The new S25 series is supposed to have Google Messages as the default messaging app. Should I start using it now? I’ve always used Samsung’s Messaging app on my S22 Ultra, but I want to be prepared before upgrading to the S25 Ultra. I’ve never tried Google Messages before. When I open it, it asks if I want to use my Gmail. If I send a message through Google Messages, will the person I message still see my phone number?
Yes, your phone number is still shown when you message with Google Messages. I switched to it a while ago because it’s easier to get texts on all my devices with it.
I stick with Samsung Messages because I like being able to change the font. Google Messages doesn’t let me do that, and I don’t care much about RCS anyway.
You can still download Samsung Messages even if Google Messages becomes the default. I use both—Samsung Messages for the look and feel, and Google Messages just for RCS.
Yes, the person you message will still see your number. The Gmail part is just for creating your profile, like setting your name and picture. You can choose to share this with everyone, only your contacts, or no one.
I use Google Messages with RCS, and it works great across all my devices. It syncs well with my Galaxy phone, Galaxy Watch, and even lets me use the web version on my Windows PC. Personally, I find it better than Samsung Messages, though I still use Phone Link sometimes.
I had a lot of issues with Google Messages when I got my S24. There were missed texts, messages failing to send, and the app was buggy. For example, it would highlight an old text as new, and I’d have to back out to see the real new one. I went back to Samsung Messages and haven’t had those problems since.