Underrated Features That Every Smartphone Has

Smartphones have changed dramatically since their inception. And while they are great for making phone calls and accessing the Internet, they can be even more helpful with daily tasks than many users realise. Here are a few underrated features that every smartphone offers.

Live Translate

Let’s start by saying that some phones offer more live translation features than others. The most basic version uses the phone camera to interpret the text on signs, books, and web pages into a more familiar language. More advanced versions, such as those on some Google Pixel phones, enable users to translate real-time conversations while offering translated words in both languages. The result is much easier than typing in words for translation and guessing the correct spelling.

Live Caption

Many people watch videos without sound in public places, and some even opt to turn the sound off at work or home. Live Caption, however, displays a transcript of the audio. Without sound, videos are less disruptive, so bosses and colleagues won’t even know you are watching a video. Live Caption can be helpful in many apps, including YouTube, and in the fun cash games people find after browsing through a selection of the best new slot sites.

Call Screening

Most modern phones prevent users from being interrupted by spam calls warning them their vehicle’s warranty is expiring. Call screening has worked wonders for many who would otherwise be distracted, frustrated, or scammed. Today’s call screening apps also let users have an artificial intelligence assistant weed out less important phone calls by asking a question or two and then showing a live transcript of what the caller said. These are very useful, as most bots and spam calls will continue their spiel or say nothing.

Smart Lock

Phones shouldn’t be difficult to log into. Smart Lock is available on many phones and enables users to bypass their security setup in designated safe places like work or home. Outside of those places, Smart Lock still enforces the need to identify before logging in.

Google Lens and Visual Look Up

Google Lens and Visual Look Up are cool phone features. Point the camera at an object, and your phone will start a search using the image. This is especially helpful when shopping. Point the camera at, for example, a hat or lamp with a great style, and Google or Apple will quickly find where it can be bought. Another example is taking a picture of a painting at a museum or a building on the street and learning more about the history or location with a picture. By comparison, users would otherwise have to describe the item or attempt to find information about the manufacturer, but picking up the camera is just so much easier.

Back Tap

Apple and Android phones have a feature most users don’t know about yet. Instead of finding the back button or swiping to go back, a smartphone user can tap the back of the phone to return to the previous screen. This is a cool feature to quickly return because it just requires one slight movement from one finger. Pretty cool.

Telephoto Lens

The average smartphone user doesn’t have a regular pocket camera anymore. Better lenses and sensors have made smartphone cameras much better over the last decade and reduced the need to buy an additional piece of hardware. One area where phones have been weak until recently is in the area of a telephoto lens, which gives the user the ability to zoom in and see closer or isolate a subject from the background.

In addition to better glass in the lens, some camera telephoto lenses are a software change instead. Google and Apple have become very good at using artificial intelligence software to create the telephoto look after the photo is taken.

Rich Communication Services

Some users may not have heard of Rich Communication Services or RCS but use the feature daily for texting. RCS is like texting, allowing people to send higher-quality videos, GIFs, and other files. Also, RCS indicates when someone reads a text and can show if they are typing. Those concerned with privacy can turn this feature off.

Verification Code Autofill

Security is a big deal these days, with lots of people accessing sensitive information on their phones or computers. Sites like banks or places that store credit cards often send out a two-factor authentication code to the device or phone number. Before verification code autofill, the user had to copy and paste or memorise a number while flipping back and forth between screens. Instead, the autofill method lets users have the app or browser access their texts and throws the code in for them with minimal effort.

Theft and Accident Detection

Smartphones can help keep us safe. Theft and accident detection help in very different ways but work on the same principle. If the smartphone suddenly moves harshly, an Android phone may turn on theft detection and lock the screen. Theft defection assumes the sudden movement is the phone being ripped out of someone’s hands and keeps the thief from having immediate access to personal information. Accident detection works on the same principle and can detect the movements associated with a crash and then call for help if the phone user cannot.

Conclusion

Smartphone makers like Google, Samsung, and Apple have done a great job incorporating features that users find helpful daily. The idea of a telephone lens, whether built into the phone camera’s hardware or fixed in software, has helped many smartphone users take memorable photos without carrying more equipment. Meanwhile, other features have made smartphones “smarter” than they’ve ever been—and they will only get smarter over time and as AI-assisted operating systems become more common.

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Author Profile

Adam Regan: Deputy Editor

Features and account management. 3 years media experience. Previously covered features for online and print editions.

Email Adam@MarkMeets.com