Spam calls remain a persistent nuisance, but both iPhone and Android now include robust built-in tools to handle them. According to Engadget, these native features make third-party apps like Truecaller unnecessary for most people, and users can avoid paying for subscriptions. Carriers may also provide their own spam protection, sometimes enabled by default, which can be managed through the carrier's app or online account.
On iPhone, the key controls live under Settings > Apps > Phone. Enabling the Spam option in Call Filtering prevents calls flagged by the carrier from ringing, sending them straight to voicemail. The Unknown Callers setting separates non-contacts into a dedicated list, while the Screen Unknown Callers section offers three modes: Never, Silence, and Ask Reason for Calling. The latter screens unknown callers and shows a live transcript of their response, though it is only available in select countries on iOS 26 or newer.
For Android, the Google Phone app—preinstalled on most devices—provides caller ID and spam detection under Settings > Caller ID and spam. Users can enable See caller and spam ID for warnings before answering, or Filter spam calls to silence suspected junk automatically. Enhanced call screening similar to iPhone's Ask Reason for Calling is available on Pixel 6 and newer models, as well as supported Samsung phones, via their respective Phone app settings.
The article notes that these tools require some vigilance, since legitimate calls from unsaved numbers may be missed. Users are advised to save important numbers, such as doctors' offices or work clients, to avoid filtering out calls they actually want to receive.