Apple Adopts RCS in iOS 18 to Improve Android Messaging
Apple confirms RCS support is coming to iOS 18 this fall, bringing iMessage-like features to texts between iPhones and Android devices.
Apple officially confirms that it adopts the RCS messaging standard with the upcoming release of iOS 18 this fall. This upgrade replaces the aging SMS protocol and brings modern features to conversations between iPhone and Android users, such as high-quality media sharing, read receipts, and typing indicators.
The tech giant makes this shift after years of resistance, driven largely by increasing regulatory pressure from the European Union. Although RCS significantly improves cross-platform communication, it does not replace Apple's proprietary iMessage, which remains the default for iPhone-to-iPhone chats with its signature blue bubbles.
RCS messages from Android devices continue to appear as green bubbles within Apple's Messages app. The company states that this enhanced functionality arrives later in the year, potentially in a subsequent iOS 18 update rather than on the initial launch day.