5 Essential Samsung Messages Features Google Messages Has Yet to Match

As Samsung Messages prepares to shut down in July, loyal users are reluctantly facing a switch to Google Messages. While Google’s app has seen steady improvements—like a new trash folder and real-time location sharing—it still lacks several beloved features that have made Samsung Messages a favorite for years. Based on passionate feedback from Android Authority readers, here are five key features that Google Messages is still missing.

1. Chat Customization: Make Conversations Truly Yours

One of the most cherished aspects of Samsung Messages is its deep chat customization. Users can change bubble styles, add unique themes, and even adjust background colors for individual conversations. This level of personalization makes each chat feel distinct and visually pleasing. Google Messages, in contrast, offers only basic theming and limited customization options. For those who love expressing their personality through their messaging app, this is a major disappointment. Without per-conversation tweaks, every text looks the same, stripping away the fun and identity that Samsung Messages provided.

2. Scheduled Messages: Send Later, Stress Less

Samsung Messages includes a built-in scheduled messaging feature, allowing users to compose a text and set it to send at a specific time. This is invaluable for birthday wishes, reminders, or contacting someone in a different time zone. Google Messages currently lacks this functionality, forcing users to rely on third-party apps or manual alarms. While scheduling may seem like a niche need, it’s a feature that once used becomes indispensable. As more people juggle busy schedules, the absence of native scheduled messages in Google Messages feels like a gap that should have been filled long ago.

3. Message Categories: Organize Your Inbox with Ease

Samsung Messages automatically sorts incoming texts into categories like Personal, Business, and Promotions. This filter system keeps your inbox tidy and helps you prioritize important conversations. Google Messages lacks any such categorization, meaning all messages—from family chats to spam—are lumped together. Users who manage a high volume of texts find this overwhelming. The category tabs in Samsung Messages allowed for quick scanning and better organization. Without them, Google Messages feels cluttered, especially for those who rely on clear separation between work and personal communications.

4. Customizable Smart Reply Suggestions: Control Over Quick Responses

Both apps offer smart reply suggestions, but Samsung Messages gives users control over which suggestions appear. You can turn off or customize the suggested responses to match your tone and style. Google Messages, however, offers a fixed set of AI-generated replies that can’t be modified. This can lead to awkward or irrelevant suggestions, frustrating users who prefer to tailor their auto-replies. The ability to refine these suggestions is a small but significant quality-of-life feature that Samsung Messages handled well. Google’s inflexibility here is a missed opportunity to let users take charge of their messaging experience.

5. Hide Specific Conversations: Privacy in Plain Sight

Samsung Messages allows users to hide individual conversations from the main inbox without deleting them. This is perfect for sensitive chats or temporary distractions. Google Messages has no such feature—once a conversation is active, it’s always visible. Users can archive threads, but archived messages are still easily accessible. The hidden mode in Samsung Messages provided an extra layer of privacy and simplicity. For anyone who values discretion or wants to keep their message list minimal without losing important threads, this lack of hiding functionality in Google Messages is a noticeable downgrade.

In conclusion, while Google Messages continues to evolve, these five omissions highlight why many Samsung users are reluctant to leave their trusted app. The shutdown of Samsung Messages is a painful transition for loyal fans, but hopefully Google will listen to feedback and bridge these gaps. Until then, users will have to adapt—or find alternative ways to replicate the features they love. Let’s hope the future of Google Messages includes the personalization and organization that Samsung Messages perfected.