Google Adds Apple-Like Features to Android: Custom Calling Cards, Location Sharing, Luggage Tracking
Google Plays Catch-Up with 6 New Android Features
Google just announced a batch of new Android features that, if you squint hard enough, look suspiciously familiar to iPhone users. The March 2026 update brings custom calling cards, real-time location sharing in Messages, and airline luggage tracking — features Apple has offered for a while now. But Google is putting its own spin on them, and some are genuinely useful additions to the Android ecosystem.
Custom Calling Cards: Your Phone Calls Get a Makeover
The headline feature is Custom Calling Cards, which lets you personalize what people see when you call them. You can set a custom photo, sticker, or even an AI-generated image that displays on the recipient’s phone screen. Think of it as caller ID on steroids.
The catch? Both you and the person you are calling need to be using Google Phone. If the recipient does not have Google Phone installed, they will just see your regular caller ID. It is rolling out first on Pixel phones and select Android devices in the US.
Real-Time Location Sharing in Google Messages
Google is adding real-time location sharing directly into Google Messages through its Find Hub feature. Instead of awkwardly texting “where are you?” for the fifth time, you can now share your live location with contacts right from within a conversation.
This works similarly to how Apple’s Find My integrates with iMessage, but it is built into Google’s messaging ecosystem. The feature is rolling out to Android users globally over the coming weeks.
Lost Luggage Recovery with Airlines
Here is one that is actually quite clever: Google is partnering with airlines to help you track lost luggage using Find Hub. If you have a compatible Bluetooth tracker tag attached to your bag, you can share its location data directly with the airline’s baggage team.
United Airlines is the first partner on board. When your bag goes missing, you can grant the airline temporary access to the tracker’s location through Find Hub, making the recovery process significantly faster than filling out paper forms at the baggage claim desk.
Google Play Shorts: TikTok-Style App Discovery
Google Play Shorts brings vertical short-form videos to the Play Store. App developers can now create brief video showcases of their apps, and users can scroll through them to discover new applications. It is Google’s answer to the question nobody asked: “What if TikTok met the app store?”
Teacher Approved Kids Games on Android Auto
For parents who are tired of hearing “are we there yet?”, Google is bringing Teacher Approved kids games to Android Auto. These are educational games vetted by teachers that kids can play on the car’s rear-seat screens during road trips.
New Emoji Kitchen Stickers
Finally, Emoji Kitchen is getting new sticker combinations. Google’s popular feature that lets you mash up two emojis into a custom sticker now has fresh options. It is a small but fun addition for anyone who communicates primarily through emoji hybrids.
The Bottom Line
Google’s March 2026 Android update is a mixed bag of genuinely useful features and “we had to ship something” additions. The calling cards and location sharing are clearly playing catch-up with Apple, but the airline luggage tracking integration shows Google thinking creatively about how to use its existing infrastructure. Whether these features will convince anyone to switch from iPhone to Android is debatable, but they certainly close a few gaps in the feature comparison chart.