It appears that Samsung is preloading the Galaxy S21 in Google Messages in most markets, as Engadget learned from an interview with Hiroshi Lockheimer from Google yesterday. In doing so, Samsung joins other OEMs such as OnePlus, LG and Motorola to use Google’s messaging app as standard. Unfortunately, in the US we are stuck with the usual Samsung messages.
From the timed interview link above, you can hear Lockheimer discuss the rationale behind using Google Messages on a Samsung phone. He says it feels ‘native’ because it’s slightly tweaked to better connect to One UI, both aesthetically and functionally. Lockheimer further mentions that the United States, with a few exceptions, would rather get the regular Samsung Messages app. It’s noteworthy that Samsung added support for Google’s RCS to Samsung Messages last month, so there’s no real difference in functionality.
It’s unclear why Samsung decided to stick with the state of Samsung Messages, but maybe US S21 owners will be able to upload the Samsung Custom APK for Samsung.
