The one-sided feud between Apple and Google over RCS messaging has been enjoyable to observe. Wealthy Communication Providers (RCS) is a substitute for SMS and MMS that’s safer, versatile, and feature-rich than these older messaging requirements. Nonetheless, when iPhone customers message one another, they usually use iMessage as an alternative of SMS or MMS. That is why Google famously paid for advert spots towards Apple, making an attempt to persuade the corporate so as to add RCS to the iPhone and enhance the standard of communication between iOS and Android customers.
With iOS 18, Apple added RCS assist to the iPhone. So, Google gained, proper? Effectively, no — Apple’s newfound assist for RCS had nothing to do with Google. Somebody ought to inform Google that, although, as a result of it simply revealed a weblog put up itemizing “the highest 4 updates we’ve made to make the swap even simpler.” Bizarrely, the corporate touts Apple’s assist of RCS as one thing that it did to make switching between iOS and Android simpler.
It is true — even longtime iPhone customers now discover that it is simpler to change from iOS to Android than ever. I am positive RCS is a part of the rationale for this. Nonetheless, as we have identified prior to now, it is possible that Apple moved so as to add RCS to iOS to appease regulators reasonably than to provide Google what it needs. The European Union backed off designating iMessage a core platform service across the time Apple introduced plans for RCS. Extra importantly, China requires all telephones bought with 5G to assist RCS, and that is possible why Apple added it.
Regardless of no matter Google believes, it wasn’t concerned in Apple’s choice to assist RCS. I am nonetheless skeptical that RCS is whilst large of a deal within the grand scheme of the iOS versus Android battle as Google thinks it’s.
Google is true (and unsuitable) about RCS on iPhone — and the way it impacts Android
I put my major SIM within the Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold shortly earlier than iOS was publicly launched and immediately seen just a few of my chats with tech fanatic buddies switched to RCS. Photographs and movies might be despatched in increased decision, textual content message learn receipts and reactions labored as regular, and group chats had been a lot improved. Expectedly, nearly all my frustrations with SMS and MMS messaging with iPhone customers had been resolved.
Whereas I take exception with Google claiming accountability for RCS messaging coming to the iPhone, I agree with the corporate’s common level. RCS improves the expertise of texting between platforms, and it is a shift I’ve skilled firsthand. Nonetheless, the impact it has on client habits and the market is restricted as to whether iOS customers undertake it. First, they should improve to iOS 18. Then, they should maintain the toggle for RCS flipped on and never flip it off manually to spite their Android buddies. There’s additionally the matter of sure carriers not supporting RCS on iOS.
The primary situation is the one I am most involved about. Traditionally, the adoption price of iOS upgrades is increased than that of Android upgrades. That has slowed down in recent times, although. Anecdotally, nearly none of my household and buddies outdoors the tech circle have upgraded to iOS 18. I most likely will not get to textual content my dad and mom with RCS except I take their telephones and actually improve them to iOS 18 myself.
The restricted information now we have about iOS 18 adoption suggests my state of affairs is not outdoors the norm. In response to Statcounter information from October 2024, lower than 20% of iPhones are working iOS 18. If that quantity is correct — and it is value noting Statcounter figures are estimates — which means there is a most of one-fifth of iPhone customers within the wild with RCS. Comparatively, greater than 50% of iPhone customers are on a model of iOS 17 as of final month.
In a current interview with CNBC, Apple CEO Tim Cook dinner stated that “customers are adopting iOS 18.1 at twice the speed that they adopted 17.1 within the year-ago quarter.” That is the one official phrase now we have from Apple by way of iOS 18 adoption charges, however even that assertion is imprecise. We do not know if Cook dinner is solely referring to folks upgrading from iOS 18 to iOS 18.1, or lumping within the individuals who have jumped from older iOS variations straight to iOS 18.1.
The underside line is that not all iPhones use RCS at this time. In reality, it is honest to guess that comparatively few iPhones are working iOS 18, and thus RCS adoption might be low. It’s going to take some time for RCS to grow to be mainstream on iOS, and till that occurs, it will not have a significant impression on the iPhone and Android battle.
All the opposite causes Google thinks you need to strive Android (and what we predict you need to swap to)
Put apart Google’s doubtful declare to RCS assist on iPhone, and it has just a few strong causes for stating that it is a lot simpler to change between platforms. Android Change is now accessible on just a few manufacturers, which permits customers to switch all the things from chats and contacts to Wi-Fi logins to a new Android cellphone. Moreover, the corporate notes that it is 40% quicker to switch information between iOS and Android utilizing a cable.
Google additionally shares you can arrange the Google Pixel 9 with out transferring information to check out the smartphone and switch information later in case you prefer it. Moreover, categorical setup makes it simpler to maneuver from one Android cellphone to a different.
RCS did not magically make it simpler to change to Android in a single day, and Google is not liable for Apple including it to new iPhones, just like the iPhone 16 Professional Max. Nonetheless, it’s simpler than ever to do it, and Android {hardware} is at its greatest. There are many telephones from Google, Samsung, and OnePlus that would entice iPhone customers to cross the walled backyard.
As a longtime person of each iOS and Android, I can safely say that the Google Pixel 9 Professional XL is the cellphone that’ll really feel most like an iPhone. It has a ton of polish and glorious software program options — in some methods, Google AI is healthier than Apple Intelligence. The rationale I first left iPhone almost half a decade in the past was to strive a foldable, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a good possibility for individuals who need to do the identical.
OnePlus and Samsung are gearing as much as launch new flagships within the U.S., so possibly you wanna maintain off on shopping for the OnePlus 12 or Galaxy S24 sequence now. Nonetheless, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are approaching quick, and it is value conserving an eye fixed out for a worthy deal on these fashions. In reality, we have already rounded up the perfect telephones to improve to this Black Friday.
To sum up, it is certainly an excellent time to maneuver to Android. The platform is on track, and it is getting simpler to change between iOS and Android. However Google actually must let the RCS situation go. Its obsession with Apple and RCS is one in every of many issues the corporate does that makes iPhone customers cringe.
