Google is preparing a small but meaningful upgrade to its Phone app that should make one of its newest AI features far easier to use. An APK teardown of a recent beta build reveals a dedicated “Notes” filter in call history, designed to surface calls that include Call Notes transcripts and summaries.
If you rely on Call Notes to capture action items or details from conversations, this change could turn hunting through a long log into a one-tap task.
What the APK teardown reveals
Strings and interface elements in the Phone by Google app (version 190.0.802853361-publicbeta-pixel2024) point to a new filter chip labeled “Notes.” It appears alongside the app’s existing filter carousel—currently offering Missed, Contacts, Non-Spam, and Spam—and a previously spotted “Recordings” chip.
While the Notes filter isn’t populated yet, its intent is clear: tap it to isolate calls that have Call Notes attached. That means quicker access to the AI-generated transcription and the short summary Google introduced for supported devices earlier this year.
Why a Call Notes filter matters
Call Notes can be invaluable in real life: confirming a delivery time with a courier, capturing a contractor’s quote, or summarizing a support call. But usefulness drops if you can’t find those notes fast. A dedicated filter eliminates the need to remember dates or contact names—just tap Notes and jump straight to the calls that actually have information attached.
This is consistent with how Google has refined discovery across its apps. The Recorder app’s searchable transcripts and summaries are popular precisely because they’re easy to retrieve. Extending that philosophy to Phone suggests Google wants your call outcomes—agreements, next steps, reminders—to be as discoverable as your missed calls.
Who will see it and when
Call Notes is currently limited to Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 series devices in the United States. The Notes filter appears to follow that same footprint, meaning owners of those phones should be the first to see it when Google flips the server-side switch. Pixel 9a users won’t see the filter, as the A-series doesn’t support Call Notes yet.
As with many Google app features, availability can roll out gradually. APK code often precedes public release by weeks, and features are sometimes gated by device, region, or account type. Expect the filter to arrive via an app update and a back-end enablement once testing is complete.
Part of a broader AI-first calling suite
The Notes filter joins the also-in-testing “Recordings” filter, hinting at a more structured view of call artifacts inside Phone. It aligns with Google’s broader AI strategy on Pixel: features like Call Screen, Hold for Me, and Direct My Call aim to reduce call friction, while Recorder summaries and Gmail’s Gemini-powered responses prioritize quick recall and context.
Google has emphasized on-device intelligence for sensitive tasks in previous product briefings, and its Recorder app is a prominent example. While Google hasn’t detailed the exact processing path for Call Notes, the addition of filters suggests future upgrades could include better search, richer snippets in call history, or even cross-app integrations that make notes easier to copy into tasks or messages.
Privacy and compliance considerations
Transcribing calls introduces familiar consent questions. U.S. call-recording laws vary by state; some require one-party consent, others require all parties to agree. Google’s Phone app already displays clear prompts when recording or screening is involved, and best practice is unchanged: inform participants when you turn Call Notes on and follow local regulations.
For businesses, the addition of a Notes filter could make it easier to implement internal policies—sales or support teams can quickly review annotated calls, archive outcomes, and reference summaries without scrolling through unrelated entries. Enterprise IT should still review data retention and access controls, especially if call content is backed up to the cloud.
The bottom line
It’s a small interface change with an outsized impact. A Notes filter bakes organization directly into call history, turning Call Notes from a neat trick into a reliably retrievable record. For Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 users in the U.S., this is exactly the kind of polish that makes AI utilities stick.
Keep an eye on the Phone by Google beta and release notes. If history is any guide, the Notes filter should land quietly—then quickly become something you’ll wonder how you worked without.