For years, the messaging battle between iPhones and Androids has been blue bubbles vs. green bubbles. Apple’s iMessage was packed with modern features, while Android users were stuck with outdated SMS when texting iPhones.
But things are finally changing. Apple now supports RCS (Rich Communication Services)—bringing read receipts, typing indicators, and high-quality media to iPhone-to-Android messages. So, what does that mean for texting in 2025 and beyond? Let’s break it down.
🔹 SMS (Short Message Service) – The Old-School Texting Standard
✅ Works on: Any mobile phone
✅ Requires internet? ❌ No
✅ Features: Text only, 160-character limit, no read receipts
SMS is the most basic form of texting—it’s been around since the 1990s and works on every phone. No data? No problem—SMS still gets through using cellular networks, not the internet.
But it’s outdated.
- 🚫 160-character limit (splits long messages into multiple texts)
- 🚫 No read receipts or typing indicators
- 🚫 Can’t send high-quality images or videos
Even though SMS isn’t going away, it’s no longer the default for most smartphones—especially now that both Apple and Android support RCS.
🔹 RCS (Rich Communication Services) – The New Standard for Texting
✅ Works on: Android & iPhone (as of iOS 18)
✅ Requires internet? ✅ Yes (Wi-Fi or mobile data)
✅ Features: Typing indicators, read receipts, high-quality images, group chats
RCS is basically “SMS 2.0.” It brings modern iMessage-like features to standard texting—without needing third-party apps like WhatsApp or Messenger.
Why RCS is a Game-Changer
✅ No 160-character limit – Send long messages without splitting.
✅ Read receipts & typing indicators – Know when someone’s seen your message.
✅ High-quality media sharing – No more blurry images or pixelated videos.
✅ Better group chats – Fixes the old, messy SMS group text issues.
✅ Works cross-platform – Android & iPhones finally communicate properly.
Now That Apple Supports RCS…
- 📲 iPhones can send high-quality media to Androids instead of compressing it.
- 📖 Typing indicators and read receipts now work across both platforms.
- 🌐 Texts between iPhones and Androids now go over Wi-Fi or mobile data.
- 💬 Group chats don’t break when mixing iPhones and Androids anymore.
The only catch? Apple still shows RCS messages as green bubbles.
🔹 iMessage – Still the King for Apple Users?
✅ Works on: iPhones, iPads, Macs
✅ Requires internet? ✅ Yes (Wi-Fi or mobile data)
✅ Features: Read receipts, typing indicators, high-quality media, end-to-end encryption, reactions, stickers, and more
Apple’s iMessage still offers features that RCS doesn’t fully match:
- 🔒 End-to-end encryption (RCS encryption depends on your carrier).
- 🎨 Effects, stickers, and message reactions that go beyond simple text.
- 🛜 Works seamlessly across Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch).
- 📝 Message editing & unsending (which RCS still lacks).
But iMessage is still Apple-exclusive
- If an iPhone texts another iPhone, it stays on iMessage (blue bubble life).
- If an iPhone texts an Android, it now defaults to RCS instead of SMS—but still shows as green bubbles.
Basically, iPhone-to-iPhone = iMessage. iPhone-to-Android = RCS (but green bubbles stay).
🔹 The Verdict: What’s the Best Messaging System Now?
🔵 If you’re texting another iPhone → iMessage is still the best.
🟢 If you’re texting an Android → You’re now using RCS instead of SMS!
📡 If you have no internet → SMS still works as a backup.
Apple’s RCS adoption is a huge win for cross-platform texting, but iMessage still keeps its premium features for Apple users.
💬 What do you think—should Apple go all-in on RCS or keep iMessage exclusive? Let’s discuss! 🚀