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RCS on iOS: What Features to Expect and How It Differs from Android RCS

RCS on iOS: What Features to Expect and How It Differs from Android RCS

Imagine this. You’re in a group chat. Your friend sends a video of your surprise birthday party. You open it… and it looks like it was filmed with a calculator. You're on an iPhone, they’re on Android. And once again, the tech gap ruins the moment.

Sound familiar?

Well, here's the news Apple users have been waiting for—RCS is finally coming to iOS. Yes, in 2025, Apple is stepping into the modern messaging ring, and this time, it's not about flexing blue bubbles—it's about finally playing nice with the other half of the smartphone world.

Let’s Start With the Basics (Because This Isn’t Just Another Update)

RCS—or Rich Communication Services—is what SMS would be if it had grown up, gone to college, and learned how to use emojis without turning them into weird squares.

Unlike SMS, which has been stuck in a time capsule since the early 2000s, RCS is dynamic, interactive, visual, and smooth. Think read receipts, typing indicators, high-res photo sharing, clickable buttons, and the ability to message over Wi-Fi or data. It’s like WhatsApp, but native to your phone app.

Android users have had it for a while. iPhone users? Not so lucky—until now.

And this change isn’t coming from Apple’s good heart. It’s coming from global pressure, competitive tech standards, and consumers who are over the green bubble struggle.

Why Did Apple Hold Out for So Long?

If you know Apple, you know they don’t like to follow trends—they set them. For years, they held out on RCS, arguing that iMessage was already superior. To be fair, iMessage has been polished, reliable, and kind of iconic.

But here’s the truth: iMessage created a wall. If you weren’t in the blue bubble club, you were a second-class texter. Group chats fell apart, videos got butchered, and those who dared to message an iPhone from Android got hit with the “green bubble judgment.”

Apple held that power close… until regulators (especially in the EU) started knocking.

Suddenly, interoperability wasn’t just a “nice-to-have,” it was a compliance issue. And with Android gaining traction in developing markets and modern RCS features impressing users, Apple had no choice but to adapt.

What’s Changing: RCS Features iPhone Users Will Finally Get

With RCS landing on iOS, Apple users are about to experience texting like never before—especially in cross-platform conversations.

First off, no more blurry photos or tiny videos. RCS supports high-resolution media sharing, even with Android users. Your sunset beach pic will actually look like a sunset, not a weather report from 2006.

Next up: typing indicators. Finally, you’ll see when your friend is crafting a response instead of guessing whether they’re ghosting you or just thinking.

Read receipts across platforms will also make their debut. That “Seen” tag won’t just be reserved for fellow iPhone users anymore.

And for those chaotic family group chats that usually go haywire when someone dares to use an Android? RCS will fix that. Smoother, more reliable group messaging, complete with synced replies and a consistent format, is on the way.

Oh, and texting over Wi-Fi or mobile data becomes the new default. No signal? No problem. If you're connected to the internet, you're good.

But There’s a Catch – and It Sounds Like Apple

You didn’t think Apple would give it all away, right?

While Google offers end-to-end encryption on RCS (at least for one-on-one chats), Apple has yet to confirm if they’ll match that. Chances are, they’ll keep iMessage’s encryption exclusive—just to maintain its reputation as the “safer” option.

And then there’s the control factor.

Android’s RCS is open, brand-friendly, and fully loaded. Apple’s? Expect something more polished… but restricted. They’ll likely curate business access, design limits around interactivity, and keep third-party involvement tight.

Same protocol. Totally different execution.

Apple RCS vs Android RCS: The Culture Clash

This isn’t just about features—it’s about philosophy.

Google’s RCS is like a tech festival—open, collaborative, buzzing with creativity. It encourages brands to build cool stuff, test boundaries, and go all-in on customer engagement.

Apple, meanwhile, is more like a private gallery. You can show your work, but only if it matches the aesthetic and follows the rules.

So yes, RCS is coming to iOS. But don’t expect it to look—or feel—like the Android version. Apple will make it elegant, secure, and probably a little limited. But that’s their signature style, isn’t it?

Why This Is a Big Freaking Deal for Brands

Now let’s talk business. Because the biggest winners in this whole update? Brands who know how to use it right.

Until now, SMS marketing on iPhones was like sending a black-and-white postcard. RCS changes that. It turns every message into a rich, app-like experience. You can now send:

• A product carousel directly into a customer’s inbox
• A video teaser with a tap-to-watch button
• A coupon with an “Apply Now” CTA
• A support message that leads into a live chatbot

No extra apps. No friction. Just rich, immersive, instant messaging. The kind that converts.

For the first time, you can run the same high-performance RCS campaign across both Android and iOS—without compromise.

But here’s the warning: just having access to RCS doesn’t mean you’re ready for it.

This is where we flip the script.

At Intexm Media, we don’t just help brands “do” RCS. We help them own it. Because here’s the truth—this new messaging landscape isn’t about sending longer texts or prettier pictures. It’s about delivering the right story, to the right person, in the right way—at scale.

We specialize in creating RCS-powered campaigns that don’t just talk, but connect. From building interactive journeys to designing button-click flows that guide customers to the checkout page, we turn messaging into a sales machine.

We know how Apple thinks. We know how Android behaves. And we know how to make your brand shine in both worlds—without getting lost in the algorithm or buried under a hundred unread texts.

The RCS revolution is here. And while others are still Googling what it means, you’ll already be in the inbox, making moves.

With Intexm Media by your side, your messages don’t just deliver. They impress.

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