Summary
Google Messages vs. Samsung Messages.. Even if third-party messaging applications have become more popular, texting is still a common way for people in the US to communicate. Google Messages is marketed as the default text messaging program for Android, thus everybody with an Android phone has either used it or heard of it. It is the fruition of Google’s extensive experience with various messaging systems. Since at least 2017, Google has been pressuring smartphone manufacturers to make its Dialer and Messages applications the default. Now, they are obligated to adopt Google Messages as the default messaging app on all devices.
Google Messages vs. Samsung Messages
The Samsung Messages app, which is inaccessible after installation, is another familiar facet of Samsung phones for those who have used them before. Even though it is no longer the default messaging software on Samsung Galaxy handsets, it continues to function well.
Google Messages and Samsung Messages are the two texting programs that new Samsung phone owners are faced with. You can’t enjoy the benefits of both apps at the same time, however. By comparing and contrasting Google Messages and Samsung Messages, we want to assist you in selecting the ideal messaging program for your Samsung smartphone.
Google Messages vs. Samsung Messages: user interface
There are a lot of practical similarities between the Google Messages UI and Samsung Messages. But there are obvious distinctions that pop into your head right away.
Starting screen
The message list on Samsung Messages doesn’t start at the top of the screen; rather, it begins halfway down the screen. This is the first difference that users will notice. This is in keeping with Samsung’s One UI design philosophy, which prioritizes ease of use while using one hand. You may see the total number of unread messages in the upper part of the interface; to see only those messages, hit the View button below the counter. Just so you know, if you’re using a Samsung phone, the Google Messages app looks exactly the same, with the conversations list starting in the center of the screen.
Both applications organize discussions on the main screen based on messages from the same sender. At the top of the Google Messages welcome page, you’ll see a search bar and your profile picture. You may touch on one of the two overflow menus to access the other, or you can use the hamburger button on the left. New message creation buttons are located in the lower right corner of both applications.
Searching on Samsung Messages is done by a button rather than a separate bar, but the functionality is same. You may access the search results as you write by tapping on either element; a separate page will emerge. Samsung Messages makes it simpler to discover texts by displaying individual messages, unlike Google Messages which shows results by conversations.
Tags like “Personal,” “Transactions,” “OTPs,” and “Offers” allow Google Messages to automatically filter messages into several categories underneath the search box. You can also organize your messages on Samsung Messages by category, but there’s a major catch. Manually creating categories and adding talks to them is required with Samsung Messages. Keep your SMS inbox organized and sorted with ease with Google Messages’ automatic sorting feature compared to Samsung Messages.
Simply simply swiping over messages, you may archive them in Google Messages. You may customize the left and right swipe actions (to delete or archive) similar to the Android Gmail app. Ironically, Samsung Messages lacks the swipe-to-archive option that has been available in Samsung’s Phone app for over ten years.
Finally, if you prefer not to have Google Messages’ UI color scheme automatically adjusted to match your system, you may choose between bright and dark themes. The dark mode in Google’s Messages app is a deep gray, like in all of Google’s applications.
On the other hand, Samsung Messages syncs its theme with the rest of the phone automatically and doesn’t let you pick between bright and dark modes manually. A lighter shade appears behind the list of messages on Samsung’s dual-shade backgrounds, while a darker hue occupies the vacant space.
Writing and responding to correspondence
Starting a new conversation is easy in both Google Messages and Samsung Messages. Tap the bottom button to access your contact list, or type in the person’s phone number or email address (only for Google Messages) to start a discussion.
The only real difference between Google Messages and Samsung Messages is the aesthetics. In addition to text, Google Messages also supports the sending of emoticons, GIFs, stickers, and audio messages. By using RCS, a more robust messaging protocol, you are able to transmit not just media attachments but also contacts, locations, and files with Google Messages (Rich Communication Services). Instantaneous RCS messaging is possible because it uses the internet rather than SMS or MMS, much like Apple’s iMessage. The only stipulation is that the devices used for transmission and reception must be RCS-enabled. Below, we go into depth about the characteristics of RCS.
