GoKawiilJoe Maring / Android Authority
Samsung fans, it’s almost time to pour one out for one of the company’s oldest Android apps. On April 4, Samsung announced that its longstanding Samsung Messages texting app will finally shut down for good this July. As has been the case with more recent Samsung phones, remaining Samsung Messages users will be migrated over to Google Messages for their new default texting app.
If Samsung Messages is the texting app you’ve been using every single day for the last few years, hearing it’s going away in just a few short months is probably awful news. But as much as change can be frustrating, it’s usually for the best.
And in this particular case, the death of Samsung Messages in favor of Google Messages is ultimately good for everyone.
Are you okay with Samsung Messages going away for good? 2404 votes Yes, it was about time Samsung retired it. 9 % No, I still use Samsung Messages and prefer it over Google Messages. 70 % I already use Google Messages as the default app on my Galaxy phone. 14 % I am indifferent. 7 %
In 2026, there’s no reason not to use Google Messages
Joe Maring / Android Authority
How so? It really boils down to one thing: RCS.
RCS (Rich Communication Services) is the default texting standard for Google Messages and enables features like read receipts, typing indicators, proper group chat support, and more. It’s an infinitely better texting experience than the old SMS standard, and to use RCS on Android, you need Google Messages.
This wasn’t always the case. For years, carriers tried implementing RCS with their own standards and texting apps, but it was (unsurprisingly) a disaster. Samsung Messages even supported RCS for a while, but it was also reliant on carrier-specific standards and never properly implemented for everyone.
... continue reading