Google gave no US date for any of its new Android scam protections, and for the Gemini Nano link checks Google lists Pixel 10 and newer, Galaxy S26, Z Flip/Fold 8 and other select devices, per its footnote. The rest arrives "in the coming weeks," this month, "later this year" or in December.

Below: what each feature does, who gets it and how to switch it on, then what you can use today and how iPhone compares.

Messages enhanced protection

  • What it does: Google says cloud Gemini models read "complex message context" to spot a scammer's intent sooner in chats with unknown senders. This is Scam Detection running in Private AI Compute, "where your data is encrypted and processed in a secure dedicated space," inaccessible to anyone, "including Google."
  • Privacy caveat: Google's footnote on that paragraph says you can optionally report a text message as spam, which sends the message and its contents to Google for analysis. Google lists that reporting option for Pixel 6 and newer, the Galaxy S24 series and newer, Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold6 and newer, and other Android AICore devices.
  • Phones: Google names no phones or countries for the cloud analysis. Engadget describes the example Google gave: a stranger who texts a "wrong number" photo and then asks for your name.
  • When: "in the coming weeks"; no US date.
  • Turn it on: it is an opt-in setting. Google gives no settings path.

Gemini Nano link checks

  • What it does: with enhanced protection on, on-device Gemini Nano uses "real-time web signals" to judge whether an unfamiliar link is trustworthy before you tap, aimed at brand-new scam sites.
  • Phones: Google's footnote on this item lists Pixel 10 and newer, the Galaxy S26 series, Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Z Fold 8, and "other select devices."
  • When: with enhanced protection; no US date.
  • Turn it on: the same opt-in setting.

Redesigned link warnings

  • What it does: with enhanced protection on, Google says redesigned warnings give "extra time and clearer context" before you tap links from numbers not in your contacts. Google says this was previously limited to some countries or to phones with Android Advanced Protection on.
  • Phones: Google's footnote on this item says it is available on Android 6 and newer devices.
  • When: with enhanced protection; no US date.
  • Turn it on: the same opt-in setting.

Scam warnings in chat notifications

  • What it does: Google says Scam Detection in chat notifications, already on Pixel, warns you from the notification shade before you open a chat app.
  • Phones: Google lists HONOR, Infinix, iQOO, itel, JOVI, Motorola, OPPO, OnePlus, realme, TECNO, vivo and Xiaomi, and says availability varies by maker. Engadget says the makers are expected to enable it later this year.
  • When: "later this year"; no US date.
  • Turn it on: the announcement gives no activation path for the newly listed manufacturers.

Screen-share privacy

  • What it does: Google says Android already hides sensitive information in native apps during live screen sharing, and now blanks login and payment fields in Chrome and Android WebView too.
  • Phones: Android 15 and newer.
  • When: Google's footnote says it is rolling out this month; no US-specific date.
  • Turn it on: Google says Android "automatically" blanks out login fields and payment screens during live screen sharing, and names no setting.

Call-forwarding protection

  • What it does: Google says Android blocks apps from quietly enabling call forwarding, which scammers use to steal one-time passcodes, and warns you if someone talks you into typing a forwarding code on the dialer.
  • Phones: Pixel and "other select devices."
  • When: early December; no US-specific date. Digital Trends reports the same timing.
  • Turn it on: Google names no setting. It says Android will block background call-forwarding attempts and warn before manually entered forwarding codes take effect.

Our call, untested

Use what ships now. Google says Messages spam protection is on automatically where available; check it under Messages settings, Protection & Safety. Google's Advanced Protection help page lists Messages spam and scam protection and unsafe-link warnings, and says it requires Scam Detection to be on. Google's announcement gives no activation path for enhanced protection.

How iPhone compares

Apple's support pages describe two tools. In iOS 26, Screen Unknown Senders sorts texts from unknown numbers into a separate filter; Apple says it is off by default. For calls, Screen Unknown Callers can ask the caller's reason before your phone rings, or silence unsaved numbers and send them to voicemail.

Google says a commissioned assessment found Android's built-in tools outperformed iOS, and Digital Trends says it compared 31 features across four phones. That is Google-funded research. We have not tested either platform.

What to watch

RR Tech Pulse has not independently tested these protections. Google's post does not say which US carriers or phones get each feature first, and it gives no US date for enhanced protection or link checks.