Pixel Phone app redesigns in-call UI with easier Call Notes access

Google is rolling out a redesign of the Pixel Phone app’s in-call UI that gives more prominence to Call Notes and Audio Emoji.

At the moment, you tap “More” to access Call Notes and Audio Emoji (or the inline shortcut). Google is now showing two large pill-shaped buttons above the row for Keypad, Mute, Phone, and More.

Old vs. new

Tapping “Call Assist” — Google’s family name for Call Screen, Direct My Call, Hold for Me, etc. — slides up a sheet with a big card to activate Call Notes. This UI allows Google to show a description: “Live transcripts & summary of your call.” There’s also a more explicit “Stop” button and other tweaks to the timer.

Save for the new bigger button, the Audio Emoji panel is unchanged today, with this design in testing since last month. If you’re not on a Pixel 9+, you’ll just get a full-width button for Audio Emoji.

As part of this change, the More menu has been simplified with those two options removed. 

We’re seeing this in-call UI redesign for Pixel with version 157.0.712311883 of the Phone by Google app, which is currently in the beta channel.

More on Pixel Phone:

• Pixel Phone app adds Christmas & Fireworks Audio Emoji, tests new video call button 
• You have to enable Pixel Recorder Clear voice, Call Screen AI replies in Phone app
• Pixel Phone app rolls out real-time Scam Detection in beta 
• Google Phone appears to be testing a new incoming call UI