Your iPhone calls will soon sound as good as they do on WhatsApp
An incoming iOS 16 update will make phone calls clearer
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Apple’s iOS 16.3.1 update brought basic bug fixes toiCloudand Siri, but the company’s next software patch, iOS 16.4, looks set to introduce more tangible improvements to the ways in which your iPhone handles everyday tasks.
Among the features set to arrive with iOS 16.4 is Voice Isolation; a neat little tool that blocks out ambient noise during cellular calls to prioritize the quality of your voice. In other words, you’ll soon be able to better hear the person you’re chatting with over the phone, and they’ll be able to better hear you too.
Voice Isolation is actually a feature that’s been available for some time on VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) calls, made through apps likeWhatsApp, but Applesaysthe tool will finally be making its way to cellular iPhone calls with iOS 16.4, which is expected to begin rolling out “later this Spring” (in other words, sometime between March and June 2023).
Apple has also confirmed that Voice Isolation will be compatible with every iPhone model released alongside or after theiPhone SE (2020), so every one of thebest iPhoneslooks set to benefit from the helpful feature.
Once iOS 16.4 does arrive, Voice Isolation can be activated by swiping down the top right of the screen (to access the Control Center), tapping Mic Mode, then Voice Isolation. Thankfully, the feature will remain active for future calls, so you won’t need to repeat the above process every time.
Other features expected to arrive with iOS 16.4 include push notifications for web apps, a ton of new emojis, an improved Podcasts app and bug fixes forApple HomeKit. We’ve rounded upfive super-useful features coming to your iPhone in iOS 16.4in a separate article, so head there for a more detailed breakdown.
If you haven’t yet updated your iPhone to the latest version of iOS, read our guide onhow to update your iPhone to iOS 16. Once you’ve done that, check our tips onhow to create the best iOS 16 Lock Screen for your iPhone.
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Axel is TechRadar’s UK-based Phones Editor, reporting on everything from the latest Apple developments to newest AI breakthroughs as part of the site’s Mobile Computing vertical. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well-versed in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and his coverage extends from general reporting and analysis to in-depth interviews and opinion.
Axel studied for a degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick before joining TechRadar in 2020, where he then earned an NCTJ qualification as part of the company’s inaugural digital training scheme.
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