Khaberni - Samsung officially drew the curtain on its famous Samsung Messages app, paving the way for a new era that relies almost entirely on Google services within Galaxy phones.
The South Korean company announced that the app will be completely phased out by July 2026, giving users a roughly 12-week window before the app completely disappears from devices and app stores, a decision reflecting a clear move towards restructured messaging experiences.
In response, Samsung has directly steered its users towards the Google Messages app, which has already become the default option on most modern Galaxy phones, according to PhoneArena.
Users can easily install the app via the Google Play Store and then set it as the default messaging application through phone settings, in a step that seems like an "organized digital migration" towards the Google ecosystem.
Despite the discontinuation decision, not all users will be affected equally, as the app will continue to function on devices running Android 11 or older versions, such as: Galaxy S9, Galaxy Note 9, indicating technical limitations that may prevent full compatibility with the new alternative.
This step did not come out of nowhere, as Samsung has indeed started relying on Google Messages as the default app within its modern devices since 2025, especially with the launch of the Galaxy S25 series.
Before its original apps gradually disappear with newer generations like: Galaxy S26, making the cancellation decision a "natural end" to a path that began years ago.
Despite the lack of a direct official explanation, estimates suggest that the support for RCS technology was the decisive factor.
While Samsung's app relies on telecommunications companies to activate this technology, Google Messages offers direct support for it without network restrictions, in addition to a suite of advanced features that include: detecting phishing messages using artificial intelligence, seamless synchronization between different devices, real-time location sharing, and continuous improvements in message management and trash features.
Expectations also indicate the possibility of adding future features such as video calls within the app.