Similarly, Samsung Messages allows users to attach files to their messages. Visual and auditory media such as images, GIFs, videos, audio messages, emoticons, etc. If you use Samsung’s own keyboard app, you can also send stickers in conversations. With Samsung Messages, you can quickly transfer multimedia to RCS conversations using capabilities that are comparable.
Google Messages has a lot of different attachment possibilities and it also has “Smart Replies” that are powered by Google Assistant. Artificial intelligence (AI) generates these replies mechanically according to its best judgment and presents them as buttons for simple pressing.
The “Quick response” text templates are also available on Samsung Messages. You may also personalize the list of Quick answers with your own words for easier access. In contrast to Google Messages, however, the list of recommended answers does not include any personalized responses but rather a collection of stock ones. Furthermore, it does not make use of Bixby, the company’s virtual assistant.
Direct buttons to contact someone using the phone using Google Meet (formerly Duo) are available in both messaging applications, and you may even plan messages to be delivered at a later time. You may also plan messages to go out at a later time with each of these applications.
Like the Facebook Messager app for Android, discussions in Google Messages may be shown as collapsible bubbles on smartphones running Android 11 and later.
Google Messages vs. Samsung Messages: RCS chat features
The RCS communications system is being considered as a possible replacement for the SMS and MMS. The GSM Association first specified the standard in 2007, but it wasn’t until Google acquired Jibe cell—a provider of RCS back-end services to cell carriers—in 2015 that the standard became widely adopted.
Emojis, high-definition movies, GIFs, read receipts, and the ability to see the other person’s typing in real time are all features of Google Chat, an RCS-backed service that was debuted in 2018. Internet messengers such as WhatsApp and iMessage were the only ones offering all of these functionalities back then. In contrast to Apple’s iMessage, RCS was not controlled by a single entity and could be used by any network or Android phone maker.
After introducing Chat capabilities to Android’s Messages in 2018, Google teamed up with US carriers to make these features available on smartphones, all in an effort to boost RCS’s growth. Additionally, it has collaborated with Samsung to provide consistent RCS texting across all Android smartphones.
There are a lot more people using RCS-based texting on Android smartphones and with a lot more carriers now than there were previously. But for now, the only first-party messaging applications that enable RCS texting are Samsung Messages and Google Messages. Thanks to RCS’s interoperability, it’s also compatible with Samsung Messages and Google Messages.
Support for multimedia
The ability to immediately exchange media is another powerful feature that RCS brings to both Messages applications. When you enable RCS, you’ll be able to communicate a variety of media files across compatible devices, including photos, stickers, GIFs, emojis, music, videos, documents, location, calendar events, contacts, and voice messages. Although WhatsApp’s 2 GB limit is more astounding, the existing 100 MB restriction is more than enough for most files.
You can send RCS messages even while your service is off, as long as you’re connected to Wi-Fi or another internet source; this is because they’re sent via the internet, not your carrier’s network. Instant delivery of RCS communications is guaranteed by reliance on the internet.
On the other hand, if you’re using a cellular network with data caps, you may save more by choosing the media quality when sharing in Samsung Messages.
Group conversations, read receipts, and a typing indication
Google Messages and Samsung Messages now include read receipts and a typing indication, and RCS is now able to accept more file formats. Joining a group chat with other users who also have RCS-enabled smartphones allows you to enjoy multimedia-rich conversations. Unlike Samsung texts, Google Messages lets you reply to texts using emoticons.
Complete secret communication
Encryption from end to end for RCS talks with Google Messages was enabled by Google in August 2023. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether encryption is applicable to all RCS or if it is limited to talks inside Google Messages.
