Samsung is in the process of making Google Messages the default messaging app on Galaxy phones. It has already stopped shipping Samsung Messages preloaded, at least in some regions. The idea is to accelerate RCS adoption for a seamless, interoperable messaging experience. Google is adding to the appeal of this shift, as new developments show ongoing work on HD photo sharing in Google Messages.
Google Messages will let you send photos in HD quality
When you share a photo on WhatsApp, you have the option to choose its quality. The default “standard” quality compresses the photo heavily, significantly reducing its file size. For a clearer image, you can choose the “HD” quality option, which increases the file size — by up to six times. While it still does not preserve the original resolution, it offers a noticeable improvement over the standard quality.
Google is developing a similar feature for its messaging app. Code sleuth AssembleDebug discovered this in-development feature within the latest version of Google Messages beta for Android. Screenshots shared by Android Authority show Google will let users pick between “HD” and “HD+” image qualities. The former sends a compressed version of the image, while the latter sends an untouched, original version.
You can select the photo quality before sending it from the top toolbar. An icon with a checkmark will display in the bottom right corner to indicate the selected option. While WhatsApp compresses the photo regardless of which quality you pick, Google Messages has the option to send the original photo. A third option with less compression, like WhatsApp’s “HD” quality, could be an ideal setup.
Google is still working on this update. It may take a while for the image quality picker to roll out to users, even in the beta channel. Keep Google Messages updated on your Galaxy phone to receive the latest features. You can update the app from the Play Store.
