iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone is the best smartphone for making phone calls. Period.

[paulushe]

Hey everyone,

I feel like we spend so much time talking about cameras, ecosystem lock-in, and screen refresh rates that we completely forget one of the most important purpose of these devices: actually making phone calls.

In my experience, especially after iOS 26, I’m convinced that iPhone is currently the undisputed king of voice/video calls, and it is kinda crazy that this aspect is severely underated!

1. Voice Isolation is basically black magic​

Ever since Voice Isolation dropped in iOS 15 (and got progressively expanded with every iOS update), it has been a lifesaver. I was recently standing in a very busy public transit station. When I asked the person on the other end if they could hear the background noise, they told me they thought I was sitting inside a quiet library. The ambient noise suppression is so aggressive and precise that it completely eliminates the outside world without making your voice sound like a robot.

2. The iOS 26 Separate Audio Input Selection is a game-changer​

This is the feature that I just can't live without. iOS 26 finally let us separate our audio output from our audio input.

You can now listen to a call through your AirPods while forcing the phone to use the iPhone’s internal microphone for your voice. It creates the ultimate calling experience in noisy environments: you get the benefit of AirPods' class-leading Noise Cancellation to completely block out the noise around you, while the other side gets pristine audio because you are using the iPhone's mic. You simply cannot beat physics, earbuds are just too far away from your mouth to catch perfect audio in heavy noise. By switching the input, you can hold the phone closer to your mouth like a walkie-talkie while keeping your earbuds in. Combined with the Voice Isolation feature, the clarity on both ends is unmatched.

P.S.: As far as I’m aware, this feature where we can control the audio routing is nonexistent on Android.

3. High-Fidelity AirPods Input (Goodbye, muffled Bluetooth audio!)​

If you aren't in a very noisy environment, iOS 26 also introduced high-fidelity audio input for AirPods. Traditional Bluetooth calls rely on the ancient HFP profile, which compresses your voice into a muddy, low-bitrate mess.

Since iOS 18, further improved in iOS 26, if you're in a quiet or moderately noisy environment, the AirPods' audio input quality is pristine. I use this constantly while doing chores around the house and calling my family overseas. They’ve actually commented on how it sounds like they're watching a YouTube vlog! While LE Audio is slowly rolling out in the broader tech world, high-fidelity mic support is still incredibly spotty and frustrating on other platforms.

---

The Life-Changing Part: Phone calls are now enjoyable!​

Honestly, the most underrated aspect of all this tech is the psychological shift. I used to avoid making phone calls in public at all costs. If I was outdoors, I’d default to texting or emailing because I dreaded the "Sorry, what? Can you repeat that? I can't hear you over the traffic!" back-and-forth.

Now? That phone anxiety is completely gone. I can handle urgent, high-stakes life administrative tasks on the spot, no matter where I am:

• Travel Disasters: If something goes wrong with my hotel or car booking while I'm standing in a bustling airport lobby, I don't waste time typing into a slow support chat. I just call them and resolve it in 5 minutes max.
• Urgent Banking: Need to dispute a fraudulent transaction or lodge an urgent payment right now? I can call the bank from a busy sidewalk without worrying about the agents not understanding my voice.
• Lost Items: If I drop something on public transit, I can instantly look up the local station's number on Google Maps and call them immediately while walking down the street. I literally got my lost item back yesterday thanks to this!
• Medical Follow-ups: Instead of waiting days for a doctor to reply to an email about pathology results, a repeat prescription, or a forgotten medication question, I just call the clinic during my commute.
• Spontaneous Catch-ups: When I'm waiting at a noisy bus stop and a friend/family texts "Hey, free to talk?", I don't have to say "No, it's too loud." We can just have a normal, casual conversation.

Apple quietly solved the worst parts of mobile calling while everyone else was focused on AI gimmicks. They made the phone part of the smartphone frictionless again. Anyone else completely hooked on these features?

---

P.S.: To the engineer who came up with this idea, I want to express my deepest gratitude. You're truly a lifesaver! Shortly after iOS 26 was released, I found myself in a critical situation needing to urgently book my father for treatment due to his heart conditions. This feature made it incredibly easy to contact multiple clinics and discuss their availability for prompt care. Right now? I'm using this very same feature to casually catch up with my dad every now and then. 🙏

And I'm not going to switch to anything else besides another iPhone (that is, unless Android implements all of those features 🤭).

 

[HouseLannister]

Who still makes phone calls?

