RCS Explained

There are two main texting standards: SMS/MMS and RCS. SMS/MMS sucks. That’s why Apple created iMessage, which is by all accounts better than SMS/MMS.

RCS

Now, however, the modern texting standard is RCS, and has been for multiple years. RCS is way better than SMS/MMS because it has all the key features from iMessage like larger file sizes, read receipts, typing indicators, and more.

Apple said “no”

However, when you text Android phones from an iPhone, it uses SMS. People love to blame Android for this, but it is and has been completely possible for Apple to use RCS instead of a the 32 year old SMS standard, or just to allow iMessage to be used on Android. Naturally, Apple benefits when people blame Android, so they decide not to use RCS.

The EU saves the day

Luckily, the European Union came in clutch and is forcing Apple to ‘get with the times’ and use RCS come iOS 18. Though, to the dismay of all the green haters out there, the bubbles will still be colored green because they still need something for their users to roast. (Side note: It’s also Apple’s decision to color the bubbles green, but I should hope your main concern is the functionality and not the color. If you hate the color, grow up.)

Conclusion

So the terrible experience of texting an Android user is not Android’s fault, but Apple’s. They could’ve updated from the 32 year old standard of SMS but decided money was more important. (Although knowing how much money they make, I would probably do the same.) But now the EU is putting Apple (and many other companies) in their place, starting with enforcing USB-C (which is another thing Android manufacturers beat Apple to by a long shot) and now with enforcing the use of standards that aren’t older than the iPhone itself. When iOS 18 comes out, Apple users will finally be able to shut up about the experience and will only be able to complain about the color. (Screw it, they’ll still complain about the experience because they have so much brand loyalty they think a freaking calculator being added to the iPad is revolutionary.)

Here’s a good video about the subject by Marques Brownlee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuaKzm7Kq9Q