Samsung is giving up control of a core Android experience to Google, and I don't love it

I wasn’t surprised by Samsung’s announcement that it was sunsetting its Messages app. The company has been aligning more closely with Google with its software for years, and this is the next logical step.

While many will applaud the removal of what they thought was bloatware from Samsung’s phones, I view it differently.

Google’s made it clear it wants to be the core service provider for as many smartphones as possible. Pixel devices are fantastic, but Google has its sights set higher.

Samsung also reaps benefits, but it has to be careful. I’d hate to see Galaxy phones devolve into just vessels for Google apps and services.

There’s value to variety, especially with software, and while Samsung Messages may have been a poor example, eliminating choices rarely results in a better user experience.

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The writing was on the wall for Samsung Messages

It’s hard to tell the difference between Samsung and Google

If you didn’t realize Google and Samsung were aligning on software, then you haven’t been paying attention.

Google has been featured on stage at several Galaxy Unpacked events, and it’s always to tout a new software feature or integration.

It’s becoming nearly impossible to distinguish Galaxy AI from Gemini, especially since the latter powers many of Galaxy AI’s functions.

Features like Circle to Search, note assist, and live translations on Galaxy phones rely heavily on Gemini.

I hope Samsung’s new Now Nudge feature sounded familiar to you, because it’s Google’s Magic Cue with a fresh coat of paint. But Now Nudge works across multiple messaging apps.

If Samsung were serious about promoting its ecosystem or making One UI a stronger brand, it would lock innovative new features into its own software suite. But it won’t do that.

The same way Google keeps Pixel-exclusive features exclusive for about a week before you find them on every Android you can get your hands on.

Google Messages has long been the default on Galaxy devices, and while the company gains a core Android function from Samsung, Samsung doesn’t walk away empty-handed.

Developing and maintaining apps is expensive

Hopefully, Samsung can focus on other things

Samsung might very well be all too happy to relinquish messaging to Google.

RCS integration is a bear, and it’s nowhere near the catch-all solution for Android that some present it as. Anyone who has ever dealt with a carrier in the US knows that things turn messy in a hurry.

Samsung should be relieved to hand those backbone services off to Google while it focuses on the bigger picture.

Without devoting resources to its own software ecosystem, maybe Samsung could focus on improving its hardware.

I would love to see a different design for next year’s Galaxy flagships, and it wouldn’t hurt if the company made some desperately needed under-the-hood changes.

The phone’s camera sensors need to be overhauled, and Samsung needs to adopt silicon-carbon battery technology for its devices next year.

There’s no reason I shouldn’t be able to enjoy the stress-free battery life I get on the OnePlus 15 as much as I do on a hypothetical Galaxy S27 Ultra, especially for the prices Samsung has us pay.

Unfortunately, there may be some unintended negatives for buyers as Samsung moves closer to Google.

There needs to be some software variety

No one will make any advancements

Samsung Messages may not have been the company’s strongest effort, but it still did plenty of things right. Customization was vastly superior to Google Messages, and the aesthetic blended wonderfully with One UI.

Sure, it appears Google Messages is going to add some customization, but I can’t help but think it’s driven by users demanding it after experiencing it in Samsung Messages.

Without viable, creative alternatives in the marketplace, innovation stagnates. Google isn’t always going to add in features just because it likes you, nor would I expect the company to be the only one with good ideas worth implementing.

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I also want to avoid going too deep into Samsung’s ecosystem. Messages may not have been the strongest app ever, but Samsung Browser is fantastic, especially since the company just brought it to desktop machines.

It improves on Google Chrome in several areas, and I’d hate to see Samsung bow down to Google on Chrome to avoid maintaining another app.

I’d be annoyed if Samsung Browser were a casualty just to placate Google, and it would result in a weaker user experience.

It’s tough when only two companies compete

Yes, you can easily buy Motorola phones in the US, and I love what the company is doing, but Samsung and Google moving closer together feels like bad news.

They already didn’t feel like they were competing with their smartphones anymore, but moving us closer to one big Android experience feels like a bad idea.

App developers can still save the day, and there’s no saying that a really impressive program won’t push the two to innovate, but that’s an uphill battle.

Google handling messages might be cleaner for everyone involved, but that doesn’t mean it’s better.