Ordinary messaging is still a major part of communications. You may not believe it, but SMS was the most used data service in the world in 2017, according to Nielsen, and over 6 billion SMS messages are sent every day just in the US.
Having a fast and easy to use messaging application can help in many ways. The blog post explores the both and covers: Google Messages vs Samsung Messages.
A pure Android device comes with Google Messages, also known as Android Messages which can be installed on most of the Android phones. Samsung devices come with Samsung Messages which is limited to Samsung mobiles. Samsung Galaxy Note10+ was used to complete this comparison.
Table of contents
- Interface
- Message tools
- Notification
- Use of internet
- Settings
- Permissions
- Video
- Which one is for you?
- Conclusion
Interface
Google Messages uses a classic interface with a search bar and the main menu button on the top, and a new chat button down the bottom which shrinks as you scroll. Swiping on each conversation moves the conversation to archive. You can see the archived chats in the top-right menu.
Google Messages shows one line of text preview, while Samsung Messages shows two lines giving you more text to read. It also leaves some space for pinned and favourite conversations. The option is in the top-right menu of each conversation.
Like Google Messages, we have the search bar, menu, and new conversation buttons on Samsung Messages. The contacts option is distinctive, which shows your contacts.
Google Message displays formatted and spaced phone numbers, while Samsung Messages shows the number with the country code with no spaces.
While typing the message, Google Messages displays whether you are sending an SMS or MMS. By default, it’s an SMS, but if you add a file, an image, etc., the text converts to MMS.
Moreover, a chat in bold indicates unread messages on Google Messages, and you can see the total number of unread chats next to each conversation in Samsung Messages.
Dark theme
Both offer the dark theme, but the problem with Samsung Messages is it relies on mobile’s night mode. We don’t have a separate option to enable the app’s dark theme. If your phone doesn’t offer the dark theme, then Samsung Messages will be in the light theme.
Google Messages, on the other hand, comes with the dark theme option.
Message tools
This is one of the prominent rounds of Google Messages vs. Samsung Messages, as the more features you get, the better. Both support many options to send in a message. The below table shows the combined features with supported features.
| Feature | Google Messages | Samsung Messages |
|---|---|---|
| Image | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Video | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Audio recording | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Contact info | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| GIF | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Stickers | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Emoji | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Location | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| File | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Notes | ❌ | ✔️ Samsung Notes |
| Schedule message | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Web searches | ✔️ (limited) | ❌ |
| Events | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Quick responses | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Smart reply | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Add subject | ❌ | ✔️ |
Out of 16 elements, Google Messages supports 11, whereas Samsung Messages 12.
Smart reply
Smart reply is a feature in Google Messages which shows some of the possible responses depending on the last received message. It uses AI to predict the most related responses to the message. You also see options to send an emoji or search for GIFs and stickers according to the last message received.
Related: SwiftKey vs. Samsung Keyboard | The Ultimate Battle (2020)?
Spam detection
Google Messages uses its own service, while Samsung Messages takes the data from Hiya to identify spam and scam callers in mobile calls and messages. A user can also report the spam messages in the app.
Notifications
Overall, Google Messages gets this round as it offers more AI techniques to deal with messages. If you get a copyable code message, you find a button to copy the code. For a standard message, this button turns into a reply button.
Samsung Messages shows notifications with message details, mark as read, and view message options. Both support pop-up notifications on Samsung devices and both are supported on Samsung Galaxy watches.
Use of internet
Google Messages can use the internet to
- Send and receive messages
- Let other people know that you have read the message
- When you start typing
The feature is called RCS. Another feature of Google Messages is working with Google Duo to send video and audio messages and calls.
The buttons are only visible if you have Google Duo installed, and the receiver can receive messages and calls if they have Google Duo installed.
Link previews
Link previewing is a standard feature, and both apps support previewing. Google Messages comes with options such as filter out the links, download over Wi-fi, while Samsung Messages only offers to enable and disable this feature.
Messages for web
Another cool tool of Google Messages is a service called Messages for the web. Just like WhatsApp Web, Messages for web is a service which allows you to send and receive messages on your computer. The user must scan the barcode using the app to use this service, while the computer can be saved for future use.
The website comes with some of the tools such as the dark theme. Chat features settings, data warning, notifications, etc. Most of the options are automatically synced with the app.
One can go to https://messages.google.com to access the messages. Samsung Messages does not offer a built-in web messaging service, but with the help of Samsung SideSync, one can send messages from the PC.
Settings
Well, most of the settings, such as chat features, notifications, pin, etc., have already been covered. Let’s check some rare features which might make a difference. Google Messages offers to enable/disable the ongoing sound, change the user’s country, manage group messaging (MMS), auto-download MMS, auto-download while roaming, and delivery reports.
Samsung Messages comes with options to manage the notifications, quick responses, delivery reports, input mode, old messages, and message centre.
Permissions
This might be the least exciting section of this comparison, but it’s a part of it. Google Messages requests to use the camera, microphone, contacts, location, storage, SMS, and telephone. Samsung Messages contrarily requires the same permissions with additional call logs permission. Each permission can be toggled off on the apps’ info screen.
Video
Still, confused? The video shows the side by side comparison of Google Messages and Samsung Messages. You also get to see the apps visually. The video was published in January 2020, and depending on the current time, some features might be different.
Which one is for you?
Regarding the style and look, I prefer Samsung Messages because it’s a part of Samsung’s most famous One UI. Still, in the end, I like Google Messages because of its robust AI-based code detection, spam protection, smart replays, web searches, and other features. Overall, Google Messages takes this comparison.
Conclusion
The comparison of Google Messages vs. Samsung Messages covered the essential topics. I hope the article helped to figure out which one to use. Thanks for having a read and feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments and subscribe to the newsletter for post updates.
Very clear and helpful, thank you
Thanks. Glad you found it helpful.
Samsung came up with the horrific idea of truncating long messages and requiring you to click a “view all” button which opens ANOTHER WINDOW in order to read the rest of the message.
Yeah, that’s a useless feature.
This is why I switched to Google Messages. For this one reason.
Which reason to be specific?
Samsung has gif….
I thin, that’s a part of the keyboard app? Isn’t it?
Only 2 questions.
1. What good is a messaging app that only talks to ONE brand of phone?
2. Are you really telling me that Samsung Message ONLY talks to Samsung phones?
Jim Stinson
Lake Charles, LA
Samsung Messages can only be installed on Samsung devices. You can’t install it on any other Android or iOS devices.
Messages apps fall back to SMS on phones that don’t support the origin app.
Conclusion – “go read the article for conclusion, thanks”
The schedule message is my biggest draw to Samsung. If I tell someone I’ll message them and remind them about something I can set the message right away and forgot about it.