From Health and Security to Travel, These 52 Smartphone Features Can Make Your Life Easier

Androids, iPhones race to be first with the latest innovations

Edward C. Baig,

Updated October 01, 2025

AARP

En español

Published November 01, 2023

/ Updated October 01, 2025

a graphic illustration shows a smartphone with a briefcase handle

AARP (Dan Saelinger/Trunk Archive; Getty Images)

Of all the hours you spend on your smartphone every day, precious few involve making or receiving calls.

Instead, what makes a smartphone smart is all the other tasks it’s capable of: helping keep you or loved ones safe in an emergency, providing directions even when you’re offline or reminding you where you parked your car. Nearly 9 of every 10 U.S. adults 50 and older own a smartphone, according to an AARP Research report released in late 2024.

Such a small device, about as big as your hand, can handle a lot more than you know. The following 52 smartphone features aim to make you more productive, bolster your health, jog your memory and help you have more fun. Some can even help you make better phone calls.

Though many of the entries below apply to both iPhones and Android devices, not all do. What’s more, some work only on specific phone models or the newest mobile operating systems: iOS 26 for iPhones or Android 16.

If past is prologue, today’s exclusive feature may show up next year on its competitor.

Accessibility

1. Clone a voice

If someone close to you has a devastating illness that puts the ability to speak at risk, the Personal Voice feature on iPhones with iOS 17 or later lets people bank their voices by reading aloud 150 randomized phrases, a process that takes about 15 minutes. It works in tandem with another feature called Live Speech.

2. Transcribe sounds

People who are hard of hearing may not realize that appliances are beeping, doorbells are ringing and someone is talking from another room. The Live Transcribe feature baked into Google Pixels and other select Android devices — also available as a free app from the Google Play Store — can label such sounds around the house so that the person is aware. When the feature is enabled, you can type responses to transcriptions you see on-screen, get alerts when your name is spoken and search within transcriptions.

The iPhone’s similar feature is called Live Captions and can be enabled under Accessibility Settings.

3. Use a keyboard with one hand

Some people prefer “typing” with just a thumb, especially because phones with larger displays are the norm. Choose the One-Handed Keyboard option on iPhones and certain Android devices.

On Androids, search for One-handed mode in Settings ⚙️ and choose either right- or left-handed mode. One method on iPhones is to press and hold the Globe icon 🌐 at the left below the keyboard and choose a layout where the keyboard is to the left or right.

4. Use a back tap shortcut

Apple lets you double tap or triple tap the back of an iPhone to quickly perform designated tasks on the device, from raising or lowering the volume to turning on the flashlight. Though listed as an accessibility feature for people who may have difficulty navigating the screen or going through a lot of steps, any user can take advantage.

Visit Settings | Accessibility | Touch | and scroll to Back Tap. Choose whether to double or triple tap and assign a shortcut action associated with those taps.

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Entertainment

Bluetooth technology allows you to play music from your phone on an external smart speaker.

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5. Cast your small screen

Having a mobile screen with you to watch movies, TV shows or videos when you’re on the go is great. But the experience doesn’t come close to reveling in great content on the large-screen TV in your living room, which you can do by sending the signal from your phone wirelessly, called casting.

On iPhones, a typical method is to use the AirPlay feature to send the movie or show to an Apple TV box connected to the TV. On Androids, you might choose Google Chromecast, among other options.

6. Control your TV

If you often misplace your TV’s remote control but always have an iPhone nearby, you can use your iPhone to control a smart television or accessory, including an Amazon Fire TV, Apple’s own Apple TV 4K or Roku. This remote control option is accessible in Control Center.

Android devices vary, but you can always download a compatible TV remote control app in Google Play.

7. Get news briefs

News happens around the clock, and news junkies want to stay informed. You can get alerts and headlines on your phone and dig deeper to learn more. Androids and iPhones have no shortage of free news apps.

The Apple News app is preinstalled on iPhones, though you will have to subscribe to read stories from certain newspapers and magazines. Google News is on Androids and available in the Apple App Store for iPhones.

8. Identify a song

How often have you heard a song in a bar or restaurant but don’t know the artist or tune? The Shazam app, built into every iPhone for years now and available for Androids on Google Play, can identify it, at least most of the time.

Or you can ask Google Assistant, or Gemini built into Androids and available for iPhones, and even hum a few bars.

9. Launch picture-in-picture

If you’re watching a movie, YouTube or other video content on your phone but want to skim information elsewhere, picture-in-picture tools on iPhone and Android let you shrink the video into a small window that you can glance at while looking at something else.

