In the beta, a long-press on messages or images now summons a floating, blurred-background menu with haptic feedback, shifting away from the traditional toolbar, and the wider beta rollout is being observed.

Beyond the core messaging changes, upcoming features include real-time location sharing, @mentions in group chats, Gemini-powered scam detection, and several UI/UX refinements across the Messages ecosystem.

With Samsung Messages winding down in the US, users are being steered toward Google Messages, and on Android 14+ devices the app auto-repositions its dock when switching over.

An end-to-end encrypted RCS experience is rolling out between Android and iPhone users as iOS 26.5 arrives, featuring an encrypted lock icon and gradual automatic activation for both new and existing conversations.

A new Trash folder now keeps chats for 30 days before deletion, accessible from the account menu.

Google Messages for Android is continuously testing and rolling out features via beta channels, with multiple new and redesigned elements in play as of June 2026.

The coverage includes numerous linked deep-dives from sources like 9to5Google detailing each feature’s rollout status and specifics.

Stable releases introduce a bolder Voice Message button, a Tap to Draft feature for smarter replies, and fixes such as the Selfie GIF not displaying reliably in attachments.

Read receipts adopt circular icons with timestamps and an encryption lock that moves to swipe interactions; left swipe shows timestamps/lock while right swipe opens direct replies, with broader beta and stable adoption.

Messages for Web will move away from QR code pairing in favor of Google Account sign-in, with QR pairing available as of late April but transitioning to account-based sign-in going forward.