If you happen to’ve been dwelling underneath a rock, the Samsung Messages app goes away. Samsung has formally confirmed that it’s going to shut down the app in July 2026, with Google Messages taking up because the default.
The corporate has already began notifying customers that they will not be capable of ship messages by Samsung Messages (aside from emergency providers or contacts), and the app will even not be accessible to obtain from the Galaxy Retailer. It is price noting that you just already cannot set up Samsung Messages on the Galaxy S26 sequence.
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No Gemini muddle taking up your display screen house
(Picture credit score: Jay Bonggolto / Android Central)
Google has been pushing Gemini throughout Android wherever it may, and Google Messages is not any exception. The app now features a devoted Gemini button, letting you begin chatting with the AI straight from inside your conversations. The concept is to make issues like drafting messages, brainstorming concepts, or planning occasions simpler with out leaving the app.
Whereas that sounds helpful in principle, it additionally means Gemini sits proper alongside your private chats. You possibly can disable it from the settings, however I am not fully comfy having an AI assistant so tightly built-in into an app that handles my non-public conversations.
With Samsung Messages, you did not have to cope with any of that. It was only a easy, easy-to-use RCS messaging app with none AI options taking over house or consideration.
Extra chat customization choices constructed proper in
(Picture credit score: Nick Sutrich / Android Central)
One factor Android customers are used to is customization, and Samsung Messages completely nailed it. The app enables you to tweak nearly every part, from altering chat colours and message bubble colours to adjusting distinction, making use of theme-based kinds, and even utilizing wallpaper-based colour palettes.
Google Messages, then again, feels fairly bare-bones as compared. You solely get mild and darkish themes out of the field, and whereas Google has been engaged on including extra chat themes, the function nonetheless is not broadly accessible but (even within the beta channel).
So should you’ve been counting on deep customization in Samsung Messages, that is one thing you will undoubtedly miss when transferring to Google Messages.
One other nice a part of Samsung Messages, and possibly an important function in my view, is message categorization. Similar to you possibly can manage emails into completely different tabs like Major, Updates, Social, or Promotions in Gmail, Samsung Messages enables you to do one thing very related along with your texts.
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You possibly can group completely different senders into particular classes. For instance, you possibly can put all of your financial institution and card messages right into a monetary class, maintain your shut contacts underneath major, and even create classes for issues like meals deliveries or purchasing updates. It makes managing messages a lot simpler.
Google Messages, nonetheless, does not provide this. Whereas it has added options like a trash part, there’s nonetheless no method to correctly categorize messages by sender. This looks like one thing Google might simply enhance with AI (even when that raises some privateness questions), however for now, it is a massive function lacking from Google Messages.
Google Messages is not a foul RCS different
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With the Samsung Messages app shutting down in July 2026, the model is asking customers to modify to Google Messages because the default messaging app on their telephones.
And whereas it is not a like-for-like substitute, it is at the moment the one SMS app on Android that absolutely helps RCS. So if RCS texting issues to you, with options like high-quality media sharing, typing indicators, stickers, and emoji reactions, Google Messages is the app you will have to maneuver to.
That mentioned, Google Messages itself is not a foul app. There are some customization choices accessible, and much like Samsung Messages, you possibly can disable Gemini from the settings if you don’t need AI in your chats.
It additionally consists of options like Messages for Internet, which is helpful for getting into OTPs in your laptop computer, and enhanced spam safety that is not accessible in Samsung Messages.
Google Messages has improved quite a bit over the previous few months
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The explanation I am not fully annoyed about Samsung Messages going away is that Google has been placing in actual effort to enhance its Messages app lately.
We have seen additions like a trash folder to recuperate deleted chats, small however useful instruments like copying particular elements of a message, and the flexibility to mark RCS notifications as learn from Put on OS. And all of those updates have arrived pretty lately.
These updates present that Google is actively working to enhance the Messages app, not only for Samsung Galaxy customers however for Android customers general.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely offers
