I tested Call Screen on the Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Pixel 10 Pro XL — and there’s a very clear winner

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)

Similar to my last test, I called both phones and left the same message to test their Call Screen performance using a mock script I had Gemini generate for me. They consist of everyday phone calls you’d encounter: a package delivery, an appointment confirmation, and a dreaded solicitation call.

The latter is the main reason I’ve given up on answering phone calls altogether from unknown numbers, leaving these AI assistants to handle them instead. Naturally, I’m not only grading them on how accurately they transcribe these messages or how natural they sound during the conversation — I’m also looking at how well they respond.

In fact, they need to convince me that they’re just as reliable as a human.

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(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)

Clearly, Samsung has a long way to go before it matches what Google’s been doing because Call Screen on the Galaxy S26 Ultra is as dull and basic as it gets.

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First and foremost, I can’t get over the blatantly robotic tone of Samsung’s version. It sounds like a first-generation voice assistant with its shrill tone and timed pauses, which is nowhere near the human-like quality of the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s assistant. I’m not saying this is a deal-breaker, but a natural voice certainly helps the conversation flow more naturally.

Now, I really like how both phones show the transcribed message in real time, but the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Call Screen tool is pretty generic with its responses. It offers the same set of canned options for every phone call, so it’s clearly not using AI to understand the caller’s intentions. Instead of suggesting where to leave a package, I’m left with basic options like “Repeat that,” “Who are you?” and “I’ll call you later.”

In contrast, the Pixel 10 Pro XL relies on AI for contextual responses that actually pertain to the conversation. One option it suggested was to “leave it by the front door,” which is a genuinely helpful instruction.

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Winner: Pixel 10 Pro XL

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(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)

Everyone’s bound to get a phone call about confirming an appointment, but this one regarding an upcoming doctor’s visit is a perfect example of how much more advanced the Call Screening feature is on the Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Just as with the previous test, the AI assistant on the Pixel 10 Pro XL picks up all the cues — specifically, how the caller mentions a time to confirm for the appointment. Without me doing anything, the Pixel 10 Pro XL Call Screen tool instantly provides options to “confirm,” “cancel appointment,” and “I’ll call back to reschedule.”

This shows that the AI assistant truly comprehends the purpose of the call. These options rhighlight the disparity between Samsung and Google: Samsung’s generic options accomplish nothing, while Google makes quick work of providing a meaningful response.

Winner: Pixel 10 Pro XL

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(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)

While most phones nowadays automatically filter spam calls, one may still slip through every now and then — which is exactly why I love leaning on Call Screen. Both phones accepted the call, but once the message was relayed, it was immediately apparent that the Pixel 10 Pro XL already knew it was spam.

Because it understands the context of the message, the Pixel picks up on details that sound like a solicitation. Ultimately, I’m given the option to “Report as spam,” which kindly rejects the caller on my behalf.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Call Screen feature fails to pick up the obvious clues. Instead of an option to report the call, the responses are no different than those for any other call. It’s frustrating, but at least there’s an option for me to type in a custom response to be relayed back to the caller.

Winner: Pixel 10 Pro XL

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)

Without question, Google’s Call Screen feature on the Pixel 10 Pro XL is light years ahead of what Samsung is doing with the Galaxy S26 Ultra. If I’m unable to take a call, I can confidently rely on my Pixel 10 Pro XL to relay the message, which I can then act upon using the intelligent options provided to me.

The main reason it works so well is that the Pixel understands the conversation rather than just transcribing it. Plus, it goes the extra mile by offering contextual responses that instruct the caller on what to do — all without requiring me to manually provide explicit instructions.

Samsung’s effort is far from ideal, but it’s a foundation upon which the company can continue to build. The gap between Samsung and Google is narrowing, primarily because they share many of the same Google AI tools, but Call Screen is a perfect example of how Google’s years of data and refinement still give the Pixel a distinct edge in executing truly helpful, human-like AI automation.