iOS 18 will launch in the coming weeks with major improvements like Apple Intelligence, new customization tools, and more. But one of the biggest changes is coming with Messages: RCS support. RCS will make messaging between iPhones and Androids work better than ever. Here’s what that means for you.
RCS enables new features in iPhone-Android conversations
When considering text messaging, there are a few different texting methods to be aware of.
- iMessage is Apple’s own, proprietary text messaging system. iPhones, Macs, iPads, and other Apple devices can communicate with each other over iMessage. That’s not changing in iOS 18. iMessage conversations use blue bubbles.
- SMS/MMS make up the texting system that the iPhone’s Messages app defaults to when communicating with an Android user. SMS/MMS conversations use green bubbles.
- RCS is like a newer, better version of SMS and MMS that will make messaging between iPhones and Android better than ever before.
RCS stands for Rich Communication Services, and it has been widely available on Android devices for a while. While SMS/MMS are technically more widespread, they are an older technology and come with more limitations.
For example, Androids supporting RCS can react to other messages using a heart, thumbs up, or other Tapback-like reactions. RCS also enables sending higher quality photos and videos, read receipts, typing indicators, and more.
RCS, importantly, is not end-to-end encrypted. While some RCS implementations on Android phones do use encryption, it’s not part of the standard itself. Though hopefully that will change in the future.
iOS 18 makes RCS the new fallback when you can’t iMessage
In iOS 17 and prior versions of the Messages app, messaging between an iPhone and Android device could be unreliable. This is because the iPhone relied on SMS/MMS in those situations, and those are older technologies that don’t seem to play as nice with iMessage.
After gaining RCS support in iOS 18, your conversations with Android users should be free from the headaches they’ve previously brought. RCS conversations will still use green bubbles rather than blue ones, but they should be much more reliable for everyday use. You won’t have to worry about media not going through because it’s too high-quality, or messages getting lost the way they sometimes do. And you’ll be able to use more of the iMessage features you know and love from your blue bubble threads.
Importantly, SMS and MMS aren’t going away, they’re just being relegated to third-string. RCS relies on mobile data to send messages, rather than a traditional texting plan, so in situations where you can’t use data but do have a basic cell connection, your iPhone will utilize SMS.
Available today in beta, later in September for all users
RCS is currently supported in the iOS 18 beta for select US carriers, so you can test it out if you’re running the beta and your carrier is on board. Expect to see a lot more carriers start supporting RCS before iOS 18’s public launch later this month.
Have you been using RCS on your iPhone? What’s the experience been like? Let us know in the comments.
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