iOS 18.1 Beta 4 Expands Phone Call Recording and Transcribing to Select Older iPhone Models

[MacRumors]

iOS 18.1 beta 4 expands phone call recording and transcribing to select older iPhone models. We've confirmed the beta expands the feature to the iPhone 14 Pro, while user reports say the beta brings the feature all the way to the iPhone XS and newer.

On compatible iPhone models, you can tap on an icon in the top-left corner of the Phone app during a call to start recording the audio. Upon doing so, an audible message informs all participants on the call that it is being recorded. The call's audio is saved to the Notes app, along with a transcription for those who prefer to read what was said. On models that support Apple Intelligence, including the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 models, you can also get an AI-generated summary of a transcription. Aside from summaries, however, Apple Intelligence is not required for this feature.

For now, phone call transcription will be available in the U.S., Australia, Mexico, China, Hong Kong, and South Korea, in various languages.

As of iOS 18.1 beta 3, phone call recording and transcription was limited to the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 models, as earlier iOS 18.1 betas were limited to iPhone models that support Apple Intelligence. iOS 18.1 beta 4 is available for all models compatible with iOS 18, including the iPhone XS series and newer.

Article Link: iOS 18.1 Beta 4 Expands Phone Call Recording and Transcribing to Select Older iPhone Models

 

[FishyFish]

I love recording calls so much, I've been recording basically everything. Love doing this on all my devices now!

 

[scrapesleon]

silly feature to be restricting to certain devices makes no sense

 

[acgmph]

I love recording calls so much, I've been recording basically everything. Love doing this on all my devices now!

Forgot the /s…

If not, then you better have consent in some places

 

[jdavid_rp]

Im really happy it will come someday to my EU iPhone 15. I would be even happier if you could avoid the "this call is being recorded message", in my country you don't need permission to record in situations where you do it to protect your rights (a meany boss, someone extorting you, etc...), and this would come quite handy as apps can't record calls and I didn't find any headphones with integrated recorder features...

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

According to Zollotech, call recording works on everything back to the XR/XS, with transcriptions on the 12 and newer.

 

[Solver]

Definitely shows the option for call recording under Phone settings on my iPhone 12.

 

[TheColtr]

Forgot the /s…

If not, then you better have consent in some places

The phone does the consent. By the phone announcing "this call is being recorded" all parties have been notified and continuation of the call is considered consent. It's what businesses do all the time if you call into a support line. At least in the United States.

 

[CharlesShaw]

Always nice to be included. Hugs. Now back to my daydream where Apple releases some handy iOS feature exclusively for the 12 mini and 13 mini, simply because they feel sad about how badly everyone treats us.

 

[Joe Rossignol]

Definitely shows the option for call recording under Phone settings on my iPhone 12.

Can you test it and see if it saves a transcription in Notes? No pressure.

 

[Paddle1]

Can you test it and see if it saves a transcription in Notes? No pressure.

Just tested it again on my iPhone 12 and it did save and generate a transcript.

 

[Böhme417]

While I was originally happy to see this feature coming, the notification puts me off to using this at all.

 

[iCyprus]

New functionalities are launched every year, but the free iCloud storage is stuck on 5GB... ridiculous..
Don't get me started with the pricing of iCloud storage

 

[Joe Rossignol]

Just tested it again on my iPhone 12 and it did save and generate a transcript.

Thank you!

 

[CarAnalogy]

Oh **** yeah! I'm liking what Apple is doing this year. By their standards, they are being generous.

 

[CarAnalogy]

While I was originally happy to see this feature coming, the notification puts me off to using this at all.

The notification was inevitable. California, the only place Apple acknowledges as true reality, is a two party consent state. This is essentially required for them to avoid legal problems. I know it's not actually their problem, but it is California and they do have trillions of dollars everyone is trying to get a piece of.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Always nice to be included. Hugs. Now back to my daydream where Apple releases some handy iOS feature exclusively for the 12 mini and 13 mini, simply because they feel sad about how badly everyone treats us.

I don't want it to be exclusive, we need more one-handed support across the board. For example, the iOS one handed keyboard is great, but it can only be triggered from the left hand side of the screen. One-handed support helps everyone.

If there's one group Apple discriminates against more than small handed people, it's right handed people! Everyone at Apple must be huge handed lefties!

 

[herzozo]

I don’t see the option to record a call in my iPhone 15 Pro Max in the EU :/

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Just get an in-line call recorder and connect though a headphone adapter. Every iPhone works with them.

 

[anthogag]

Waiting for 18.1 public beta. ⏳

 

[FelixDerKater]

14PM loaded the software now.

 

[Jay Tee]

Pity about the consent issue, would've been perfect otherwise.

 

[Hank001]

The call's audio is saved to the Notes app

Why not to the more logical app: Voice Memos.

 

[svish]

Should be useful. Will try it out in the coming months.

 

[cicalinarrot]

Im really happy it will come someday to my EU iPhone 15. I would be even happier if you could avoid the "this call is being recorded message", in my country you don't need permission to record in situations where you do it to protect your rights (a meany boss, someone extorting you, etc...), and this would come quite handy as apps can't record calls and I didn't find any headphones with integrated recorder features...

One of the main reasons I may buy an Android phone some day is you never know when you may need to record a dangerous phone call.
If you are calling somebody with bad intent, you'll find a way. If you want to protect yourself with your iPhone when that happens, you're in bad luck. It's absurd.