One UI has offered users a choice between Samsung and Google apps for their preferred services. However, Samsung made the default messaging app Google Messages before. The app even had exclusive Galaxy AI features and support for RCS messaging.
However, even the Samsung Messages app on the S25 series now supports RCS messaging. This is a confusing change. For a while now, Samsung has largely moved away from its own Messaging app and only left the app open as a choice to users. In 2022, Google Messages became the default messaging for One UI.
In 2024, the app no longer came pre-installed on their phones either. They’ve also tried to push people to use Google Messages by offering it exclusive features. As per internal testing at 9To5Google, RCS messaging was working perfectly fine on their units of the S25 series. Confusingly, Samsung has shut down RCS messaging for US carriers before.
In addition to that, Sammyguru has also confirmed that RCS now works seamlessly on their Galaxy S25 Ultra devices for both Verizon and T-Mobile, using the Samsung Messages app.
Dude holy cow. Samsung Messages on the S25 Ultra does have RCS. Now in partnership with Google. They actually did what we asked for. pic.twitter.com/WwpZi6tsFn
โ Jeff Springer (@jspring86az) January 31, 2025
This is good news for Samsung ecosystem users who prefer using Samsung Messages over Google Messages since they don’t lose the RCS features. The app is still not pre-loaded on the Galaxy S25 series. You’ll have to install the app manually via the Galaxy Store.
As per an earlier statement from Samsung, they were planning to fully migrate to Google Messages to enhance functionality. Despite earlier announcing plans of sunsetting the app, they seem to have backtracked on this.
If you have an S25 series phone, you can now use RCS. There’s a chance it might come to older Samsung phones via the One UI 7 OTA update, too.