Google Messages is continually including new options that enrich its interactivity, security, and spam safety capabilities. Via latest iOS updates, Apple’s Messages app, too, has been leveling up with new options.
However Apple Messages has just a few gaps that want filling, with Google Messages already nailing the transient. So what can the Apple messaging app do higher?
Evaluating Apple Messages and Google Messages
It might be troublesome to declare one messaging app the clear winner when evaluating function units, since their person bases vastly differ. For starters, Apple Messages is the plain selection for somebody like me, who’s deeply immersed within the Apple ecosystem and likes the sync that the app presents between my iPhone and Mac. Google Messages is an obvious choice for Android customers, given its cross-platform strategy and compatibility with Google companies.
So, whereas it is troublesome to call the “higher” messaging app given how subjective the reply could be, it is not not possible to match function units (and want one app would introduce a function just like one thing the opposite app already has), since each Apple and Google have adopted comparable options prior to now. Listed here are just a few options that I want Apple’s Messages app would borrow from Google Messages, and why.
1
Starred Messages
One function that Apple Messages (frustratingly) has not integrated into its huge catalog of messaging options is the flexibility to star a number of messages. Whereas the messaging app does have a “Pin” function that’s handy for pinning your favourite dialog, it has but to introduce pinned messages inside a chat and Starred Messages, which is able to make navigating a number of essential messages a lot less complicated.
A workaround to that is forwarding essential messages to your personal chat in Apple Messages (which I usually use on instantaneous messaging apps if doable, because it helps me hold observe of data higher), though starred messages are nonetheless handy for group chats.
In the meantime, Google Messages already presents this function, along with the flexibility to pin as much as three conversations. By tapping and holding a message on this app, you get an choice to star it (whilst you solely get response choices with Apple Messages). You’ll be able to then discover starred messages by looking inside a dialog in your chat historical past.
2
Response Results
Apple Messages presents just a few response choices with Tapback, which requires you to double-tap or long-press a message to see response choices. These embody widespread animated reactions (hearts, query marks, exclamation marks), stickers, emojis, and Memojis. These could be edited and stacked (within the case of group chats), and really feel very intuitive if you’re in the midst of a chat. Apple’s messaging app, nevertheless, may supply extra choices by way of reactions.
Google Messages lets customers flip their reactions into dynamic emojis utilizing Response Results. When utilizing a selected set of widespread emojis to react to a message, you’ll discover {that a} dynamic animation impact is utilized immediately to the message. Whereas Apple Messages reactions do include animated components, Google Messages takes issues a step additional.
Each apps supply enjoyable messaging results, like Display Results for widespread phrases like “Comfortable Birthday” and “I like you.” Though Google Messages has but to introduce textual content results like Apple Messages, it does supply animated emojis that come to life when despatched as a separate textual content.
Customized Chat Bubbles Google Messages presents a customization possibility, albeit just for RCS conversations, which helps you to spruce up how your chat seems. This entails altering how a dialog’s chat bubbles look, together with the chat’s background and theme. With RCS chats, message bubble colours could be modified everytime you need, and you should utilize this selection to match your chat background higher.
With Apple Messages, Apple’s iOS 26 replace has launched a function to alter your chat background, with choices so as to add pictures out of your gallery or dynamic themes. Nevertheless, whereas themes could be modified, chat bubbles keep the identical signature blue and white (or black, in the event you’re utilizing Darkish Mode) colours.
I might like to see extra theme choices (for each messaging apps) and bubble customization choices that stretch past colours and gradients. If Apple introduces chat bubble customization with patterns or matching themes for all conversations (for instance), then Apple Messages would positively match (and even have an edge over) Google Messages’ chat customization.
3
Internet Browser Help
A significant benefit of utilizing Google Messages is that, past the cellular app, it presents an internet browser model, which helps you to log in to the app by way of a pc or an Android pill. Google Messages for internet syncs your chat historical past on the cellular app, so long as your cellular app is paired with the logged-in gadget.
When you arrange Google Messages for the net by logging in by way of your Google account and pairing your gadgets, your conversations and contacts will probably be synced and encrypted in your browser.
In comparison with Google Messages, Apple Messages isn’t supported on the net. Whereas the app is obtainable for iPad and Mac, customers outdoors the Apple ecosystem have the drawback of not with the ability to use Apple Messages on their desktop or pill. Apple Messages, in fact, has the benefit of iCloud sync throughout Apple gadgets, which is a particularly seamless course of that retains all of your chats and contacts updated with none pairing required.
