Dissapointed: Background Customization

[userlcjWbOx14E]

Very dissapointing the lack of customization with my recent androids. One of my favorite things to do was give each conversation with my favorite people, a customized Background. It really enhanced my enjoyment of texting that person. The phones are less customizable than iphones now, its embarrassing! My next phone, I will be looking for that feature specifically even if it means switching over. 🤷‍♀️ and I've been an android user since the S1. Or! That can be the next update asap.

[CEParsons]

While you can't add photo backgrounds, you can change the color of each individual conversation in Google Messages.

iMessage has certain features that are not possible on Google messages because the two products are fundamentally different.

iMessage is essentially an instant messaging service like Facebook messenger or Whatsapp. You will notice that on those apps you can change conversation backgrounds for everyone to see, just as you can on iMessage.

You will also notice that those iMessage features are not available when texting non-iphones.

That is because those features you feel are "more customizable" are web-based rather than carrier based.

If you absolutely require custom backgrounds for SMS, there are third party apps that accomplish this, but be prepared for an inferior messaging experience as RCS will not be available.

[Robin621k]

My absolute favorite subject, I need pretty foremost. Samsung just stripped chat bubbles from Samsung Messages.

[CEParsons]

.

[Robin621k]

There was one yesterday who was .....

[nullandvoid]

Good luck with that.  The default messaging app on Android phones is now Google messages.  As @CEParsons said, you can make different chats different colors within a limited number of color choices, but GM does not allow other customizations, so you would be hard pressed to find a phone or texting app that allows that.  It was my understanding that the background enhancements was something unique to Samsung Messages, and now they have ended that, as they are phasing out their app.  Personally, I prefer functionality over esthetics in a messaging app, and Samsung messages is definitely not functional, nor is it esthetically pleasing (if it ever was).

[CEParsons]

GoSMS and HandcentSMS are options I used for this years ago (Froyo/Gingerbread days.)

They still exist and appear to still support theming, though I would venture to guess they are ad-ridden and chock full of pop ups for IAPs, and I absolutely do not recommend trying them today.

Nevertheless, the option does exist in some capacity.

[Robin621k]

I just don't get it, form over function. I remember when Google introduced RCS back in 2019 and you had to download a bunch of apps to get it work on Samsung devices. I did it for my whole family that had Android phones, if I didn't do it personally to their devices, I step by step walked them through the whole process. Not a single person in my circle missed Samsung Messages once they saw what Google Messages with RCS could do. With all of us scattered all over the country we didn't have to rely on Facebook any longer to share high res photos and videos of loved ones as they grew.

Another benifit, we are all in the Beta of Google Messages too!