After numerous adverts and several other years of Google’s pleading, RCS has lastly come to Apple’s Messages app. Proper now, it’s solely obtainable as a part of the second iOS 18 beta, forward of a full rollout later this fall, however for the courageous beta testers, it’s actually, really right here. So, I did what any good journalist (particularly one utilizing Verizon, AT&T, or T-Cellular as a result of they’re the one supported carriers) would do — I fired up an iPhone and texted probably the most tech-savvy man I do know: my dad. In any case, what may go fallacious with explaining what I wanted him to do whereas testing RCS on Messages for myself for the primary time? Surprisingly, virtually nothing.
Two thumbs up
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
Earlier than utilizing my Android-using dad as an RCS guinea pig, I needed to do a number of issues. The primary was to let him know that I’d be shifting my cellphone quantity round — a courtesy since he will get emails from Verizon each time I accomplish that (sorry, Dad).
The second was to choose into Apple’s Developer Program, deliver an iPhone 14 Plus check unit out of retirement and set it up with the most recent iOS 18 beta. These two steps took about thrice so long as the remainder of the method (together with working my dad by means of the other ways I wanted him to react to messages).
Then, it was time to leap into an RCS-powered future, and by that, I imply flipping a toggle within the Settings app. Severely, that’s all there may be to it proper now for beta testers on the latest construct.
From there, it was time to ship my first RCS textual content message on an iPhone, so I figured I’d begin with a straightforward one — a dig about Apple lastly getting the message. Then, it was time to check a number of RCS fundamentals: the power to react to messages and ship learn receipts from Android to iOS. I requested my dad to reply to my first message, and he despatched again a thumbs up — each to my authentic message and my request for a response. Each reactions popped up easily and instantly, a large enchancment over the generic SMS alert on iOS 17 and older, and much nearer to what we see from Apple’s iMessage service between Apple units.
I additionally seen I didn’t have to check learn receipts by means of RCS — they’re turned on by default. There additionally doesn’t appear to be a strategy to flip them off since there’s just one toggle for all of the RCS settings, so that you’re both in or out. Personally, I hope Apple provides the power to toggle learn receipts in a while, as I don’t normally use them, however that is beta software program, in any case.
I can see clearly now
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
The opposite most important draw of bringing RCS to Messages is the power to ship full-resolution movies and pictures from Android to iOS, similar to you’ll be able to with iMessage between iPhones. In any case, there’s nothing worse than having a pal take an ideal picture of you just for them to ship it to you in a low decision. So, I requested my dad to ship an image and a video clip, and he did so in a approach that solely a dad may — with a comic book about making beer and a video of himself checking the gutters on the home I grew up in.
As soon as I completed shaking my head, I noticed that each had come by means of simply the identical as in the event that they’d been despatched from one other iPhone. The comedian was crystal clear, and the video got here out a lot better than the Patterson-Gimlin decision I typically get when he sends me a clip. It’s an enormous enchancment over the SMS and MMS struggles each side have been used to and an indication that Google was most likely proper all alongside.
Photos and movies lastly go from Android to iOS within the decision they had been supposed.
RCS on iPhones additionally means that you can ship stickers out of your present set and GIFs from Apple’s #photographs library, so I despatched my dad one in all every. Sadly, Apple doesn’t appear to have ironed out reactions to them simply but, as I bought the dreaded “Thumbs as much as a GIF” and “Thumbs as much as a photograph” in response. Curiously, after I reacted to the video my dad despatched, it was a thumbs up on my finish however a fundamental textual content response on his.
So, the expertise isn’t good simply but. Sure, iOS 18 remains to be in growth, however I bumped into one other stunning hiccup whereas receiving video clips from my dad. Though I had no points opening and beginning clips, there was no strategy to management them as soon as they began enjoying. The play button disappears virtually instantly, and Apple’s common slider throughout the underside edge is nowhere to be discovered. If I needed to return and pause at an earlier spot within the clip, I’d must swipe out of it and begin over again — not a large drawback in a 10-second clip, however lots annoying for something for much longer.
Sure, inexperienced bubbles nonetheless exist
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
So, there you go — Apple has utterly modified the messaging sport by bringing RCS to Messages. We will lastly have peace and concord between Android and iOS, particularly as the 2 cell platforms inch nearer collectively and share extra options than ever earlier than. You may put apps wherever in your iPhone’s Residence Display, change the colour of your icons, and react to messages throughout different platforms. What else is there?
Oh, proper, inexperienced bubbles nonetheless exist, so Android customers will most likely nonetheless face stigma for selecting a Pixel or a Galaxy system over an iPhone. That’s alright, although. Now, once you seize an ideal picture of your folks utilizing a Pixel 8 Professional or seize a video at 50x zoom on a Galaxy S24 Extremely, you’ll be able to ship it to your folks in its authentic high quality!
Now we’ll discover out if the stigma is basically concerning the inexperienced bubble or simply poor SMS efficiency…
Cynicism and snark apart, bringing RCS to Messages feels nice. As a lot as I don’t love the automated learn receipts, I loved having my dad reply to my messages with out his response sending an additional textual content, and the typing indicator means I do know he’s really responding moderately than being off doing “dad issues.” Perhaps at some point, Android customers (as I normally am) will lastly cease being judged for having inexperienced textual content bubbles. Till then, this actually seems like a great begin.
However what do you suppose? Will RCS on iPhone finish the bullying towards inexperienced bubble Android customers when it rolls out later this fall? Tell us within the ballot beneath.
Will RCS on iMessage enhance Android-iOS relations?
165 votes