10. Listen to podcasts

Free podcasts on almost any topic are all the rage. Apple puts a Podcast app on all iPhones. If a podcast app isn’t already on your Android, free options from Google and others can be found in Google Play.

11. Send music to external speakers

Wireless earbuds and headphones are the only way to listen to music or other audio privately on most newer smartphones, at least without an adapter that would let you connect corded headphones. Apple removed its headphone jacks in 2016 and never looked back, allowing wireless Bluetooth technology to take up the slack.

To connect your earbuds, headphones or speakers with your Android or iPhone, look for the Bluetooth option inside Settings ⚙️, which on some handsets may be listed under Connected Devices. After selecting Bluetooth, pair your phone with the appropriate wireless accessories. Shortcut access to Bluetooth is also available via the Control Center on iPhones or Quick Settings on Android.

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Health

Smartphone health apps can make staying fit easier while also tracking your state of mind.

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12. Assess risk of falls

An iPhone can evaluate your danger of falling. When you walk around with the device, custom algorithms can check your balance, coordination, stability, walking speed and overall risk of taking a spill, which are reported in the Health app when you set up the feature. Your Walking Steadiness is rated as OK, Low or Very Low. Apple also shares exercises that may help someone with stability problems.

For reliable measurements, you must have your iPhone in a front pocket or holster near your waist.

13. Log your state of mind

In the Mental Wellbeing section of the Health app on iPhones, you can note your emotions and moods to identify patterns over time that may contribute to understanding how you’re feeling.

You can also do a mood check-in inside the Samsung Health app on Galaxy phones. Meantime, numerous third-party mindfulness apps are also available for iPhones and Androids.

14. Store health records

Chasing down myriad health records might give you an ulcer, especially if you see multiple specialists and frequently have lab work done. The Health app on iPhones is a convenient repository for your medical paperwork, kept safe through an encrypted connection to your physician. You can also list your medications.

Samsung Galaxy users can download and store records in the Samsung Health app. Other Android users can turn to third-party alternatives such as CommonHealth, available as a free download in Google Play.

15. Track a woman’s cycle

Some women like to keep tabs on their menstrual cycles, which can become more irregular as they approach menopause. Users of iPhones can track this information in the Health app. Apple says the data is encrypted and stays on the phone. Tap the Browse tab, then Cycle Tracking.

For Android users, numerous period and ovulation trackers are available in Google Play.

16. Wind down for bed

Experts often say the best feature on your phone is something that will dissuade you from using the device so much, notably at bedtime. You can arrange to remove or curb distracting apps and notifications at night or any other time.

On Androids, start in Settings ⚙️ under Digital Wellbeing & parental controls. On iPhones, head to Settings | Focus | Sleep.

Various tools and apps also let you track your sleep.

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Phone calls

Voice Isolation and Clear Calling features on smartphones help clarify your voice.

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17. Clarify your voice

Improve a cellular or FaceTime call on an iPhone when the person you’re speaking with is having trouble hearing you. Turn on the Voice Isolation feature, which prioritizes the sound of your voice and blocks other noise. While on the call, swipe down to summon Control Center, tap Phone Controls | Voice Isolation.

Google offers a similar Clear Calling feature on Pixel 7 and later models. In Settings ⚙️, tap Sound & vibration | Clear Calling | Use Clear Calling.

18. Screen phone calls

Google Pixel owners can send unwanted callers to Google Assistant. When a call comes in from a suspected scammer or someone not in your contact list, you have the option to tap a Screen Call button. The digital assistant will answer on your behalf and ask the purpose of the call. This often will ward off robocalls.

Apple added its own screen calling feature with iOS 26. Start in Settings | Apps | Phone and under Screen Unknown Callers tap Ask Reason for Calling.

19. See a transcript of an incoming call

On an old-fashioned landline connected to an answering machine, you can hear an incoming caller before deciding whether to answer. Not so on cellphones. On iPhones, Live Voicemail lets you view a real-time transcript of a call to help you determine whether to pick up.

Not every unknown caller is a spammer. But if you don’t want to pick up a call from an unfamiliar number, you can visit Settings ⚙️ on an iPhone to send those callers directly to voicemail.

Android phones vary. Inside the Phone app on a Pixel, tap the three vertical dots ⋮ at the upper right, then tap Settings | Caller ID & Spam.

20. Take my place on hold

Few things are as frustrating as enduring long waits on hold for a customer service representative. The Hold Assist feature added to iPhones with iOS 26 lets your handset wait in your place. It will automatically detect when you’re on hold so you can step away, then notify you when a live person comes on the line and it’s time for you to pick up.