Nevertheless, an internet browser model of the app could possibly be massively helpful for customers trying to examine their messages and chat by way of a non-Apple gadget.
4
Voice Moods
Launched by Google in 2023 in celebration of Messages’ milestone of hitting 1 billion RCS customers, Voice Moods elevate your voice notes with feelings. You’ll be able to choose from 9 totally different feelings that add a visible impact to your voice be aware. Voice Moods add each emojis and shade to the voice bubble being despatched, and make your chat look extra interactive (particularly if you’re utilizing themes, animated emojis, and Display Results).
Apple Messages permits you to ship voice notes to a recipient with out additional results, however provided that the app has already launched small but enjoyable options to make texting extra interactive (like Textual content Results and Tapback), results for audio messages could possibly be one thing for Apple to consider for its subsequent iOS replace.
5
Reply Reminders
Some of the essential Google Messages options that Apple Messages is lacking, even after the iOS 26 update, is reply reminders. Google Messages has the Nudges function, which supplies you message reminders for 2 conditions: follow-ups for an unanswered chat (this could possibly be for a message you despatched or obtained) with Reply Reminders, and birthday reminders for a contact. Nudges are enabled by default and present up on the prime of your chat record and within the chat together with your contact.
Apple syncs your Calendar and Reminders app so it is easy to maintain observe of upcoming birthdays and different events, however a function like Birthday Reminders for Apple Messages could be tremendous handy for these of us who neglect birthdays. Reply reminders could be an important addition to Apple Messages, and hopefully, it is slated to be launched in upcoming updates.
6
An Unsubscribe Button
Google Messages’ spam safety is continually enhancing, with options like spam detection and filtering serving to you kind out these annoying, repeat promotional, or spam messages that crowd your inbox. Apple Messages, too, has been seeing some improvements in spam filtering, with options just like the Spam Folder, message filtering, and the Report Spam button for unknown senders.
Nevertheless, one spam safety function that I would wish to see Apple’s messaging app incorporate into its function set is a built-in “Unsubscribe” possibility. Google Messages launched this function for spam safety earlier this year, rolling out to customers in a number of international locations who use RCS for enterprise messages (moreover, for SMS and MMS messages within the US from quick codes and alphanumeric senders). Utilizing this function means Google sends a “STOP” message to the unsubscribed sender, stopping non-essential messages from touchdown in your inbox.
Whereas some senders allow you to cease communication by sending a “STOP” message on Apple Messages, having an unsubscribe function like Google Messages could be extra handy. What makes Google’s function distinctive is that hitting “STOP” for a sender nonetheless permits for important and requested messages (OTPs or boarding passes, for instance). You’ll be able to all the time resubscribe to the sender in the event you change your thoughts.
Apple Messages permits you to block and report spam senders (which is able to stop any communication), and filter messages (based on Spam, Transactions, Promotions, and Unknown Senders), however this function doesn’t work for any sender you replied to a few instances or extra. The addition of an “Unsubscribe” or “STOP” button will prevent a variety of effort and time, particularly if you’re in a scenario the place you are anticipating any important communication from the sender.
7
Pinch to Zoom
An underrated Google Messages function that Apple Messages can incorporate for higher chat customization is the pinch-to-zoom gesture to alter the textual content measurement. This accessibility function, which might additionally come in useful for strategic screenshots, permits you to make the textual content bigger and smaller by merely zooming in or out in your chat display.
When you can increase the font size of text on Apple Messages, this may solely be achieved by enabling the “Bigger Textual content” setting in Accessibility settings. The issue with this workaround, in fact, is that, not like the Google Messages pinch-to-zoom function, you’d have to return to your Settings app each time you need to reverse the textual content measurement improve.
Making use of the setting additionally will increase the textual content measurement for all textual content throughout your different apps. A pinch-to-zoom function, which could be instantly reversed as soon as you utilize it within the Apple Messages app, could be much more handy.
Each Apple Messages and Google Messages have notable options that make the 2 messaging apps stand out, whereas missing in some areas that the opposite does higher. Relying on the person use case, in fact, the end result of the battle of which messaging app is healthier is certain to be totally different.
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