Apple will enhance the messaging experience for iOS and Android users with significant updates in iOS 19. The most significant improvement is the introduction of end-to-end encryption for Rich Communication Services (RCS) messages. This will make messages between iPhones and Android devices encrypted so that they can be read only by the sender and receiver, enhancing privacy and security.
On top of encryption, iOS 19 will bring a number of iMessage-style features to RCS chats. These will include editing messages after they’ve been sent, unsending messages if necessary, and using in-line replies for more structured conversations. There’s also complete Tapback support, so reactions such as “like” or “love” just work across platforms.
These additions come on top of the RCS support introduced with iOS 18, which already allows for features like audio messages, Tapbacks and emoji reactions, high-quality photos and videos, and larger media files. RCS also provides real-time typing indicators, delivered and read receipts, and improved group chats, all of which work over Wi-Fi.
Apple’s adoption of RCS Universal Profile 3.0 is a significant step towards better interoperability between iOS and Android ecosystems. Not only does this standard include end-to-end encryption, but it also includes other enhancements like better audio codecs and richer links for business messaging. It also enables easier subscription management, making group chats and media sharing more convenient.
For consumers, that will make sending a message to an Android user just as private and reliable as sending a message to another iOS user. So, iMessage remains the default for Apple-to-Apple messaging, but encrypted RCS ensures cross-platform messaging is secure and feature-rich.
The introduction of RCS to iOS is seen as Apple’s strategic attempt to improve its messaging experience under perhaps regulatory compulsion. It is a deviation from Apple’s traditional walled garden approach, offering users a more uniform messaging experience across platforms.
On the broader iOS 19 updates front, Apple is also developing a renovation of group functionality to simplify dealing with big group chats. Additionally, users will have the option to schedule messages, composing them now but sending them in the future. AI-powered organization will also be included to automatically categorize key details in messages.
Together, these updates aim to render iOS-to-Android and Android-to-iOS messaging smoother, more secure, and more feature-packed, bridging the gap with the evolving expectations of users in a world of cross-platform communications.
