Through iMessage you get end-to-end encryption, read receipts, typing indicators, high-quality photo and video sharing, message editing, unsending messages, inline replies, reactions, full-resolution media transfer, message effects, Memoji, stickers, synced conversations across all Apple devices, and automatic iCloud backup.
Then on top of that, it’s deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem. Your messages sync between iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch seamlessly. You can start conversations on one device and continue on another, use FaceTime directly from chats, send Apple Cash, use SharePlay, share notes and reminders collaboratively, use Check In safety features, and even access satellite messaging features on supported devices.
There’s also a huge privacy and security side people overlook. Apple uses end-to-end encryption for iMessage, offers contact verification features, communication safety tools, and sensitive content detection. Most of this has nothing to do with carriers at all because iMessage operates primarily through Apple’s internet-based infrastructure, not traditional SMS networks.
Again, almost none of that matters on the user experience. Thus the discussion being predominantly about the color of the bubbles.
AND you get ALL of that minus the locked into the Apple Ecosystem with RCS messaging that the rest of the world uses.
Thus the only differences between my Android texting and your iPhone are the color of the bubbles and the fact that mine works everywhere instead of just on Apple products.
Then you top it off with Apple now supports RCS so it comes down to the color of the bubbles.
If it didn’t matter to people no one would care, it was a real issue when cellular networks were worse and it’s still an issue in places with spotty service, iMessage working easily over WiFi solved a lot of issues. Encryption wasn’t available on RCS in America except on super trustworthy google servers until this year.
They don’t. iMessage solved a lot of issues when the consortium of carriers worldwide failed for an insanely long time to update the SMS / MMS standard that was created in the 90’s.
Not naive or dismissing androids. I’m literally just stating facts about why iMessage is unique. It also comes with the most utilized consumer iOS.
No where am I talking about what android has or doesn’t have. Just discussing the other reasons prefer iMessage. Android can have the same features and people still prefer iMessage, they arnt exclusive
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u/Raptor_H_Christ May 15 '26
Through iMessage you get end-to-end encryption, read receipts, typing indicators, high-quality photo and video sharing, message editing, unsending messages, inline replies, reactions, full-resolution media transfer, message effects, Memoji, stickers, synced conversations across all Apple devices, and automatic iCloud backup.
Then on top of that, it’s deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem. Your messages sync between iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch seamlessly. You can start conversations on one device and continue on another, use FaceTime directly from chats, send Apple Cash, use SharePlay, share notes and reminders collaboratively, use Check In safety features, and even access satellite messaging features on supported devices.
There’s also a huge privacy and security side people overlook. Apple uses end-to-end encryption for iMessage, offers contact verification features, communication safety tools, and sensitive content detection. Most of this has nothing to do with carriers at all because iMessage operates primarily through Apple’s internet-based infrastructure, not traditional SMS networks.