If you use an iPhone, Apple Messages is the app for iMessage, RCS, and SMS/MMS. If you use a Samsung Galaxy in the U.S., Samsung now directs owners of affected Android 12-or-newer devices to Google Messages: Samsung Messages service ends there starting July 2026. The right choice depends on your phone, country, carrier, and which messaging features you need—not just the app name.
First, “Messages” and “Samsung Messages” are different kinds of choices
Apple Messages is Apple’s messaging app. It can use iMessage for conversations between Apple devices, RCS where supported, or SMS/MMS. The app name alone does not tell you which service carries a particular message. Apple explains the differences in its iMessage, RCS, and SMS/MMS guide.
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Samsung Messages is Samsung’s Android messaging app for Galaxy phones and tablets. For U.S. Galaxy owners on Android 12 or newer, however, Samsung’s current direction is to switch to Google Messages as Samsung Messages is discontinued starting July 2026. This is a U.S.-specific notice, not a statement about every country. Check Samsung’s discontinuation and migration information for your device and region.
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If you have an iPhone
Use Apple Messages. It uses iMessage with Apple devices and can use RCS or SMS/MMS for other conversations. RCS on iPhone requires iOS 18 and a text-messaging plan from a provider that supports RCS. Availability and features can vary by carrier.
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- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
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- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
If you have a Galaxy phone in the U.S.
If your device runs Android 12 or later, follow Samsung’s direction to Google Messages. Samsung says the app will stop sending messages after discontinuation except to emergency services or emergency contacts. Its FAQ gives July 6, 2026 as the cutoff; Samsung’s main notice describes it as starting in July 2026. Galaxy S26 and newer devices cannot download Samsung Messages from the Galaxy Store, and other affected devices lose download availability after discontinuation.
If you have a Galaxy phone outside the U.S. or an older Android version
Do not assume the U.S. end-of-service notice applies to you. Samsung identifies devices on Android 11 or lower as unaffected by that notice. Check local Samsung support and your device’s Android version before changing apps; availability and carrier features differ by market and model.
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- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
What changes between iMessage, RCS, and SMS/MMS?
These are messaging protocols, not interchangeable app names. Their features and security depend on the conversation type and provider support.
| Service | Where it works | Features and limits | Encryption |
|---|---|---|---|
| iMessage | Apple devices using Apple Messages | Apple lists features such as Tapback reactions. | Apple says iMessage conversations are end-to-end encrypted. |
| RCS | Supported devices and carriers; Apple Messages supports it on iPhone with iOS 18 and a supporting provider | Apple lists high-resolution photos and video, read and delivery receipts, and typing indicators. Samsung says RCS in Samsung Messages depends on carrier support and may not work between carriers or include every feature. Samsung Messages does not support message reactions. | Do not assume every RCS conversation is encrypted end-to-end. Availability is conditional; see the security section below. |
| SMS/MMS | Used when a richer service is unavailable or unsupported | Available as a fallback for text and media messaging; it does not provide the same feature set as RCS. | Apple says SMS/MMS messages are not end-to-end encrypted. |
Samsung describes its own app’s RCS as carrier-dependent and cautions that it may not work across carriers or with all features in its Samsung Messages guide. Samsung identifies Google Messages as its default app for RCS support across carriers.
Rank #3
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
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- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
What to know about encryption
Apple says iMessage conversations are end-to-end encrypted. RCS encryption is more conditional: Apple says RCS messages can be end-to-end encrypted when all participants’ network providers support encryption. For iPhone RCS encryption, Apple specifies iOS 26.5 and a provider that supports it. If the encryption indicator is absent, Apple says the RCS messages are not protected from third parties reading them in transit.
On May 11, 2026, Google announced that end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging was beginning a beta rollout for iPhone users on iOS 26.5 with supported carriers and Android users on the latest Google Messages. Google says encryption is on by default and will be enabled over time for new and existing RCS conversations, but its announcement limits availability to devices that support RCS with E2EE enabled. This is a rollout, not a guarantee that every carrier, device, or conversation is encrypted. See Google’s rollout announcement.
Rank #4
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
The reviewed Samsung support information does not establish end-to-end encryption for Samsung Messages. Do not infer that its RCS messages have this protection; use the encryption indicator and your provider’s current support details rather than relying on the app label.
Switching from Samsung Messages to Google Messages
- Confirm that Samsung’s U.S. discontinuation notice applies to your phone: check that you are in the U.S. and that the Galaxy device runs Android 12 or newer.
- Open or install Google Messages on the Galaxy device and follow the in-app steps to make it the default SMS app. Samsung directs affected users to Google Messages; its support FAQ covers the change and device details.
- Allow time for the conversation transfer. Samsung says messages and conversations transfer automatically, and that the full process may take about 24 hours depending on the amount of data.
- Check RCS status after the switch. Samsung says RCS may be temporarily interrupted on devices released before 2022; SMS/MMS remains available during the interruption. RCS can resume if both parties switch to Google Messages.
Check watches, tablets, and other Galaxy devices
A phone-app switch can affect connected-device messaging as well as the phone itself.
Best Value
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist¹ with Galaxy AI.² Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more³
- FAST. POWERFUL. AI-READY: Power through your day with AI-accelerated performance from our fastest, smoothest and most powerful Galaxy processor yet, built to keep up with everything you do
- IMMENSELY IMMERSIVE: No matter where you are or what you’re watching, your favorite videos and more come to life with the vibrant display on Galaxy S26
- FIT EVERYONE IN THE SHOT: Group selfies are easier on your Samsung phone with a wider front camera⁴ that captures more of the scene, so no one gets left out of the moment
- Older Tizen watches: Watches launched before Galaxy Watch4 cannot use Google Messages. Samsung says they may still send and read texts, but will no longer show the full conversation history on the watch after discontinuation.
- Galaxy Watch4 and later: These models are compatible with Google Messages, subject to setup requirements. Google’s Google Messages on Samsung devices help page describes supported-device behavior.
- Tablets and Message Continuity: Samsung says its Samsung Messages version of Message Continuity for texting on tablets will be disrupted. Google Messages can support texting across Galaxy devices, but Samsung documents carrier and model limitations for Call & text on other devices.
Bottom line: choose by phone and protocol, not by app name
Apple Messages is the natural choice on iPhone, with iMessage for Apple-to-Apple chats and RCS or SMS/MMS for other conversations where supported. For affected Galaxy owners in the U.S., Samsung’s stated replacement path is Google Messages. In either case, check whether a conversation is using iMessage, RCS, or SMS/MMS before assuming it has a particular feature or encryption protection.
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