Samsung's Galaxy S22 series launched at its Unpacked event last week, and it brought with it a surprising change. Google Messages now comes preloaded by default (complete with RCS support) over the company's own Samsung Messages app in the US. The Galaxy S21 series introduced it as the default messaging app outside of Europe last year, complete with a redesign and a lick of paint that made it blend in with the One UI aesthetic.

While initially reported over on Android Police, we were able to confirm the change on our Galaxy S22 Plus and Galaxy S22 Ultra review units that are both based in the US. Samsung Messages already supported RCS, though the app was still the default in the US. We're not sure why Samsung has switched over to Google Messages, though we know that the company was working with Google to introduce features such as Duo Live Sharing and YouTube previews in Messages.

Google Messages has a few features that aren't present in Samsung Messages that users may enjoy using. It has automated message sorting, One Time Password auto-deletion, iPhone reaction support, and Google Assistant-powered attachment recommendations. Samsung has been working pretty closely with Google as of late, between incorporating Galaxy-exclusive features in Messages and, of course, developing Wear OS 3 together. All in all, there's a clear strengthening partnership between both of these companies.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 series is shaping up to be the company's best yet, and we're curious to see what both of these tech giants will work on together next. It's unclear if this will truly get RCS across the line in terms of usage across the United States, or if it will even help, but it's yet another step towards normalizing its usage.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 is the entry flagship for 2022, bringing over top of the line performance and camera capabilities in a form that fits many pockets and budgets.
Samsung Galaxy S22

The Galaxy S22 picks up where the Galaxy S21 left off by offering the same great Galaxy experience at a more affordable price, albeit with some choice trade-offs.

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The Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus is the mid flagship of the company's 2022 lineup, bringing over top of the line performance, display, and camera capabilities. It runs One UI 4.1 (based on Android 12).
Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus

The Galaxy S22 Plus does a better job than the Galaxy S21 Plus of bridging the gap between the entry-level Galaxy S22 and the fully-stocked Galaxy S22 Ultra. This year's middle child offers a bigger and better version of the Galaxy S22 experience, albeit it still has some trade-offs vs the Galaxy S22 Ultra.

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The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is simply the most complete smartphone offering the best screen, most versatile camera system, best SoC in Android, and a stylus too.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

The Galaxy S22 Ultra takes a very good phone from last year, and makes a few tweaks. The same great camera experience remains, but now the Galaxy S22 Ultra can also claim to be the best for productivity as well, thanks to the S-Pen. Ultimately, it brings the very best of Samsung and fittingly continues the legacy of the Galaxy Note line.

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Do you prefer Samsung Messages or Google Messages? Let us know in the comments!