The newest Google Messages features rolling out in June 2026 center on a redesigned Chat theme system, expanded encrypted RCS, and tighter ties with the iPhone. Because Google A/B tests almost everything in its RCS and SMS app, some of these changes reach stable builds slowly, so what you see can vary by device and beta status.
What's new in the Google Messages beta channel
The headline addition is Chat theme, which replaces the old "Change colors" option from 2024 and now lives in the three-dot overflow menu. A red badge flags it once it reaches your phone, so you'll know when the feature has rolled out to your device.
- Colors: nine bubble themes, led by a Dynamic Color option that reacts to your chat background, plus eight static choices.
- Wallpapers: upload your own image or pick from collections including Animals, Architecture, Black & White, Cityscapes, Landscapes, Macro, Space, Sunsets, and Textures.
When iOS 27 arrives this fall, Android-to-iPhone conversations over RCS will finally support inline replies with quotes and photo reactions that show the actual emoji rather than a text description. A revamped long-press menu that floats over a blurred background with haptic feedback is also widening in beta, and Google has again tweaked its read-receipt design, moving timestamps and the encryption lock behind a left swipe.
Encrypted RCS and the Samsung Messages shutdown
End-to-end encrypted RCS between Android and iPhone went live with Apple's iOS 26.5 on May 11, meaning messages sent between supported phones can't be read by anyone in between. Google says encryption will switch on automatically over time for new and existing RCS chats, and Apple notes it depends on supported carriers.
In the US, that carrier list spans the major networks plus prepaid brands such as Mint Mobile, Cricket, Metro by T-Mobile, Visible, and Straight Talk. The practical upshot is that secure messaging between the two platforms is becoming the default rather than a feature you have to seek out.
One bigger shift looms for Samsung owners: in the US, Samsung Messages is being discontinued in July, and users are moving to Google Messages. On Android 14 and newer, Google's app will automatically shift to the homescreen dock after the change. If you want a wider look at the Android side of the ecosystem, our mobile coverage tracks these rollouts as they land.
Recently launched in stable
Several features have already graduated to stable releases:
- A bolder voice-message button now stands out against the compose field.
- A new "Tap to draft" setting drops a Smart Reply into the text box for editing instead of sending it instantly, reducing accidental sends.
- Google fixed an inconsistency with the "Selfie GIF" shortcut in the attachments menu as of stable build 20260428_00_RC02.
Why these Google Messages updates matter
Taken together, the June updates show Google steadily closing the gap between Android and iPhone messaging while giving users more personalization. Encrypted RCS removes one of the last major security gaps in cross-platform texting, while inline replies and true emoji reactions address long-standing annoyances in Android-to-iPhone chats. The Samsung Messages shutdown, meanwhile, consolidates the Android texting experience around a single app for millions of users.
For more on how Android and iOS are converging around RCS, keep an eye on the latest tech news updates.
Google Messages questions, answered
What is Chat theme in Google Messages?
Chat theme is a redesigned customization system, found in the three-dot overflow menu, that offers nine bubble color themes and a range of wallpaper collections, replacing the older "Change colors" option.
Is RCS now encrypted between Android and iPhone?
Yes. End-to-end encrypted RCS went live with Apple's iOS 26.5 on May 11, and Google says encryption will turn on automatically over time, depending on supported carriers.
What happens to Samsung Messages users?
In the US, Samsung Messages is being discontinued in July, with users moving to Google Messages, which will shift to the homescreen dock automatically on Android 14 and newer.