Tap Settings | Apps | Phone | Hold Assist Detection.

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Photography

A tour of Rome can become the foundation for a collection of photos that your smartphone will organize into memories.

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21. Add a 3D effect to your pictures

You can transform ordinary 2D photos into 3D ones with the Spatial Scenes feature added to iPhones with iOS 26. The background in an image subtly shifts as you move or tilt the device, resulting in a nifty parallax effect that works with models dating back to 2020’s iPhone 12. To make it happen, open an image in your Photos library and tap the small spatial screen icon just above the picture.

22. Create photo memories

Relive precious memories through the photos stored on your device. On iPhones, the Photos app automatically creates curated collections, aptly called Memories, around a particular date, event, theme or trip, each with a musical soundtrack.

Google Photos can also organize select photos and videos automatically in a featured timeline of memories. On a Pixel, tap a featured memory at the top or tap Collections | Moments inside the Photos app. On a Samsung Galaxy, open the Gallery app and tap Stories.

23. Let friends see your photo collections

You can share designated pictures with your pals without having to print them, email them or post on social media. Apple lets you share photos and videos with up to five people by setting up an iCloud Shared Photo Library. You can even let friends collaborate on photos in this collection. Start in Settings ⚙️, then tap Apps | Photos | Shared Library.

You can share a collection of pics in Google Photos, too. Tap the Google Photos app, tap Photos, select the images to include and tap + Add to album | Share. You get to name the album before choosing the people you want to share it with and how you want to share it.

24. Preserve photo settings

As a serious photographer, you might find it a hassle to reenter your preferred shooting modes every time you open iPhone’s Photos app. By visiting Settings | Camera | Preserve Settings, you can save the last setting you used — time-lapse, slo-mo, video, photo, portrait, pano — as well as aspect ratio, depth of field, exposure, filters and more.

25. Replace faces in photos

Group photos are tough to capture perfectly. People blink or aren’t smiling. The artificial intelligence–driven Best Take editing feature on Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro devices or later lets you swap out a person’s face in Google Photos for a better shot of that same person, culled from “similar shots.” Choose the photo you want to doctor and tap Edit | Tools | Best Take. Then you can pore through each individual mug to find that best take.

Families in the future may play a guessing game about whether a favorite photo was real or doctored.

26. Delete background objects or people

How often has a bystander or person you know spoiled an otherwise splendid image in the background? AI tools let you exorcise the photo bomber or an object marring the pic.

On a Pixel, tap Edit | Tools | Magic Eraser.

Similar features include the Clean-Up tool in the Photos app on an iPhone and Object Eraser in the Gallery app on a Samsung Galaxy.

27. Take a level photo

A perfectly good photo can be ruined when the picture is crooked. The Google Pixel is among the Android phones with a level built into its Camera app. As you orient the Pixel, you’ll see two unobtrusive lines, one yellow, one white. When the camera is straight, a single yellow line is formed.

Apple has a similar level feature on iPhones. A broken white line appears in the viewfinder when you’re about to frame a reasonably straight photo. As you tilt the phone right or left, the line breaks up more. You’ll know the camera is properly oriented when the white line turns solid yellow.

28. Use an AI photo coach

Google’s premium Pixel 10 phones include an aptly named early-stage feature called Camera Coach, which provides step-by-step and real-time advice to help improve your shot.

The AI may instruct you to shoot closer to the side to add depth to a picture or zoom in on an object for greater detail.

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Security

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Your smartphone can be the controller for smart home devices such as your thermostat even if you’re not at home.

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29. Manage your smart home

Connected thermostats, garage-door openers, security cameras and smart locks can all be controlled through your iPhone or Android device, which is supposed to be easier now that hundreds of companies are adhering to the Matter standard.

Apple’s Home smart home hub app is already installed on iPhones, and Samsung has SmartThings on its Galaxy handsets. For other Android phones, you may choose to fetch Google Home from Google Play.

30. Share your location with family

On iPhones, you can reveal your location to family and receive notifications of their whereabouts through the Find My or Messages apps. In Settings ⚙️, tap Family Sharing, and scroll down to Location Sharing. Tap the switch next to each person you want to share your location with.

On Androids, you can share your location through Google Maps with someone in your Contacts. Tap your profile picture on the upper right, Location Sharing | Share Location, and tap the people you will allow to see your whereabouts. You can share your location for one hour or until you turn this feature off.

