Apple iOS 16.4 software can make your voice clearer when making cellular calls. Previously, it was limited to VoIP applications such as FaceTime and WhatsApp.
- What’s happening? Apple Voice Isolation, which blocks background noise, is coming to iPhone cellular calls with iOS 16.4.
- Why care? While this feature won’t make cellular calls as clear as FaceTime calls, it does cancel out ambient noise to make your voice stand out.
- What to do? To refresh your memory, read our guides explaining how to use Voice Isolation Mode on iPhone and how to use it on Mac.
iOS 16.4 Brings Voice Isolation to iPhone Mobile Calls
The voice isolation feature debuted in iOS 15 in 2021, but was limited to VoIP calls made over Wi-Fi or cellular on apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime, etc. For those unfamiliar with the feature, it filters out background sounds to make your voice clearer.
Apple has now extended Voice Isolation to cellular calls made on your iPhone, but you’ll need iOS 16.4 or later (because the iOS 16.4 beta has already ended, a software update should be out next week) to use it.
When iOS 16.4 goes public and you’ve installed it by going to Settings → General → Software Update, you’ll be able to open the Control Center while on a cellular call and tap Microphone mode to select “Voice Isolation”from the menu.
Which iPhone models support Voice Isolation?
A support document on Apple’s website explains that Voice Isolation mode prioritizes your voice during a call, minimizing traffic sounds, barking dogs, and other ambient noises around you.
This feature requires an Apple A12 Bionic chip or later, which means that the second generation iPhone SE, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and later support it.
It blocks background noise from your side – the other party must also turn on Voice Isolation to make their voice sound clearer to you. Voice isolation is also available on 2018 and later Mac models with macOS 12 or later.