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Previously, when an iPhone user received a text from an Android user, it would use SMS (Short Message Service) resulting in iPhone users receiving low-quality images from Android users and vice versa. Prior to the iOS 18 update, if you were about to text an Android user from your iPhone, the message field would say “Text Message-SMS.” Now, if an iPhone user is texting an Android user who is using an app that supports RCS (like Google Messages), you’ll see Text Message-RCS in the iPhone’s message field.
If you’re an iPhone user running iOS 18 and later and send a message to an Android user running RCS, you will be able to send and receive high-quality photographic images and videos, and see typing indicators that tell you that the other person is typing out a response. A read receipt will show you if the Android user you are chatting with has received your message. Keep in mind that the bubble colors have not changed so that messages from Android users still appear in a green text bubble while messages from iPhone users remain in blue.
No more blurry video chaos, now that Apple is starting to #GetTheMessage and upgrade to RCS.
Discover why RCS is a game-changer: https://t.co/fs5jaitbkspic.twitter.com/4jIqoGx6iP
— Android (@Android) September 16, 2024
While Apple’s support of RCS might not be perfect (Android and iOS users are still distinguished by different color bubbles and there is no end-to-end encryption), it still beats the pre-support days when trying to decipher a photo that an Android user messaged to you could take some time. While the iOS support of RCS might lead to fewer bullying incidents since most iPhone users won’t notice any difference to group chats that are joined by an Android user (which was iPhone user’s main gripe), Google posted a tweet on “X” to promote the RCS support on iPhone.
Top, iOS chat with Android user not running messaging app with RCS support. Bottom, iOS chat with Android user with RCS support. | Image credit-PhoneArena