Samsung has announced that it will replace its Samsung Messages app with Google Messages as the default texting application on its new devices, starting with the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6. This change affects newer models, but for now, it seems to be limited to devices sold in the United States. In Canadian and European versions of these models, Samsung Messages remains the default app.
The announcement was made through the Samsung Members app and spotted by analyst Max Weinbach. According to a screenshot of the post, “Starting with the Flip 6, Fold 6, and newer models, the Samsung Messages app will no longer be preloaded. Instead, Google Messages will provide a new and enhanced experience to express your emotions, making communication safe and fun.”
Samsung is prepping its phones for satellite communication (APK teardown)
Samsung wants you to use Google Message for satellite messaging 👀 pic.twitter.com/9Ahyp2RHZw
— Ken Is Nerdy *_* 🇬🇭 || YOUTUBER || (@Ken_is_nerdy) July 19, 2024
While Samsung Messages will no longer be pre-installed, users can still download it from the Galaxy Store. However, some features available in the preloaded version may be excluded from this downloadable version. There has been no clarification on which features will be affected.
This shift comes shortly after reports surfaced highlighting Google Messages’ issues with image compression via RCS (Rich Communication Services). Tests showed that Google Messages heavily compresses images, reducing a 50MP, 6MB image to a 3.1MP, 404KB shot when sent via RCS with the “Send photos faster” toggle disabled. Conversely, Samsung Messages can send images uncompressed via RCS.
Fortunately, Google is reportedly working on an update that will allow much larger images to be sent via RCS in Google Messages. This suggests that the current limitations with image compression might be resolved in the near future. However, the decision by Samsung to switch to Google Messages as the default app has raised questions about whether it might have been premature, given the existing issues with Google Messages’ handling of images.
Samsung has not yet provided a detailed explanation for why it decided to make this change. The company has indicated that the switch aims to enhance the communication experience on its devices, suggesting a belief in Google Messages’ potential to offer a better user experience despite its current drawbacks.
Samsung messages app will no langer preloaded in upcoming devices. Yesterday I switched to Google Message. pic.twitter.com/xsQqb3OEok
— Kapil Sharma (@imladesar) July 21, 2024
This move is significant as it aligns Samsung’s devices more closely with the broader Android ecosystem, where Google Messages is already the default messaging app for many other Android phones. It also underscores the importance of continued improvements in RCS, the protocol designed to replace SMS and provide more advanced messaging capabilities.
Key Points:
- Samsung will replace Samsung Messages with Google Messages as the default texting app for new Galaxy Z Flip 6, Z Fold 6, and future devices.
- This change currently affects only devices in the US.
- Users can still download Samsung Messages from the Galaxy Store, but some features may be missing.
- Google Messages has been reported to compress images sent via RCS, but Google is working on improving this.
- Samsung Messages remains the default app on Canadian and European versions of the Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, indicating the change is US-specific for now.
Susan Guglielmo – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