31. Store passwords

Passwords can be tough to remember, so many people use the same or similar ones over and over — a security faux pas, experts say. Though third-party password managers can address this problem, you can also securely store passwords on your phone, safeguarded behind biometrics.

Saved passwords and passkeys on iPhones are stored in a Passwords app that lets you access all your web and app login credentials in one place without having to navigate the settings.

Android approaches vary. On a Samsung Galaxy phone, passwords may be securely stored under the Samsung Pass authentication platform.

32. Summon help in an emergency

No one knows when they’ll have to cope with a medical or other emergency. Having a smartphone in your pocket could save your life, even if you’re so incapacitated that you can’t speak or dial 911.

On iPhones, one way to summon help is to rapidly press the phone’s side button five times. Similarly, on Google Pixel, press the power button five times. On both phones, enable Emergency SOS in Settings ⚙️.

If you’re off the grid sans Wi-Fi or cellular, you may be able to get help via satellite. Starting with iOS 18, some iPhone users will be able to send messages to family and friends in the Messages app using satellite, not just during emergencies. An iPhone 14 or later is required.

Satellite messaging is also available on certain premium Android devices.

33. Tell loved ones you’ve arrived safely

When you head home late at night or go on a remote hike, the Safety Check feature on Google Pixels and the Check In feature on iPhones can alert designated contacts if you don’t make it to your destination in a timely manner. If you don’t check in, your contacts will be notified.

On Pixels, start by opening the Safety app and tap Safety Check. On iPhones, open the Messages app, choose the person you want notified, and tap the plus sign (+) at the bottom left of the screen. Tap More | Check In. Choose a location and the estimated travel time, whether you are driving, walking or using public transit. You’ll be prompted if running late. An Emergency SOS call will be made if you don’t respond.

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Tools

You can subcribe to shared public calendars with an iPhone app.

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34. Change skin tone, gender of emoji

To change the skin color and gender of your emoji collection, you’ll need to tap more than 300 times on your keyboard, Google says. The updated Gboard keyboard on all Androids and available for iPhones lets you make changes to one emoji and apply those changes to all other compatible emoji with a single tap.

35. Choose dark or light display

Do you prefer light or dark mode? Modern smartphones let you choose the background for all your apps, and yes, you can easily switch when your mood changes or your eyes feel strained.

36. Circle to search

If you want to discover more about products or items you see in a photo or video — someone’s handbag, say, or the sunglasses they’re wearing — you can draw a circle around the item and search for it within Google without switching apps. You can also draw scribbles, highlight or tap an item to search it. Activate this Android-only feature on select Android handsets by long-pressing the home button or navigation bar.

37. Create AI-generated wallpaper

Whether on iPhone or Android, you’ve long been able to alter the cosmetics of your smartphone by changing its wallpaper. On Pixel 8 phones and some other Android handsets, you can generate wallpaper using artificial intelligence (AI).

The drill involves picking a preset theme — imaginary, mineral, painting, soft-focus, etc. — then choosing among keywords provided for that theme. Tap Create wallpaper to complete the process. Alternatively, tap Inspire me to have the phone generate a selection randomly. On iPhones running iOS 18 or later, you can generate AI wallpaper through the Images Playground app.

38. Jot random thoughts

Sometimes all you want to do on a phone is write a few random thoughts, perhaps scribble a picture that you’ll refer to later. The baked-in Notes app on iPhone is a great place to do that, and you can lock away notes that are best kept private. But iPhones also have a separate Journal app, where you can reflect on everyday moments and special events.

Android users can download Google’s Keep note-taking app from Google Play or rely on third-party apps.

39. Print from your phone

Print documents, maps, photos, recipes — almost anything you might want paper copies of. With a compatible wireless printer and your phone on the same Wi-Fi network, printing from an iPhone or Android is relatively simple.

40. Record screen activity

Sometimes showing is better than telling. On iPhones, you can record screen activity to demonstrate how something is done. In Control Center, tap the button that has a solid white circle inside another circle. After a 3-2-1 countdown, the recording will commence.

On Androids, swipe down from the top of the screen and, depending on the device, tap Screen Record or Screen Recorder.

41. Set location reminders

To call attention to a crucial task when you arrive someplace, leave or even get in or out of your car, you can create location memos on iPhones in the Reminders app and on Androids by tapping Reminders inside the Google Keep app, which you may have to summon from Google Play. You can also ask Siri, Google Assistant or Gemini to set reminders.

42. Share contact information wirelessly

Exchanging business cards seems so last century. Name Drop on iPhones lets people share a phone number or email by bringing their phones close together using AirDrop. The feature is on by default, but to turn it off, go to Settings | General | AirDrop and toggle off the Bringing Devices Together switch.