 

[dblissmn]

The funny thing is, it really didn't used to be. That's part of why it took me so long to come over to iPhone from Android, even as I'd used Macs for 30 years. But yes, it really does work very well for voice calls now.....most of the time. With one or two callers there seems to be a synchronization problem and the workaround is to go over to something like WhatsApp or Zoom.

 

[eyoungren]

Sigh.

Aside from the fact that most people no longer make phone calls, your experience doesn't mean it applies to everyone else. Between my 11 Pro Max, my 6s+ and my Pixel 3a XL, my Pixel has better call quality. This even takes into account that my 11 Pro Max is on iOS 27 while my Pixel is 6 years old and running Android 12.

Lastly, of all the stuff you mention, it's not good enough to conquer my hearing damage/loss. If I'm going to be making any sort of important phone call, I have my Shokz headset on. That's a bone conduction headset (with mic) and none of the three phones I mention can beat that.

 

[Macdctr]

Sigh.

Aside from the fact that most people no longer make phone calls, your experience doesn't mean it applies to everyone else. Between my 11 Pro Max, my 6s+ and my Pixel 3a XL, my Pixel has better call quality. This even takes into account that my 11 Pro Max is on iOS 27 while my Pixel is 6 years old and running Android 12.

Lastly, of all the stuff you mention, it's not good enough to conquer my hearing damage/loss. If I'm going to be making any sort of important phone call, I have my Shokz headset on. That's a bone conduction headset (with mic) and none of the three phones I mention can beat that.

Everyone have their own opinion on what is best👍🏽

 

[eyoungren]

Everyone have their own opinion on what is best👍🏽

Exactly. For me, that's my Pixel or a bone conduction headset. For OP, it's their phone.

What I am objecting to is that OP seems to be implying that because it's the best for them, it is automatically the best for everyone else.

 

[Macdctr]

Exactly. For me, that's my Pixel or a bone conduction headset. For OP, it's their phone.

What I am objecting to is that OP seems to be implying that because it's the best for them, it is automatically the best for everyone else.

I read his original post and this is not how I took it because he was talking about "his experience" using the iPhone. I did not take that he implied just because he had such a great experience that everyone should also have this.

"In my experience, especially after iOS 26, I’m convinced that iPhone is currently the undisputed king of voice/video calls, and it is kinda crazy that this aspect is severely underated!"

This was taken from his original post and from this sentence I took everything else he pointed out was from his user experience. He is just overjoyed by his use and wanted to share his experiences. I could relate to this from this standpoint.

I myself tried to like Android for a year back when Apple got caught throttling down their iPhone 6/6S and I got so angry at Apple for doing this that I got a Motorola Razr HD Max and used this device for a year. For me it got so bad that I could not text or make phone calls because the device was hanging so bad that I had to use my new iPhone from Verizon to cancel my Motorola plan altogether. I went back to iPhones and have never looked back and agree on the most part that iPhones are much better than ANY Android phones but that's speaking from my experience.

Point being . . . no matter the phone being used . . . YMMV. 👍

 

[eyoungren]

I read his original post and this is not how I took it because he was talking about "his experience" using the iPhone. I did not take that he implied just because he had such a great experience that everyone should also have this.

"In my experience, especially after iOS 26, I’m convinced that iPhone is currently the undisputed king of voice/video calls, and it is kinda crazy that this aspect is severely underated!"

This was taken from his original post and from this sentence I took everything else he pointed out was from his user experience. He is just overjoyed by his use and wanted to share his experiences. I could relate to this from this standpoint.

I myself tried to like Android for a year back when Apple got caught throttling down their iPhone 6/6S and I got so angry at Apple for doing this that I got a Motorola Razr HD Max and used this device for a year. For me it got so bad that I could not text or make phone calls because the device was hanging so bad that I had to use my new iPhone from Verizon to cancel my Motorola plan altogether. I went back to iPhones and have never looked back and agree on the most part that iPhones are much better than ANY Android phones but that's speaking from my experience.

Point being . . . no matter the phone being used . . . YMMV. 👍

I was reading quickly this morning. So, I'll take back my comment about OP implying things. You're right.

 

[Daveydawg]

Unless you are using Comcast WiFi calling. Then it absolutely sucks.

 

[paulushe]

The funny thing is, it really didn't used to be.

Riight! I think I might got a similar experience with you here!

go over to something like WhatsApp or Zoom.

And the best part is, those features (voice isolation, mic selection) also works for teleconference apps like Zoom and Google Meet! This makes the iPhone very handy as well to join company's meeting while on the go.

 

[paulushe]

I went back to iPhones and have never looked back and agree on the most part that iPhones are much better than ANY Android phones but that's speaking from my experience.

