it’s handled properly, Expressive Calling could do an even better job of reducing distractions. It won’t directly tackle spam, but if I can get used to the idea that important calls will be matched by a specific image, sound, and explanation, I can ignore the ones that aren’t, or at least deprioritize them in my mind.

It won’t directly tackle spam, but if I can get used to the idea that important calls will be matched by a specific image, sound, and explanation, I can ignore the ones that aren’t.

“Handled properly” is a loaded term, though. My chief worry is that spammers might be able to exploit the feature, using it to steal attention they don’t deserve. Google’s probably thought of this though — on top of requiring both parties to have the feature active, I’d expect it to be limited to numbers in your contacts. That’s how screening usually works, after all. Friends and family get an instant pass.

Assuming Google’s dealt with that, the next issue is rapid expansion. You can’t count on two people in the same home having the same phone, much less everyone in your social circle. I get that Google wants to sell more Pixels, but Expressive Calling isn’t Hold for Me — its value is going to be directly tied to how many people have access.

The company’s also going to have to allow custom Call Reasons. Boarding a flight home or wrapping up at the gym might technically count as “news to share,” but “heading home” would conjure less dramatic stories in my head. Some questions and events can also be important without being urgent, like finding out that your son walked for the first time at daycare. Yes, that’s something that actually happened to me.

Bringing Apple into the picture

A race that benefits everyone

If Google’s working on the tech for this year, you can virtually guarantee that Apple will deploy something similar — if not in fall 2026 with iOS 27, probably by the time iOS 28 rolls around. The two companies have been copying each other for decades, and Apple can’t abide the idea of Android having any fundamental advantage, even if it is just in the Phone app.

What I’m actually hoping, though, is that Apple and Google will put aside their rivalry and collaborate on a shared standard. It wouldn’t be unprecedented.

Apple will try to put its own spin on things, naturally. Maybe it’ll be waving memoji, something to do with Apple Intelligence, or the ability to record a short audio or video clip. One way or another, though, an iPhone version is coming.

What I’m actually hoping, though, is that Apple and Google will put aside their rivalry and collaborate on a shared standard. It wouldn’t be unprecedented. They collaborated on anti-stalking measures when they realized the dangers of Bluetooth trackers, and Apple eventually caved on supporting RCS in the iOS Messages app, if probably to avoid further antitrust investigations by governments. In this case, there’s no threat — but without that rapid expansion I talked about, both companies won’t be able to make this new calling tech a selling point, which could be appealing at a time when customers are increasingly jaded about new hardware and software.