CUPERTINO, March 22 — Apple has announced plans to upgrade its messaging system by adopting RCS Universal Profile 3.0 in a future iOS 19 update, bringing significant enhancements for iPhone users communicating with Android devices.
This upgrade will introduce end-to-end encryption for RCS messages, improving privacy and security while also incorporating features from RCS 2.7, such as message editing, recall, deletion, and expanded reaction options, including custom images and Genmoji sharing. Apple’s initial rollout of RCS in iOS 18 was limited to version 2.4, which offered higher-quality media sharing and read receipts but lacked key functionalities.
By skipping directly to RCS 3.0, Apple is ensuring a more seamless messaging experience between iPhone and Android users. While the company has not provided a specific release timeline, the upgrade is expected to roll out during the iOS 19 lifecycle, extending support across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS.
