Samsung Galaxy devices no longer ship with the company’s proprietary messaging software pre-installed, at least in the United States.
Samsung is officially removing the Samsung Messages app on new and future Galaxy devices. Instead, the South Korean smartphone manufacturer delivers devices with the Google Messages app pre-installed.
This move is in line with Google’s recent push for RCS (Rich Communication Services). The goal of this project is to enable true cross-platform messaging across all devices. This means that Apple’s Messenger app will also be included.
It adds features like read receipts, image and video sharing, input indicators, and more. All of this cannot be viewed or used with older technologies such as MMS and SMS.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6, which were recently launched in the US, come pre-installed with the Google Messages app by default.
Even Apple agreed to add RCS support in iOS 18, breaking the barrier between Android and iOS. This means you may see a blue bubble on all your devices.
However, Apple’s RCS version lacks several important features. It includes important data protection measures such as end-to-end encryption.
Analyst Max Weinbach, who first spotted the announcement on the Samsung Members app, shared the news on X/Twitter. However, Mishaal Rahman, one of the most famous Android developers, said that this is only limited to the US. Devices shipped in Canada and other regions still have Samsung apps installed.
This announcement states:
“The Samsung Messages app will no longer be pre-installed on the Flip 6, Fold 6 and newer models.
Instead, Google Messages offers a new and improved experience for expressing feelings and keeping communication safe and fun.
However, this is not the end of Samsung news. The app is still available to download from the Galaxy Store, but it may be missing some key features.
Samsung’s decision to discontinue Samsung Messages is not surprising. The company shipped its flagship Galaxy S22 series with Google Messages in 2022.