Google Messages vs Apple & Samsung: 5 New Features

Google Messages has not replaced Apple’s iMessage or Samsung Messages, but it has added five notable features that bring it closer to both. These features—RCS messaging, end-to-end encryption, profile discovery, voice message transcription, and improved spam protection—are designed to make the app more competitive and secure.

Background: The Messaging App Landscape

For years, Android users had a fragmented messaging experience. Samsung had its own Messages app, Google had Messages, and carriers often pushed their own apps. Apple’s iMessage, by contrast, was a single, unified service on iPhones with features like read receipts, typing indicators, and end-to-end encryption. Google’s answer to this fragmentation has been to push RCS (Rich Communication Services) as the standard for Android messaging, and Google Messages is the primary vehicle for that push.

In 2023, Samsung announced that it would adopt Google Messages as the default messaging app on its Galaxy devices, replacing Samsung Messages in most regions. This was a significant shift, as it consolidated the Android messaging experience around Google’s app. While Samsung Messages still exists on some older devices, the default is now Google Messages, which means the five features below are now available to a much wider audience.

The 5 New Features in Google Messages

Here are the five features that have been added or significantly improved in Google Messages, bringing it closer to iMessage and beyond:

• RCS Messaging: RCS is the modern messaging standard that supports high-resolution photos and videos, typing indicators, read receipts, and larger file sizes. It works over Wi-Fi or mobile data, and it’s the closest Android has to iMessage. Google has been working with carriers and phone makers to make RCS the default, and it’s now enabled by default on most Android phones.
• End-to-End Encryption: Google has rolled out end-to-end encryption for RCS messages between Google Messages users. This means that only the sender and recipient can read the messages, not even Google. This is a major privacy feature that was previously only available in iMessage and WhatsApp.
• Profile Discovery: This feature allows you to set up a profile with your name and photo, which is then shared with people you message. It’s similar to how iMessage uses your Apple ID and contact photo, but it’s opt-in and works across RCS.
• Voice Message Transcription: When you receive a voice message, Google Messages can transcribe it into text. This is helpful when you can’t listen to a message, and it’s a feature that iMessage doesn’t have natively.
• Improved Spam Protection: Google Messages uses on-device machine learning to detect and filter spam messages. It automatically flags suspicious messages and can block them, which is a feature that’s been enhanced over time.

How RCS Works

RCS is a protocol that replaces SMS/MMS. It uses your data connection (Wi-Fi or cellular) to send messages, and it supports features like read receipts and typing indicators. For RCS to work, both sender and receiver must have RCS enabled on their devices, and their carriers must support it. Google Messages uses Jibe, a cloud-based RCS service, to ensure compatibility across carriers.

When you send an RCS message, it’s delivered over the internet, not the cellular network. This means it works even when you have a weak cellular signal but a good Wi-Fi connection. The message is encrypted in transit, and if both parties have RCS enabled, it’s encrypted end-to-end.

How to Enable These Features

Most of these features are enabled by default, but here’s how to check:

1. Open Google Messages.
2. Tap your profile picture in the top right corner.
3. Go to “Messages settings.”
4. Tap “RCS chats.”
5. Make sure “Turn on RCS chats” is toggled on.

For profile discovery, go to “Messages settings” > “Profile discovery” and set up your name and photo. For spam protection, it’s usually on by default, but you can check under “Messages settings” > “Spam protection.”

Comparison: Google Messages vs. iMessage vs. Samsung Messages

Here’s a quick comparison of the three apps:

• iMessage: Only works on Apple devices. It has all the features Google Messages has, plus Memoji, Animoji, and integration with other Apple apps. It’s a closed ecosystem, which is both a strength and a weakness.
• Google Messages: Works on any Android phone, and now even on the web. It’s more open than iMessage, and it has the advantage of being the default on most Android phones. It lacks some of the fun features of iMessage, but it’s catching up.
• Samsung Messages: This app is still available on some Samsung devices, but it’s no longer the default. It has similar features to Google Messages, but it’s not as integrated with Google’s services. Samsung Messages doesn’t have end-to-end encryption for RCS, and it’s not as widely supported.

Common Problems and Solutions

Here are some common issues you might run into:

• RCS not working: If RCS messages are sending as SMS, check that both you and the recipient have RCS enabled. Also, make sure your carrier supports RCS. You can try toggling RCS off and on, or clearing the cache of the Messages app.
• Encryption not working: End-to-end encryption only works when both parties are using Google Messages with RCS enabled. If you’re messaging someone on an iPhone, it will be SMS, not encrypted.
• Spam filter blocking legitimate messages: If a legitimate message is being marked as spam, you can report it as “Not spam” by opening the message and tapping the “Report not spam” button. This helps improve the filter.
• Voice transcription not showing: Voice message transcription is available in English and a few other languages. If it’s not working, check your language settings and make sure you have the latest version of the app.

Privacy and Security Considerations

Google Messages’ end-to-end encryption is a big win for privacy, but it’s important to note that it only applies to RCS messages between Google Messages users. If you message someone on an iPhone, it falls back to SMS, which is not encrypted. Also, Google does collect some data for spam detection, but it says it doesn’t read your messages. The spam detection is done on-device, so your messages are not sent to Google’s servers.

For businesses, RCS is also being used for rich business messaging, which allows companies to send interactive messages with logos, carousels, and suggested replies. This is similar to Apple Business Chat, but it’s more widely available on Android.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Google Messages replace iMessage? No, Google Messages cannot replace iMessage because iMessage is exclusive to Apple devices. However, Google Messages is trying to make Android messaging as good as iMessage, and it’s succeeding in many ways. The main gap is that iMessage has a larger user base in the US, so many people still use it.

Is Google Messages better than Samsung Messages? For most people, yes. Google Messages has end-to-end encryption, better spam protection, and is more widely supported. It’s also the default on new Samsung devices, so you don’t have to switch. Samsung Messages is still fine if you’re used to it, but you’ll miss out on some features.

Can I use Google Messages on an iPhone? No, Google Messages is an Android app. iPhone users have iMessage, and they can use SMS to message Android users, but they won’t have RCS features like read receipts or typing indicators. Apple has said it will support RCS in 2024, but it hasn’t yet.

How do I know if my message is encrypted? In Google Messages, you’ll see a lock icon next to the send button and the timestamp. If you see “Encrypted” under the message, it’s end-to-end encrypted. If you don’t see it, the message is being sent as SMS or RCS without encryption.

Does Google Messages cost money? No, Google Messages is free to download and use. RCS messages use your data plan, so they don’t count as text messages. If you’re on a limited data plan, you might want to be aware of that, but most people have unlimited data.

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