Texting between iPhones and Androids is better than ever thanks to this quiet change

Reactions look different when texting Androids on iOS 18.1.

Jordan Hart/BI

iPhone and Android users can text more seamlessly with improved message reactions.Apple began supporting RCS messaging on iPhones in 2024, enhancing cross-platform communication.iPhones must be updated to iOS 18 or later to enable RCS.

iPhone and Android owners can text more seamlessly now thanks to a change that was rolled out in the last couple of months.

This small change to the way that messages appear between iPhones and Androids comes as Apple faces an antitrust lawsuit from the Justice Department accusing the tech giant of illegally maintaining a monopoly on smartphones.

Now, if you own an iPhone and your friend with an Android reacts to your text with an emoji, it won’t display in a separate text. In other words, there’s no more spelling out the reaction, like “Justine loved ‘On my way!'”

Before iOS 18.1, texts were clunky between iPhone and Android users.

Jordan Hart/BI

It’s unclear exactly when the change occurred, but it’s the result of further updates to RCS messages, or Rich Communication Services, and you’ll need iOS 18.1 on your iPhone, The Verge reported.

Apple launched support for RCS messaging in iOS 18, which can be enabled in the Settings App. When RCS messages are enabled, an RCS indicator will appear in text threads.

Business Insider confirmed the most recent changes to texts between the two platforms by sending some messages from an iPhone and Android. Reactions from iPhone also now appear seamlessly on Androids as well.

On the Android side, reactions also appear seamlessly.

Jordan Hart/BI

Apple first revealed plans to bring RCS messaging support to iPhones in 2024 — a change that Google had been pushing the iPhone giant to make for years. Neither Apple nor Google immediately responded to requests for further comment on the change.

RCS works over cellular data and WiFi unlike SMS and MMS messaging, which only work using cellular data.

With RCS support, texts between iPhones and Androids now have read receipts, typing bubbles, and improved reactions.