Samsung to Use Google Messages as Default on Galaxy Phones in US

Samsung has announced that it will no longer pre-install its Samsung Messages app on Galaxy devices in the United States, starting with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 models. Instead, these devices will come with Google Messages as the default messaging app. This decision aligns with Google's push for Rich Communication Services (RCS), which Google Messages supports more effectively. The change was communicated to users via the Samsung Members app and was confirmed by analyst Max Weinbach.

While Samsung Messages will still be available for download from the Galaxy Store, it will lack some features previously included. The switch to Google Messages is currently limited to the US market. Samsung's latest foldable devices, the Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, are already available for pre-order with various promotional offers, including up to $1,200 in trade-in value and doubled storage. This move has been anticipated since 2022 when Samsung began pre-installing Google Messages on some of its devices to improve consistency and RCS capabilities.