Point being . . . no matter the phone being used . . . YMMV. 👍

Thank you for clarifying my points!

All in all, I just wanted to point out that iPhones now come with these awesome features for calls/teleconferences like voice isolation, the ability to choose microphone input, and AirPods high fidelity audio input. I believe posting it here is a great way to spread the word so everyone using an iPhone is aware of these features and can access them whenever the need arises! 

 

[WebHead]

Who still makes phone calls?

It was originally the killer app but maybe not so much anymore. But good to see they're still enhancing the experience.

Apple the multitrillion-dollar company obviously knows what it's doing, but from the start I don't think they should have used the "iPhone" moniker. Maybe iCommunicate/Communicator.

I still think it would have changed the world with that name, but obviously at the time they thought consumers needed the familiarity of a "phone". Starting to sound antiquated now though.

 

[paulushe]

Who still makes phone calls?

Nearly everyone, I guess?

By phone call, I mean everything, from normal GSM/IMS phone calls, to OTT apps (WhatsApp, FaceTime, WeChat), to teleconference apps (Zoom, Teams, Meet).

Or perhaps I'm using the wrong term here? 😅

 

[mansplains]

I still hate how calls overtake your screen. The extra, laggy swipe up to unlock and use the phone screen is annoying. Let alone the propensity to accidentally mute/disconnect calls from the screen turning on in your pocket, or simply grabbing the thing. This is partially why I disabled raise to wake, the other main reason being media playback. (We should be able to replace the skip button with 10 second scrubbing, it is infuriating to listen to a several hour piece of content only to accidentally skip to the next thing. I like swiping the lock screen media controls away in 27 beta but wish I could disable it on a per-app basis.) Calls should stay in dynamic island unless expanded.

 

[anthonymoody]

As someone who owned every iPhone from the OG to the 16 Pro but switched to a Galaxy Fold 7, I concur. Calls on the phone SUCK, and are one of the reasons I am contemplating switching back, probably to the iPhone Fold. I have come to quite love some of the things about Android though, so it's not an easy call (ha) to make.

 

[sw1tcher]

iPhone is the best smartphone for making phone calls. Period.

And you tested what other smartphones to arrive at this conclusion? I see no mention of any other smartphone besides the iPhone.

 

[Le_Chiffre]

Hey everyone,

I feel like we spend so much time talking about cameras, ecosystem lock-in, and screen refresh rates that we completely forget one of the most important purpose of these devices: actually making phone calls.

In my experience, especially after iOS 26, I’m convinced that iPhone is currently the undisputed king of voice/video calls, and it is kinda crazy that this aspect is severely underated!

1. Voice Isolation is basically black magic​

Ever since Voice Isolation dropped in iOS 15 (and got progressively expanded with every iOS update), it has been a lifesaver. I was recently standing in a very busy public transit station. When I asked the person on the other end if they could hear the background noise, they told me they thought I was sitting inside a quiet library. The ambient noise suppression is so aggressive and precise that it completely eliminates the outside world without making your voice sound like a robot.

2. The iOS 26 Separate Audio Input Selection is a game-changer​

This is the feature that I just can't live without. iOS 26 finally let us separate our audio output from our audio input.

You can now listen to a call through your AirPods while forcing the phone to use the iPhone’s internal microphone for your voice. It creates the ultimate calling experience in noisy environments: you get the benefit of AirPods' class-leading Noise Cancellation to completely block out the noise around you, while the other side gets pristine audio because you are using the iPhone's mic. You simply cannot beat physics, earbuds are just too far away from your mouth to catch perfect audio in heavy noise. By switching the input, you can hold the phone closer to your mouth like a walkie-talkie while keeping your earbuds in. Combined with the Voice Isolation feature, the clarity on both ends is unmatched.

P.S.: As far as I’m aware, this feature where we can control the audio routing is nonexistent on Android.

3. High-Fidelity AirPods Input (Goodbye, muffled Bluetooth audio!)​

If you aren't in a very noisy environment, iOS 26 also introduced high-fidelity audio input for AirPods. Traditional Bluetooth calls rely on the ancient HFP profile, which compresses your voice into a muddy, low-bitrate mess.

Since iOS 18, further improved in iOS 26, if you're in a quiet or moderately noisy environment, the AirPods' audio input quality is pristine. I use this constantly while doing chores around the house and calling my family overseas. They’ve actually commented on how it sounds like they're watching a YouTube vlog! While LE Audio is slowly rolling out in the broader tech world, high-fidelity mic support is still incredibly spotty and frustrating on other platforms.

