Summary
- Two-thirds of Galaxy users are eager to switch from Samsung Messages to Google Messages.
- Samsung Messages fans highlight unique or simply better implemented features.
No loyalty with Android? Apple iPhone users may seem too eager to close ranks and see the world as a whole. Green vs blue bubblesBut do we have the same kind of brand loyalty on this side of the fence? And even if you have a favorite phone hardware manufacturer, do you feel equally positive about the company’s software? We’ve been thinking about this in the context of messaging apps recently, such as Google Messages starts replacing Samsung Messages on new Galaxy devices. But judging by what you’ve said, it’s not a big deal as many Samsung users are eager to make the switch.
Samsung isn’t killing off Messages entirely at this point, but it has stopped pre-loading the app on new Galaxy phones in at least some markets. And while you can still manually install the app through the Galaxy Store, the company warns of a reduced user experience, with “some features” excluded.
There is Many good reasons Why it makes sense for Samsung to push users towards Google’s solution, and perhaps the most important of these concerns RCS. While both apps support this modern messaging standard, Google’s implementation promises a more consistent experience for users across all carriers. But it’s also a work in progress, and while the situation seems to be improving on issues like How Google Messages handles image compressionFor now that’s something Samsung does even better.
Plus, Samsung Messages offers a lot of quality-of-life features that Google’s app lacks, like the ability to customize conversations with a splash of color or recover deleted messages from the recycle bin. Since we can see that preferences go either way, we pose the following question to you:
Will you be switching from Samsung Messages to Google Messages?
It may not be a sure bet, but your preference seems clear: Google Messages will work just fine as a replacement for Samsung Messages. While there is a solid contingent of Samsung loyalists who might complain when their next Galaxy phone arrives without the proper Messages app, it seems like most of you won’t think twice about leaving that old messaging experience in the rearview mirror.
Some of Samsung’s biggest fans shared some of their thoughts on what they’ll miss most in the comments of our survey. One of the main sources of appeal they mentioned was the ability to easily categorize conversations, grouping messages from contacts with whom they have the same type of relationship. Another small but useful one is Samsung’s ability to selectively copy text from messages, rather than putting everything on the clipboard at once.
Still, the wave of progress won’t stop and Samsung Messages is clearly on its way out. Enjoy its unique functionality while you can and maybe cross your fingers that Google will think about copying some of those features.