RCS on the iPhone is almost the solution to our green-bubble nightmare

RCS support in iOS 18 improves messaging between iPhone and Android users but lacks encryption and some iMessage features.

: iOS 18 introduces RCS support, enhancing messaging between iPhone and Android users. Despite improvements like high-res photos and read receipts, RCS is still not encrypted and retains the green bubble. Apple maintains superior features for iMessage to ensure a better experience.

iOS 18 includes support for RCS, a modern messaging protocol also used by Android, aimed at resolving issues like blurry media between iPhone and Android users. This update brings high-resolution photos, typing indicators, and read receipts when texting between platforms, substantially improving the experience for both iPhone and Android users.

However, RCS integration does not solve all messaging issues. The persistent green bubble remains unchanged, and the messages sent over RCS are not encrypted, as Apple uses the basic RCS Universal Profile instead of Google's more secure version. iMessage continues to offer superior features, which ensures iPhone-to-iPhone communication remains the best experience.

Apple's communication protocol follows a three-tier system: iMessage for Apple devices, RCS for when only one device supports it, and SMS as the last resort. Although there are still some missing functionalities like text formatting and inline replies in RCS, the overall messaging experience between iPhone and Android users has seen significant improvement with iOS 18.

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