Google’s Audio Emoji Gets a Prominent Button in the Phone App

Introducing a Fresh Update

Google’s Audio Emoji, first introduced with the Pixel 8a in May, has been seeing continuous updates, including seasonal animations. The latest development brings a more prominent access point to the Phone app.

Audio Emoji: Accessible but Hidden

Currently, Audio Emoji is accessible from two places: as a suggestion chip alongside “Video call” (when available), or by tapping “More” for the grid of call actions, like Call Notes on the Pixel 9 series.

A Prominent Button Takes Center Stage

Google is now testing a rather large “Audio Emoji” button above Keypad, Mute, Speaker, and More. This pill spans almost the entire width of the calling screen and brings up the existing characters sheet design.

Disable Audio Emoji or Enable It

As a reminder, you can disable Audio Emoji entirely in Pixel Phone Settings. This feature is not widely rolled out, but it’s being tested, with reports emerging from users with the latest Phone by Google beta (version 157).

Related News and Updates

• The screenshot above also showcases the new video calling button in the top-right corner.
• More on Pixel Phone https://9to5google.com/2024/12/17/pixel-phone-audio-emoji-redesign/
• Thanks to Osvaldo for contributing to this article.