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Google's Messages app gets reactions and a photo editor
- The Messages app now has RCS reactions, a photo editor, and suggested stickers.
- It’s also easier to jump into a Duo video call or start a voice recording.
- Most of the features are available now.
Google’s Messages app just became more compelling if you do more than send simple texts — particularly if you use RCS.
The internet giant has introduced a slew of upgrades to Android’s stock messaging app, including reactions for RCS conversations. Much like Facebook Messenger or Apple’s iMessage, you just have to long press on a message to laugh at a good joke or love a photo. You’ll also find suggested stickers for RCS chats to help express your joy or sadness.
You’ll also find a media editor built into Messages. It’s a basic tool that lets you draw or add text, but that could be enough if you want to highlight something important or add a dash of humor.
Other additions focus on quicker ways to get in touch. There’s a video call button in the upper-right corner to quickly turn a text conversation into a Duo chat, and there’s a dedicated voice message button to brighten someone’s day.
You can try all these new features through the latest version of Messages, although sticker suggestions are currently limited to English. These additions won’t necessarily get you to drop Facebook Messenger or other alternatives, but they may give you a reason to keep using Google’s app if you were otherwise tempted to move chats to a service with more lively interactions. Just remember that RCS isn’t currently encrypted, so it might not be the best for particularly sensitive discussions.
Read more: The best texting and SMS apps for Android