iPhone's Green Text Bubble Problem Is Finally Resolved
Apple launched the second developer beta of its iOS 18 this week which features long-awaited Rich Communication Services (RCS) support for the iPhone, finally resolving the barrier between Apple and Android users and the dreaded "green" text message bubbles.
For those running the developer beta—depending on the carrier—you should now be able to access a RCS toggle in the Settings app under Messages. However, according to 9to5Mac, Apple is still working with carrier partners. As of right now, only a few, including AT&T and T-Mobile have updated to support RCS on the iPhone.
It's presently unclear whether non-iPhone users messages will still appear as green bubbles when iOS 18 formally rolls out in the fall. (A public beta will also be available next month.) But in either case, the impact will be game changing. Because messages from Android, which already supports RCS, will no longer be compressed, users will be able to send and receive longer messages and higher-quality images and video, as well as read receipts.
In fact, some users are already reporting seeing read receipts on messages coming from Android devices.
I am only seeing a couple other reports on Twitter about this, but RCS is now working in iOS 18. Seeing a read receipt for a green bubble is jarring.
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) June 25, 2024
got RCS working on iOS 18!
— cobre (@cobredev) June 25, 2024
Seeing read receipts and typical indicators on green bubble conversations is so cool! pic.twitter.com/YcuKnTxW56
This will obviously have the biggest impact on group chats between family and friends, many of whom have since retreated to third-party messaging apps such as WhatsApp.
In addition to RCS capabilities, iOS 18 will likewise bring other highly anticipated new features to iPhone messaging. Some of the improvements will be to the iMessage interface itself, such as redesigned Tapback icons that will feature more colorful heart, thumbs up, thumbs down, and exclamation mark icons; as well as allowing users to choose from any emoji to react to messages. It will also provide the capability to bold, italicize, underline, and strikeout text.
Users will also be able to apply playful animated effects to any letter, word, phrase, or emoji, which will be automatically suggested while typing.
The full rollout is expected to coincide with the release of iPhone 16 in the fall, and according to CNET, will support iPhone models iPhone XS and above. However some features, such as Apple Intelligence, will only be available on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models.