News: Here's What's New with Samsung's Messages App in One UI

Here's What's New with Samsung's Messages App in One UI

Samsung's version of Android Pie has landed on Galaxy handsets like the Note 9, S9, and S8, though we've known what to expect thanks to leaked beta versions of the software a few months back. The newly dubbed One UI has plenty of new features and improvements, but some of the first you might notice are the visual improvements to the default messaging app.

The totally redesigned firmware immediately sets itself apart from prior iterations, and sports a cleaner, more modern look overall, as evidenced by revamped home screen icons, among others. Samsung Messages also got a new look with the major software update, but largely kept its interface intact to maintain user-friendliness and familiarity.

Upon opening the Samsung Messages app, you'll immediately notice that the options tab containing "Conversations" and "Contacts" has been relocated to the bottom for easier reach, which many users will welcome considering the large displays associated with Galaxy devices. In addition, the message overview section has shed its boxy layout and rounded out its corners for better aesthetics.

The conversation page page itself has largely remained the same, with the biggest difference being the removal of the borders from the recipient's chat boxes and the coloration of the contact's avatar (if no photo is assigned). Besides those, the message field has been colorized and expanded to house options like the send and sticker buttons.

Because it's a native app, Samsung Messages has also gotten the Night theme treatment that now comes standard with Android Pie. Not only does the new dark theme consume less battery thanks to a black background, it gives the app itself an extremely eye-pleasing appearance that makes the lighter colored chat boxes and various colored icons really pop out.

Hot Deal: Set up a secure second phone number and keep your real contact details hidden with a yearly subscription to Hushed Private Phone Line for Android/iOS, 83%–91% off. It's a perfect second-line solution for making calls and sending texts related to work, dating, Craigslist sales, and other scenarios where you wouldn't want to give out your primary phone number.

Cover image and screenshots by Amboy Manalo/Gadget Hacks

5 Comments

On your Oreo messenger, you are showing the "stickers" icon as the default icon on the input bar, and you also have that same icon on Pie on your input bar. On my input bar on Oreo I had the emoji icon on the input bar, but when I got upgraded to Pie it changed to the sticker icon. Since your Oreo icon was the sticker, it makes me think this can be changed - as I pretty much think the stickers are ridiculous and I use emoji's pretty much every day. Do you or anybody know how to change the default icon to emojis? It's really sort of a pain because now I must switch from the predictive text every time I want to use an emoji...

I'm not a fan of this update at all swiping up to close apps setting for the photo album at the bottom I have ye to see one thing worth while I feel like my android phone was turned into a iPhone drop down bar looks horrible please cahang it back if I wanted an iPhone I would have percussed one

I am not a fan of the change all my groups in messages wiped out and I am totally confused on how to rest my messages group list that I use daily. Can you help..

I am not sure if Messages is that good anymore. It no longer allows you to schedule a send message (unless it's hidden and I cannot find.) Also, it is not sorting, so I have to scroll to find who sent text vs it being at the top, (again, unless there is some option somewhere to change this.)

It was disturbing to wake up one morning and my entire phone was changed, icons, links, sign-ins...the update acted almost like a new phone to my Samsung S8

You guessed right - the scheduling feature is hidden!! If you click on the + sign, you will now see the schedule option. I use it ALL the time and freaked out a little when it was MIA...

Share Your Thoughts

  • Hot
  • Latest