Google is bringing a small but significant update to its Phone app that could make one of its newer AI features far more convenient to use. An APK teardown of a recent beta build uncovers a new dedicated “Notes” filter in the call history, which would bubble up calls that contain transcripts and summaries of the Call Notes feature.
For anyone who depends on Call Notes to jot down the action items or specifics outlined in a call, this could make searching through a long log a one-tap affair.
What the APK teardown shows
Strings and interface elements within the Phone by Google app (version 190.0.802853361-publicbeta-pixel2024) point to a new filter chip described as “Notes.” It surfaced next to the app’s current filter carousel, which includes Missed, Contacts, Non-Spam and Spam, as well as a “Recordings” chip that was previously spotted.
The only filter not yet filled in is Notes, but its function is also quite obvious: Tap it to see only calls that have Call Notes added. That includes faster access to the AI-generated transcript and the tiny summary Google debuted on supported devices earlier this year.
Why a Call Notes Filter is Essential
Call Notes can be invaluable in day-to-day life, such as confirming a delivery time with a courier, recording a contractor quote, or jotting down a summary from a support call. But utility declines when you can’t pluck those notes quickly. With a dedicated filter, you don’t even need to see or remember dates, or contact names, you simply tap ‘Notes,’ and skip right to the calls that contain useful information.
This is in line with the way Google has evolved discoverability in its apps. The Recorder app’s searchable transcripts and summaries are so well liked because they are something you can get, man. If we apply this philosophy to Phone, it seems that Google wants your call outcomes (for example agreements, next steps, reminders) to be as discoverable as your missed calls.
Who will view it, and when
Call Notes will work for the United States and Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 series devices only. It looks like the Notes filter is on that same footprint, so it would stand to reason that owners of those phones would be first in line to see it when Google flips the server-side switch. Pixel 9a owners will not see the filter, though — the A series does not yet support Call Notes.
Just like with a lot of features on Google apps, this is a gradual rollout. APK code generally runs ahead of public release by a couple of weeks and some features are also gated by device, region, and account type. We can expect the filter to be delivered through an app update, with a back-end enablement that will be rolled out after testing is ready.
Part of a larger AI-first calling suite
The Notes filter is paired with the also-in-testing “Recordings” filter, suggesting a more systematic approach to a view of call artifacts within Phone. It’s part of Google’s wider AI strategy around Pixel — Call Screen, Hold for Me and Direct My Call features are designed to minimize call friction, and Recorder summaries and Gmail’s Gemini-prompted responses are meant to promote rapid recall and context.
Google has talked up on-device intelligence for sensitive tasks in past product briefings, and the Recorder app is one of the star examples. Although Google hasn’t laid out the specifics of how Call Notes is processed, the advent of filters hints at additional features down the road, such as improved search, more robust snippets in call history, or cross-app integrations that would make notes easier to copy into tasks or messages.
Privacy and compliance considerations
Transcribing calls raises familiar concerns about consent. Laws on call-recording in the United States are also subject to specific state laws, some of which require only the consent of one of the parties involved in a call, while others demand the consent of all parties. Google’s Phone app makes it pretty clear when you’re recording or screening, and best practices remain the same: Let people know when you are turning Call Notes on, and follow your local laws.
For businesses, the Notes filter could let users more easily follow the rules—sales or support representatives could look at only annotated calls and archive them, then reference summaries rather than scrolling past everything. Enterprise IT should continue to review data retention and access controls if call content is backed up to the cloud.
The bottom line
It’s a small interface change with an exaggerated impact. A call-log-friendly Notes filter hard-wires organization directly into call history, transforming Call Notes from a neat trick into a reliably pulled-up account. This is the kind of polish that will make AI utilities stick with Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 users in the U.S.
Monitor the Phone by Google beta and release notes. If history is a guide, the Notes filter will arrive quietly—-and it will soon be something you wonder how you lived without.