How to activate RCS messaging on Google Messages or Samsung Messages
Google Messages and Samsung Messages both need manual activation before you can use the RCS Chat capabilities. I’ll show you how to accomplish it:
- Navigate to the app’s Settings menu.
- Touch RCS talks on Google Messages. Find the Chat settings option in Samsung Messages.
- No matter what, turn on the RCS chat functionality.
Take note that if your phone has two SIM slots, you can only activate the RCS chat feature on the first one. If the applications don’t activate number verification automatically, you may need to do it manually.
You may also deactivate RCS or set the app to deliver messages as SMS or MMS by default if you can’t send them over the internet.
Special features in Google Messages
The Messages applications from Google and Samsung are quite similar in terms of how they work, but each has its own set of capabilities that the other lacks. I will summarize those differences for you below.
Sorting by Autonomy
You may have your messages automatically sorted into these categories in Google Messages:
Individual, including both incoming and outgoing communications
All financial dealings, including notifications from financial institutions (such as banks and credit card firms),
One-Time Passwords, sometimes known as 2FA, are used for authentication purposes.
Promotional messaging offers
Based on their location, some users may only be able to see two categories: Personal and Business.
Additionally, when you launch Google Messages, you have the option to choose which category will be the default. To further alleviate the influx of one-time passwords (OTPs) into your email, you have the option to set them to automatically delete 24 hours after receipt.
Google Assistant-powered suggestions
Various ideas are offered in Google Messages with the use of artificial intelligence. Google Messages not only offers contextually relevant Smart Replies, but also emoji, GIFs, and stickers. You and the other people in the conversation will remain anonymous since, according to Google, these ideas are made locally on the device rather than processed in the cloud.
Google Messages does more than just recommend things; it also lets you create Calendar events and set reminders. You won’t even notice that Google isn’t snooping on you since this occurs entirely offline. If you get a message with a location or a link to Google Maps, you can get a preview of the region on Maps and even find your way there using Google Messages. Finally, if the other contact has a Google account linked to their phone, Google Messages may send birthday reminders. You may disable these recommendations from the app’s Settings, under the recommendations menu, if you find them annoying.
Reactions expressed with emoji messages
The use of emojis and responses has become the de facto standard for routing small chat. Google Messages, similar to WhatsApp, Instagram, iMessage, etc., lets you respond to messages using a variety of emoticons. To access these responses, you must be part of an RCS-enabled conversation and have others use Google Messages as well.
Your response will be shown in a new message with the highlighted emoji as the Samsung Messages app does not support them.
Linking media files
If your cellular plan does not have unlimited data, sending media using MMS may incur extra charges. As a defense mechanism, Google Messages will transform any material you send to someone who does not utilize RCS into a link that you may access in your browser. In order to protect your privacy, these links will expire in 72 hours.
Desktop backup
Using the “Device pairing” option from the three-dot menu on the welcome screen, you may access your Google Messages on your phone and respond to them on your computer. You may connect your phone to Google Messages on the web in the same way you would with WhatsApp Web. Keep in mind that you’ll need an internet connection on both your phone and PC in order to send and receive texts directly. That functionality is not available in Samsung Messages.
One workaround is to download Microsoft’s Your Phone Companion program and use it to mirror the screen of your Android handset onto your Windows PC. In addition to reading and replying to messages, other features include video calling, managing alerts, transferring files between your phone and computer, accessing storage on your phone, and even mirroring your phone’s screen onto your computer. It should be mentioned that Your Phone Companion is compatible with all Android smartphones, not only Samsung ones. This includes handsets that run Google Messages. Unless you have an add-on for Macs like AirDroid or KDE Connect, you won’t be able to do this.
Special features in Samsung Messages
These are the extra capabilities of Google Messages; nevertheless, how does Samsung Messages compare? Although Samsung’s list of unique features isn’t as long, it does include some intriguing items.
