What’s RCS? Right here’s how iOS 18 makes Messages higher

iOS 18 will launch this fall with main enhancements like Apple Intelligence, new customization instruments, and extra. However one of many largest modifications is coming with Messages: RCS help.

RCS will make messaging between iPhones and Androids work higher than ever. Right here’s what which means for you.

RCS makes iPhone-Android conversations higher than ever

When contemplating textual content messaging, there are a couple of totally different texting strategies to pay attention to.

• iMessage is Apple’s personal, proprietary textual content messaging system. iPhones, Macs, iPads, and different Apple gadgets can talk with one another over iMessage. That’s not altering in iOS 18. iMessage conversations use blue bubbles.
• SMS/MMS make up the texting system that the iPhone’s Messages app defaults to when speaking with an Android consumer. SMS/MMS conversations use inexperienced bubbles.
• RCS is sort of a newer, higher model of SMS and MMS that may make messaging between iPhones and Android higher than ever earlier than.

RCS stands for Wealthy Communication Companies, and it has been broadly accessible on Android gadgets for some time. Whereas SMS/MMS are technically extra widespread, they’re an older expertise and include extra limitations.

For instance, Androids supporting RCS can react to different messages utilizing a coronary heart, thumbs up, or different Tapback-like reactions. RCS additionally allows sending greater high quality pictures and movies, learn receipts, typing indicators, and extra.

iOS 18 makes RCS the brand new fallback when you possibly can’t iMessage

In iOS 17 and prior variations of the Messages app, messaging between an iPhone and Android system could possibly be unreliable. It is because the iPhone relied on SMS/MMS in these conditions, and people are older applied sciences that don’t appear to play as good with iMessage.

After gaining RCS help in iOS 18, your conversations with Android customers must be free from the complications they’ve beforehand introduced. RCS conversations will nonetheless use inexperienced bubbles fairly than blue ones, however they need to be way more dependable for on a regular basis use. You gained’t have to fret about media not going via as a result of it’s too high-quality, or messages getting misplaced the best way they generally do. And also you’ll be capable of use extra of the iMessage options and love out of your blue bubble threads.

Importantly, SMS and MMS aren’t going away, they’re simply being relegated to third-string. RCS depends on cell knowledge to ship messages, fairly than a conventional texting plan, so in conditions the place you possibly can’t use knowledge however do have a fundamental cell connection, your iPhone will make the most of SMS.

Accessible at this time in beta

RCS is at present supported within the iOS 18 beta for choose US carriers, so you possibly can check it out if you happen to’re operating the beta and your service is on board. Be aware that the expertise is prone to change throughout the course of the iOS 18 beta and never all options could also be supported instantly.