Google’s November Pixel Feature Drop added a plethora of new features across its devices.
However, what caught my eye was not quirky tools like Google Photos Remix or notification summaries. The most notable update was actually not new at all.
November’s Pixel Feature Drop brought previously US-exclusive features to more countries.
Finally, after months of waiting, Scam Detection for calls is available outside the US. Now, users in the UK, Ireland, India, Australia, and Canada with a Pixel 9 or later device can access one of the best Pixel features.
But in a broader sense, I’m glad that my Pixel experience has finally caught up.
Why Scam Detection for calls is so exciting
A backup plan when all else goes wrong
Credit:Â Google
Scam Detection will monitor suspected spam calls while the call is happening.
If it detects potential fraud, it will alert you with a notification, audio cue, and haptic feedback. It won’t end the call, and the person on the other end won’t be aware of what’s happened.
It’s easy to brush up on common scam call markers, and many services (for example, banks) will tell you as often as possible that they will never call you regarding sensitive information.
Still, we’re human, and scammers can slip past our mental defences. Scam Detection is the perfect way to help us stay aware.
If you haven’t enabled it yet, I recommend it. It’s disabled by default to assuage privacy concerns, but Google says that all the processing to enable this feature happens on the device.
In the US, Pixel 6, 7, and 8 devices use on-device machine learning to identify features, while Pixel 9 or later devices use Gemini Nano on the phone’s hardware.
Scam Detection is great, but its rapid rollout is better
I shouldn’t have to wait years for critical security features
Scam Detection was first available as a public beta in the US on November 13, 2024. It rolled out as a full release in March 2025’s Pixel Feature Drop, again, exclusive to the US.
Eight months later, and here we are with limited international access.
If you live in the US, you might not be aware of how long it takes for many Android features to make their way to international markets.
Eight months might seem like a long time, but it’s practically lightning speed for Google.
Scam Detection might seem like a bulwark against scam calls, but it’s a backup plan when all else fails.
Call Screen is the first line of defense. Call Screen analyzes incoming phone calls and, if it suspects a spam call, it’ll flag it before you answer. It will also give you options to deal with calls without speaking to the person on the other end.
This feature is a huge part of why I’ve stuck with Pixel phones for so long.
While Call Screen is a significant part of my loyalty to Pixel phones, it was also the source of one of my biggest frustrations with Google. Thankfully, it seems like Google has improved its rollout.
Six years is too long to wait for crucial security updates
Google must prioritize expanding its most impactful features to more countries
Call Screen launched in the US and Canada in 2018. It was upgraded with the ability to have Google Assistant speak on your behalf in early 2024, before it expanded to the UK and Japan in October that year.
In 2025, it’s now available in many more countries, including Australia, France, Germany, and Spain.
I understand why Google prioritizes the US market, but a six-year wait was ridiculous. I moved from the US to the UK in 2022, and I immediately noticed how a lack of Call Screen affected my life.
When my Pixel phone received the update (again!) in 2024, my Pixel phone felt mostly complete again.
I don’t mind if Google prioritizes US markets for most features, but any security or privacy features should be rolled out internationally as fast as possible.
Eight months for Scam Detection is far better than the six years international Pixel users waited for Call Screen.
My Pixel experience feels more complete than ever
Regarding Pixel updates, I’m quite lucky to live in the UK. It’s usually in the first wave of countries Google chooses when it brings a US-exclusive international.
While a six-year wait for Call Screen was absurd, I admit that things have become a lot better nowadays. When Google launches a new feature, I can usually expect it on my phone within a matter of months.
Google’s rollout of its features internationally is subject to a wide variety of potential issues. It wasn’t until September 2025 that the company announced that it was bringing Call Screen to India, eight years after its original release.
Hopefully, Google’s rapid expansion of Scam Detection shows that international Pixel users won’t have to endure excruciatingly long waits for critical features again.