Garbage can
Everything you’ve erased from your Samsung Messages inbox during the last 30 days is housed in the Recycle Bin. After the first 30 days, you have the option to either restore the communications or let them be deleted automatically. In case you accidentally erase a message, the Recycle Bin could come in handy.
Personalization of the chat interface
You can change the backdrop color of a conversation and the colors of the message bubbles, which is a cool feature on Samsung Messages but not on Google Messages. You have the option to change the backdrop color of the conversation or even upload a photo to completely alter the atmosphere of the discussion. With just one swipe, you may change the backdrop and custom colors for every single discussion or for all of them at once. You may also change the background to adjust how visible text and message bubbles are.
Document summary that was shared
When you use Samsung Messages for an online RCS-based discussion, you may see a list of all the documents that have been exchanged before. To access the shared attachments, go to the relevant chat, press the three dots in the upper right, and then tap on Shared attachments.
If you want to find a file, picture, or video that someone else has shared with you, you’ll have to wade through a lot of Google Messages since it doesn’t have the same feature.
Astute moves
Samsung Messages, like Google Messages, receives intelligent recommendations depending on certain triggers inside messages, including a date or a location. You may quickly browse to a certain place or add an event to your calendar with the direct buttons in Samsung Messages. But, unlike Google Messages, the recommendations don’t seem that comprehensive.
Google Messages vs. Samsung Messages: availability and device support
For Android, the default texting app is now Google Messages, as indicated before. There are a lot of third-party applications available in the Google Play Store, but most people won’t install them because they are worried about their privacy and don’t trust these companies. The software probably comes preinstalled on every Android phone you buy after early 2022. If your phone isn’t up-to-date or didn’t arrive with Google Messages installed, you can always download it from the Play Store. You should be able to use the app on any phone that was purchased within the previous five years, and there are no hard and fast prerequisites.
You can only use Samsung Messages on Samsung handsets; it won’t operate on any other brand’s phones. The installation will fail regardless of whether you attempt to install the program from the side using an APK or not. Every Samsung phone, especially those with the One UI, will have the most recent version of the app loaded by default. If it doesn’t work, Samsung Messages is available for download in the Galaxy Store.
Keep in mind that your carrier’s support determines whether or not you may use the RCS capabilities on any messaging app. You can use RCS with major US carriers including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint. Plus, several prepaid carriers, like Google Fi, provide RCS. Senior VP Hiroshi Lockheimer made the announcement at Google I/O that RCS has 800 million users globally, a figure that is still limited to Apple consumers.
Google Messages vs. Samsung Messages: Which is better?
Samsung and Google Messages are two options that could be difficult to narrow down. In any case, here’s a little rundown to assist you choose the correct app, and we hope our comparison makes it easier.
Google Messages is now the go-to app for sending and receiving text messages on Android. Although the app’s primary use is to provide SMS messaging, it also allows users to share multimedia over a new protocol called RCS, which is comparable to Apple’s iMessage. With RCS, you may transfer media in real-time in addition to text messages. An quick typing indication and emoji response capabilities are also available. Google Messages also has RCS, but it also automatically sorts messages into categories so you can keep personal and professional talks distinct. Finally, it employs the AI of Google Assistant to provide intelligent recommendations, like reminders or requests to add events to the calendar, all while handling this data locally on the device.
Like Google Messages, Samsung Messages allows for RCS-based messaging. You can add creative stickers and GIFs to your Samsung Messages using Bitmoji and Samsung’s augmented reality emojis, which are similar to Apple’s Memoji but need manual setup. Google Messages also supports both formats. Additionally, you may personalize the chat interface for each discussion or for the whole chat session. Finally, the Recycle Bin allows you to recover messages that you have deleted by mistake; this feature is not accessible in Google Messages.
Put simply, Google Messages enhances the user experience with AI-powered recommendations and automated organizing, while Samsung places an emphasis on customization and the integration of entertaining elements like augmented reality stickers. The characteristics you want in a perfect messaging platform may help you pick the best software for your needs.
