Wi-Fi calling sidesteps weak cellular networks, but it's not a perfect substitute.

Wi-Fi calling, also called VoWiFi (Voice over Wi-Fi) is a great way to improve sound quality on your Android phone or iPhone during calls. When turned on, it runs your calls (and texts) over your Wi-Fi connection instead of your carrier's cellular network. It works by routing your connection through an IPsec tunnel and ePDG connection (like a VPN service) to your carrier's network. From that point, the data is sent to the device on the other end as usual; that's why both devices don't need to have Wi-Fi calling enabled for the feature to work.

As great as this is, the function has its share of disadvantages that you should know before relying on it. For one, it needs a decent connection to work properly, but Wi-Fi network congestion can hamper that, resulting in choppy audio, lag or even dropped calls. And while Wi-Fi calling is designed to shift over to cellular networks when your phone loses its Wi-Fi connection, this "seamless handover" isn't always the case.

Wi-Fi calling allows you to make and receive calls in areas with little or no cellular coverage. So if there's a cellular dead zone in your home or office where you can't take phone calls or get texts out, it should work fine with Wi-Fi calling. Sometimes, these dead zones aren't your carrier's fault, but are instead caused by the materials used in building construction. Certain window types, metallic coatings, metal beams, masonry walls and thick enough concrete can weaken signal strength, creating dead zones.

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