---

The Life-Changing Part: Phone calls are now enjoyable!​

Honestly, the most underrated aspect of all this tech is the psychological shift. I used to avoid making phone calls in public at all costs. If I was outdoors, I’d default to texting or emailing because I dreaded the "Sorry, what? Can you repeat that? I can't hear you over the traffic!" back-and-forth.

Now? That phone anxiety is completely gone. I can handle urgent, high-stakes life administrative tasks on the spot, no matter where I am:

• Travel Disasters: If something goes wrong with my hotel or car booking while I'm standing in a bustling airport lobby, I don't waste time typing into a slow support chat. I just call them and resolve it in 5 minutes max.
• Urgent Banking: Need to dispute a fraudulent transaction or lodge an urgent payment right now? I can call the bank from a busy sidewalk without worrying about the agents not understanding my voice.
• Lost Items: If I drop something on public transit, I can instantly look up the local station's number on Google Maps and call them immediately while walking down the street. I literally got my lost item back yesterday thanks to this!
• Medical Follow-ups: Instead of waiting days for a doctor to reply to an email about pathology results, a repeat prescription, or a forgotten medication question, I just call the clinic during my commute.
• Spontaneous Catch-ups: When I'm waiting at a noisy bus stop and a friend/family texts "Hey, free to talk?", I don't have to say "No, it's too loud." We can just have a normal, casual conversation.

Apple quietly solved the worst parts of mobile calling while everyone else was focused on AI gimmicks. They made the phone part of the smartphone frictionless again. Anyone else completely hooked on these features?

---

P.S.: To the engineer who came up with this idea, I want to express my deepest gratitude. You're truly a lifesaver! Shortly after iOS 26 was released, I found myself in a critical situation needing to urgently book my father for treatment due to his heart conditions. This feature made it incredibly easy to contact multiple clinics and discuss their availability for prompt care. Right now? I'm using this very same feature to casually catch up with my dad every now and then. 🙏

And I'm not going to switch to anything else besides another iPhone (that is, unless Android implements all of those features 🤭).

Thanks for the info, did not know anything about the features you mentioned. I will definitely try them out.

 

[paulushe]

And you tested what other smartphones to arrive at this conclusion? I see no mention of any other smartphone besides the iPhone.

Of course. Not mentioning them because none of them have the features that I mentioned.

I've tested this on several phones including my current Moto G54, my dad's Samsung Galaxy S22 and my friend's Google Pixel 9. After checking, none of them have the features I mentioned. However the Pixel 9 does support LE audio but I haven't found a headset that works properly. My Technics AZ100's LE audio connection keeps dropping with the Pixel 9.

Another reason that I'm posting this to hopefully gain traction and get Google's attention so they can make these features available, particularly the second one: audio input selection. This feature was actually rumoured for Android 16. I've been eagerly anticipating this feature but unfortunately it hasn't arrived yet as of the 17 QPR1 beta 1. I've been testing the latest Android 17 QPR betas on my Moto G54 using Google's official GSI via DSU.

As a developer, I could certainly implement those features myself. However, doing so would prevent my custom ROM-running phone from supporting contactless payment, banking apps, RCS, and other services requiring Play Integrity. Until another phone offers at least no. 1 and no. 2 plus contactless payment (Google Pay), I'll still consider the iPhone the best phone for voice/video/teleconference calls.

 

[paulushe]

As someone who owned every iPhone from the OG to the 16 Pro but switched to a Galaxy Fold 7, I concur. Calls on the phone SUCK, and are one of the reasons I am contemplating switching back, probably to the iPhone Fold. I have come to quite love some of the things about Android though, so it's not an easy call (ha) to make.

Frankly, I'm in the same boat as you! There are loads of things I love about Android, and I was actually an Android user originally. I switched to iPhone for features like proper factory reset protection, Find My, universal IMS capability, and many other features that I needed that nearly all Android phones didn't have at the time.

As Android was catching up, I was contemplating switching to a Pixel 9 at that time. But Apple then introduced those call features I mentioned in iOS 26, thus I stayed on the iPhone. Well done, Apple!

 

[boswald]

I think I get maybe 4 calls a month, so I can't really compare the quality to anything else. But from what I can tell you, I agree that my iPhone does sound pretty good. Not sure if it's a feature in iOS or some kind of engineering thing.

 

[Fallforward]

Good for you. My only calls are from my wife at Costco, "I'm checked out and waiting by optical..." Other than that, it's all text and email which is much more convienenet, particuarly groups ike family/kids and certian friends.