I attempted out RCS messages between iPhone and Android: Here is the way it works

After numerous advertisements and several other years of Google’s pleading, RCS has lastly come to Apple’s Messages app. Proper now, it’s solely out there as a part of the second iOS 18 beta, forward of a full rollout later this fall, however for the courageous beta testers, it’s actually, really right here. So, I did what any good journalist (particularly one utilizing Verizon, AT&T, or T-Cell as a result of they’re the one supported carriers) would do — I fired up an iPhone and texted essentially the most tech-savvy man I do know: my dad. In any case, what might go fallacious with explaining what I wanted him to do whereas testing RCS on Messages for myself for the primary time? Surprisingly, virtually nothing.

Earlier than utilizing my Android-using dad as an RCS guinea pig, I needed to do a couple of issues. The primary was to let him know that I’d be shifting my cellphone quantity round — a courtesy since he will get emails from Verizon each time I accomplish that (sorry, Dad).

The second was to choose into Apple’s Developer Program, carry an iPhone 14 Plus take a look at unit out of retirement and set it up with the newest iOS 18 beta. These two steps took about thrice so long as the remainder of the method (together with working my dad by the other ways I wanted him to react to messages).

Then, it was time to leap into an RCS-powered future, and by that, I imply flipping a toggle within the Settings app. Severely, that’s all there’s to it proper now for beta testers on the latest construct.

From there, it was time to ship my first RCS textual content message on an iPhone, so I figured I’d begin with a simple one — a dig about Apple lastly getting the message. Then, it was time to check a couple of RCS fundamentals: the power to react to messages and ship learn receipts from Android to iOS. I requested my dad to reply to my first message, and he despatched again a thumbs up — each to my unique message and my request for a response. Each reactions popped up easily and instantly, an enormous enchancment over the generic SMS alert on iOS 17 and older, and much nearer to what we see from Apple’s iMessage service between Apple units.

I additionally seen I didn’t have to check learn receipts by RCS — they’re turned on by default. There additionally doesn’t appear to be a solution to flip them off since there’s just one toggle for all of the RCS settings, so that you’re both in or out. Personally, I hope Apple provides the power to toggle learn receipts in a while, as I don’t normally use them, however that is beta software program, in any case.

The opposite predominant draw of bringing RCS to Messages is the power to ship full-resolution movies and pictures from Android to iOS, identical to you may with iMessage between iPhones. In any case, there’s nothing worse than having a buddy take an amazing picture of you just for them to ship it to you in a low decision. So, I requested my dad to ship an image and a video clip, and he did so in a manner that solely a dad might — with a comic book about making beer and a video of himself checking the gutters on the home I grew up in.

As soon as I completed shaking my head, I noticed that each had come by simply the identical as in the event that they’d been despatched from one other iPhone. The comedian was crystal clear, and the video got here out a lot better than the Patterson-Gimlin decision I typically get when he sends me a clip. It’s an enormous enchancment over the SMS and MMS struggles each side have been used to and an indication that Google was in all probability proper all alongside.

RCS on iPhones additionally permits you to ship stickers out of your current set and GIFs from Apple’s #photos library, so I despatched my dad one in every of every. Sadly, Apple doesn’t appear to have ironed out reactions to them simply but, as I acquired the dreaded “Thumbs as much as a GIF” and “Thumbs as much as a photograph” in response. Curiously, after I reacted to the video my dad despatched, it was a thumbs up on my finish however a fundamental textual content response on his.

So, the expertise isn’t excellent simply but. Sure, iOS 18 continues to be in growth, however I bumped into one other stunning hiccup whereas receiving video clips from my dad. Though I had no points opening and beginning clips, there was no solution to management them as soon as they began enjoying. The play button disappears virtually instantly, and Apple’s typical slider throughout the underside edge is nowhere to be discovered. If I wished to return and pause at an earlier spot within the clip, I’d should swipe out of it and begin another time — not an enormous downside in a 10-second clip, however a lot annoying for something for much longer.

So, there you go — Apple has utterly modified the messaging sport by bringing RCS to Messages. We are able to lastly have peace and concord between Android and iOS, particularly as the 2 cellular platforms inch nearer collectively and share extra options than ever earlier than. You may put apps wherever in your iPhone’s Dwelling Display, change the colour of your icons, and react to messages throughout different platforms. What else is there?

Oh, proper, inexperienced bubbles nonetheless exist, so Android customers will in all probability nonetheless face stigma for selecting a Pixel or a Galaxy system over an iPhone. That’s alright, although. Now, whenever you seize an amazing picture of your folks utilizing a Pixel 8 Professional or seize a video at 50x zoom on a Galaxy S24 Extremely, you may ship it to your folks in its unique high quality!

Cynicism and snark apart, bringing RCS to Messages feels nice. As a lot as I don’t love the automated learn receipts, I loved having my dad reply to my messages with out his response sending an additional textual content, and the typing indicator means I do know he’s truly responding moderately than being off doing “dad issues.” Perhaps at some point, Android customers (as I normally am) will lastly cease being judged for having inexperienced textual content bubbles. Till then, this definitely looks like begin.

However what do you assume? Will RCS on iPhone finish the bullying towards inexperienced bubble Android customers when it rolls out later this fall? Tell us within the ballot under.