Well, it’s official — Samsung Messages is dead. Alright, not really, but it’s no longer the default messaging platform on Samsung’s own Galaxy devices, which feels pretty close to a death sentence. After years as the go-to for Samsung devices, both premium and affordable, it’s being replaced by Google Messages across the board. Sure, Samsung Messages will still exist, but you’ll have to head to the Galaxy Store to get it, which might not sit well when there’s another messaging app right in front of you.
As a longtime Pixel fan and user who switches phones often, I welcome the change. One of the first things I do on any Samsung phone during setup is switch to Google Messages for a consistent experience across devices, and now I won’t have to. However, I know that Samsung Messages has its strengths, and it’s loaded with clever features that One UI users love so much.