The release of the second developer beta of iOS 18 this week provided a first look at one of the most anticipated new features: RCS Messages. And now that carriers have started enabling the service, users are eagerly testing the feature with their Android friends, and everyone is loving it.
While not as feature-rich as iMessage (and non-Apple devices will still be denoted by green bubbles), RCS Messaging brings several features that users have wanted for years, including:
- Strike Indicators
- Read and deliver receipts
- Tapback responds with any emoji
- High quality photos and videos
- Sharing large files
- Audio messages
The new features also extend to group chats, which no longer bring the entire conversation down to the SMS level. Now, conversations with a mix of Android and iPhone users will be “more reliable,” according to Apple, but users will only notice that basic iMessage features will no longer be unavailable.
Of course, Android users still won’t have access to iMessage’s exclusive features, including editing and deleting messages, stickers, and message effects. Messages also won’t be end-to-end encrypted at launch, though Apple says it’s working with the GSM Association “to evolve RCS and make messaging fairer and more secure.”
