It's been over a year since I left the Samsung ecosystem.
I find myself suddenly missing its Messages app now that it's being sent to the graveyard. It offered one of the richest SMS experiences I've ever used.
Still, that's not to discredit Google Messages as its replacement, which sells simplicity as its key feature.
Although it's effective, I just want more. More means a way to customize conversations and recover deleted texts, among other things.
Samsung phones made that possible in ways Google still hasn't.
Here are the features I'll miss the most, and wish Google would steal after Samsung phases it out.
7 Recycle bin for all my text regrets Close
Switching from Samsung Messages to Google Messages has taught me to be more deliberate with text cleanups.
Deletion is permanent and irreversible. Maybe Google assumes that if you've tapped delete, you've already thought it through.
But it doesn't make sense when other apps in the Workspace have a bin.
Google Drive, Google Photos, and even Gmail all have a waste folder where deleted items sit for 30 days before being permanently erased.
Sometimes, you don't realize right away that something is important, or you're distracted. I can't count how many times I've accidentally selected the wrong text or changed my mind later.
I love that Samsung Messages has a bin, and its activation is by choice. When enabled, deleted texts stay in the bin for 30 days before disappearing permanently.
If you'd rather not use it, leave the feature off, and messages disappear permanently.
6 More customization features Close
Google Messages is understandably a simple texting app. But its simplicity comes with limited customization features.
Changing between light and dark system themes and choosing from preset bubble colors for rich communication service (RCS) conversations is as far as it goes.
Although Google introduced the feature in 2023, I still can't access it. It's the same issue for many users globally.
Samsung Messages, on the other hand, is more flexible and user-driven.
Samsung's Theme Park modules enhance these capabilities from the Good Lock suite. These changes are a lot less about aesthetics than they are about usability.
Not everyone's eyes handle screen content the same way, and you'll want to enlarge or reduce elements that will make app interaction simpler.
It's also nice to have each thread tied to the person you're texting. Your best friend's chat might have a bright appearance, while a work contact could have a muted tone.
5 Categories for bulk message organization Close
People who receive plenty of bulk texts are at a disadvantage in Google Messages.
The pinning and starring tools are useful for quick access. They're not enough to create structure for dozens of conversations at once.
Folders are a far better and more practical solution. I've repeatedly recommended them to Google through feedback more than once.
Samsung Messages demonstrates it with its Categories feature. Categories are like folders for your texts.
You can create custom labels such as Work, Family, Banking, Shopping, or other custom names and assign conversations to them.
Unlike the archive folder in Google Messages, where conversations can jump back into the main inbox whenever new texts arrive, Categories hold on to whatever texts you've sent to them.
They appear under the Conversations menu as separate tabs, and you'll tap each one to see its content.
They're also optional. Toggle the feature on or off in settings, depending on your preference.
4 Shared attachments to help me find old media
If you open a conversation in Samsung Messages and tap the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner, you'll see a dedicated Shared attachments section. It displays every media file you've exchanged with that person.
It works similarly to WhatsApp's media tab, and Google Messages doesn't offer this kind of centralized view.
Sometimes I find myself looking for a specific picture. Then I remember I'd sent it to someone before.
Instead of scrolling through months of chat history to find it, I'll enter the Shared attachments section and grab it quickly.
3 User-friendly interface for easier interactions
Samsung generally builds its apps around a one-handed mode philosophy. Everything my thumb needs to reach sits closer to the middle of the screen.
When I long-pressed messages on my old phone, a drop-down list immediately expanded and provided quick access to options to delete, select, copy text, and do more without shifting my grip.
On other models, you may see a panel appear on the bottom half with different options.
When I long-press a text on Google's app, nothing dramatic happens. A small toolbar appears at the top of the screen with a few actions, including copy, delete, and star.
For anything else, such as sharing, forwarding, or viewing details, I'll tap the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner.
The UI difference probably saves me microseconds per action. It's not even enough to put a dent in my day.
But it does translate differently in my head when I'm using the apps. I'll simply long-press and tap on my Samsung. On Google Messages, I'll long-press, shift my eyes and thumb to the top, then to the three-dot menu.
It doesn't feel as intuitive as the former.
2 Dark mode that actually looks dark Close
Black is my favorite, even though ongoing arguments with friends and the internet claim it's not really a color.
Black is merely the absence of light, while white is all colors combined. But that doesn't stop it from being the most practical choice for dark mode.
Samsung Messages takes advantage of it by using true black on AMOLED displays. The pixels are completely off, and the texts have higher contrast, which I admire.
Google Messages only applies a dark grey, so the screen still emits light, and the effect feels less striking.
Since the themes are limited, your only other option is light mode.
Worse, you can't integrate the app with another customization software and expand your options.
It doesn't support external apps the way Samsung Messages connects well with Theme Park.
1 No suspicious Gemini activity
Initially, I wasn't sure how to react to seeing Gemini in Google Messages. I experienced a mix of curiosity and caution.
On the one hand, I was excited to use it in drafting quick replies. On the other hand, I was wary because of privacy concerns.
Even though you can turn it off, an AI chatbot inside my messaging app means my texts and contacts can potentially be accessed.
Not even Samsung's Galaxy AI is embedded directly in Messages.
Features like Writing and Chat Assist and predictive text are built into the Samsung Keyboard. You'll see the icon as a group of four stars in the upper-left corner.
Any help you need is confined to composing text, without a chatbot directly operating inside the app.
Long live Google Messages
Samsung Messages is officially being phased out. With the Galaxy S25 series, Samsung no longer pre-installs its stock messaging app, and Google Messages is the default app.
You can continue using Samsung's version through the Galaxy Store, but you'll stop getting new features going forward.
If you haven't switched yet, it might feel inconvenient at first. But Google Messages offers a cleaner experience.
Using it has allowed me to discover organizational tricks I didn't fully leverage before, such as scheduling messages, archiving conversations, and tagging texts for easy retrieval.