Starting in July, Samsung Messages will officially lose support, marking the end of an era for Samsung's native messaging app. As the company pushes users to switch to Google Messages, many loyal fans are expressing disappointment over the features they'll be leaving behind. While Google Messages has been adding new capabilities—such as a trash folder and real-time location sharing—it still falls short in several key areas. Based on feedback from Android Authority readers, here are five Samsung Messages features that will be sorely missed.
1. Chat Customization
Samsung Messages offered extensive chat customization options, allowing users to change bubble colors, backgrounds, and fonts. This personalization made conversations feel unique and visually engaging. Google Messages, by contrast, provides only limited customization—mostly confined to themes and a few preset options. For users who enjoyed tailoring their messaging experience, this is a significant loss.
2. Scheduled Messages
Another beloved feature is the ability to schedule messages to be sent at a later date and time. This was handy for reminders, birthday wishes, or time-sensitive communication. While Google Messages lacks native scheduling, users must rely on third-party apps or workarounds, which are less convenient and sometimes unreliable.
3. Native Spam Filtering
Samsung Messages included robust spam filtering that automatically moved suspicious texts to a separate folder, rarely letting unwanted messages reach the inbox. Google Messages has introduced spam protection, but many users find it less effective—often missing certain spam or incorrectly flagging legitimate messages. Samsung's system felt more refined and trustworthy.
4. Dual SIM Support
For users with dual SIM phones, Samsung Messages allowed separate message views for each SIM, making it easy to distinguish personal from work messages. Google Messages currently treats all SIMs as one unified inbox, which can lead to confusion. Samsung's approach offered clarity and organization that power users appreciated.
5. Advanced Search and Filtering
Samsung Messages provided a powerful search function that could filter messages by attachment type, contact, or date range. This made it simple to find old photos, links, or receipts. Google Messages' search is more basic, often requiring manual scrolling through chat histories. The granular filtering in Samsung's app was a time-saver for many.
As the shutdown date approaches, Samsung users are understandably frustrated. While Google Messages continues to improve, these five gaps highlight how far it still has to go to match the feature set of its predecessor. Whether through updates or third-party solutions, fans hope Google will address these missing pieces soon.