It is now possible to exchange encrypted messages between iPhone and Galaxy.
According to the industry on the 13th, Apple on the 11th released a beta version of end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging for iPhone users running iOS 26.5 or later and Android users, through cooperation with Google and across the industry.
Rich Communication Services (RCS) is more advanced than mobile carriers' Short Message Service (SMS) or Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), and is a text service that supports chat features such as large file transfers and indicators like "typing" and "read." When RCS messages are end-to-end encrypted, third parties such as message providers or mobile carriers cannot see users' message content. This strengthens message security and functionality between iPhone and Android devices.
Apple iMessage has offered encryption since its launch in 2011, and Android users have been able to communicate with each other through end-to-end encryption since 2021. However, until now, messages between iPhone and Android devices were not end-to-end encrypted. Before Apple supported RCS, iPhone users experienced issues such as group chats breaking or degraded multimedia sharing quality when receiving messages from friends who used Android.
End-to-end encrypted RCS messages are currently released as a beta, so not all users can use them immediately. Starting with iOS 26.5 and the latest version of Google Messages for Android, they will be enabled through beta and phased rollout.
Apple said, "Users can know that a conversation is end-to-end encrypted through a new padlock icon in RCS chats," and noted, "Encryption is enabled by default, and both new and existing RCS conversations will be automatically enabled over time." Google said, "It will be automatically applied to both new and existing RCS conversations in the future."