Smartphones are essential for communication, but their lack of granular control over call volume often causes frustration. While features like "Do Not Disturb" and custom ringtones exist, users cannot assign distinct ringing volumes to different contacts. For example, someone might need family calls to ring loudly for emergencies, work calls at a moderate level, and other calls quietly to avoid disruptions. This gap in customization leads to missed important calls or unnecessary interruptions, particularly for busy professionals, caregivers, and hearing-impaired users.

A Customizable Call Volume Solution

One way to address this problem could involve adding a native iOS feature that lets users set individual ringing volumes for contacts or groups (e.g., "Family," "Work"). This could be accessed through the Contacts app or Settings, where a slider or preset options ("Loud," "Medium," "Quiet") would adjust volume levels. Advanced features might include:

• Group-based settings: Apply a uniform volume to all contacts in a category (e.g., all work contacts at medium volume).
• Context-aware overrides: Adjust volumes automatically based on time or location, like silencing work calls after hours.

The feature could integrate with existing iOS tools like Do Not Disturb, ensuring compatibility. For instance, custom volumes might pause when focus modes are active or adapt to user-defined exceptions.

Why This Could Work

This approach would stand out from existing solutions in a few key ways:

• Compared to Do Not Disturb: Instead of only allowing select calls to ring at full volume, it offers tiered prioritization, so no call is fully silenced unless desired.
• Compared to third-party apps: Native integration would avoid battery drain or permission issues, while eliminating manual profile switching.
• Privacy advantage: Unlike third-party apps, contact data stays on-device, aligning with Apple’s privacy focus.

Getting It Off the Ground

A phased rollout could start with a simple MVP: a volume slider in the contact editing screen with preset options. Later phases might add group controls and time-based rules, while usability testing could refine discoverability (e.g., hints during iOS setup). Addressing technical hurdles—like decoupling custom volumes from system-wide settings—would ensure seamless operation without extra battery drain.

For Apple, this could strengthen loyalty by catering to users who value nuanced control over their devices. For everyone else, it’s a practical way to make phones adapt to life’s priorities, not the other way around.