Samsung ditches its messaging app in favor of Google Messages (US Only)

Key Points:

• Samsung is no longer pre-installing its messaging app on Galaxy phones in the US, favoring Google Messages instead.
• This decision aligns with Google’s push for RCS messaging and potentially streamlines the messaging experience for Android users.
• Samsung Messages remains downloadable from the Galaxy Store, but some features may be missing.

The Samsung Messages app has been a mainstay on Galaxy smartphones for years, offering a familiar way to send texts and multimedia messages. However, a recent shift signals a change of course for Samsung in the United States. The company has announced that it will no longer pre-install its messaging app on new Galaxy devices, opting instead to rely solely on Google Messages.

This decision likely stems from Google’s ongoing push for Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging, a technology that aims to enhance the standard SMS experience by enabling features like file sharing, read receipts, and improved group chat functionality. While Samsung Messages does support RCS, Google Messages offers a more robust implementation that aligns better with Google’s broader vision for Android messaging.

The move was first observed by tech sleuth Max Weinbach, who discovered a notice within the Samsung Members app confirming the change. The notice states that “Starting with Flip6, Fold6, and newer models, the Samsung Messages app will no longer be preloaded.” It further highlights that Google Messages will now provide the default messaging experience for US users.

While the pre-installation removal currently appears limited to the US market, it’s unclear whether this will become a global shift. European and Canadian Galaxy devices still seem to include the Samsung Messages app for now.

Interestingly, Weinbach also noted that RCS was automatically enabled on his US-based Galaxy Z Flip 6 within the Google Messages app. This further suggests Samsung’s commitment to Google’s messaging vision, at least for its US customers.

For those who still prefer the Samsung Messages experience, the app remains available for download through the Galaxy Store. However, Samsung cautions that “some features will be excluded” in the downloaded version.

Ultimately, this decision simplifies the messaging landscape on US Galaxy phones, offering a single point of SMS entry and potentially enhanced RCS features. As Samsung continues to prioritize Google’s messaging ecosystem, it will be interesting to see if this trend extends beyond the US market and how users adapt to this streamlined approach.