Google discontinued a similar feature called Android Beam. The closest Android feature for sharing data wirelessly is called Quick Share, found under Connection preferences or Connected devices in Settings ⚙️.

43. Subscribe to calendars

You can subscribe to public calendars, perhaps ones that show the schedule of your favorite sports team or religious holidays. On iPhones, go to Settings | Apps | Calendar | Calendar Accounts | Add Account | Add Other Account. Then either tap CalDAV Account, which refers to an internet standard for calendar data, or Subscribed Calendar and enter the requested server or other information.

On Androids, you can add a calendar shared with you from a friend or colleague, but you’ll need a third-party app to add certain public calendars.

44. Take the temperature of objects

Google’s Pixel 8 Pro has a built-in thermometer that lets you measure the surface temperature of beverages, cookware or other objects. Open the Thermometer app and choose object temperature. Point the sensor on the back of the phone at the object in question, and tap Food, Liquid or Cooking surfaces, or the + button within about 2 inches of it, and choose Tap to capture.

45. Turn phone into smart display

You can get utility from your smartphone even when you’re not directly using it. Apple has an iPhone feature called StandBy that lets you glance at customized clockfaces, pictures and other widgets when the phone is charging and oriented vertically, typically when attached to a stand.

Samsung Galaxy phones with “always-on” displays can also show widgets, but other Android devices may require a third-party app. On a Galaxy, start by visiting Settings | Display | Always On Display.

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Travel

You can unlock your car door and even remotely start the engine with your Android device or iPhone.

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46. Add a foreign language keyboard

If you’re multilingual, you may want to access a keyboard in another language from time to time. On iPhones, go to Settings | General | Keyboard | Keyboards | Add New Keyboard. Then tap the keyboard(s) you want to add. You can toggle any of the keyboards you selected by tapping the Globe icon 🌐 at left below the keyboard.

On Androids, make sure Google’s Gboard keyboard is installed and open an app such as Gmail that uses a keyboard. Tap the four square dots in the row just above the keyboard, followed by the gear-shaped Settings icon ⚙️. Tap Languages | + Add Keyboard and choose from the list. Press and hold a Globe icon 🌐 embedded in the keyboard to switch.

47. Board a subway or bus

In a growing number of locales, you can dispense with a mass transit fare card by using your smartphone to board a commuter train or bus. Such virtual transit cards are stored on iPhones in the Wallet app and for Androids in Google Wallet or Samsung Wallet. But you don’t always have to open the Wallet apps to board; instead, hold your device near the reader.

48. Discover your cardinal directions

If you’re headed north, south, east or west but haven’t a clue which way is which, pull out your iPhone and call up the built-in Compass. It reports your current location and your elevation, becoming a bonus altimeter.

For Androids, you’ll have to search Google Play for a free compass app.

49. Find your parked car

When every car looks alike, remembering where you parked isn’t easy. On Androids, you can ask Google Assistant or Gemini to remember where you park and find your vehicle. Or on Google Maps, tap the blue dot indicating your current location, then tap the Save parking button.

On iPhones, you can ask Siri to remember where you parked. Or, if you disconnect an iPhone that was using Bluetooth or Apple’s CarPlay when you exit the vehicle, a parked car marker will be dropped into Apple Maps automatically.

50. Follow maps offline

You never had to rely on an internet connection when using paper maps. And these days, you may not need cellular or Wi-Fi when looking at a map on your phone. You can download Apple Maps and Google Maps for select regions in advance of travel, keeping in mind that such downloaded maps will gobble up storage on your device.

51. Get walking or public transit directions

Driving directions from Apple Maps or Google Maps are probably part of your routine. But if you need to get someplace by bus or train or on foot, these popular map apps already on your smartphone provide those directions, too.

52. Unlock and start your car

You can unlock your car door and even remotely start the engine with your Android device or iPhone, typically when you’re near the driver’s door handle. This feature works only with certain vehicles.

On iPhones, virtual car keys are stored in the Wallet app. Androids stow them in Google Wallet or Samsung Wallet.

This story, originally published November 1, 2023, has been updated to reflect new or upcoming features or changes to existing features.

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Edward C. Baig covers technology and other consumer topics. He previously worked for USA Today, BusinessWeek, U.S. News & World Report and Fortune, and is author of Macs for Dummies and coauthor of iPhone for Dummies and iPad for Dummies. Follow him on LinkedIn; Threads; and X, formerly known as Twitter.