Google might be paying Samsung a lot of money to push the Google Messages app as the default option on Galaxy devices, just like it did for Chrome and Search. But whether or not it does matters not. For many Galaxy users, the fact is that Samsung Messages is the superior solution. Why? The keyword is “simplicity.”
Even though Google Messages might have more options and be a more complete messaging app under the hood, there's value in the simplicity of Samsung Messages. It's an SMS app, after all, and it doesn't need to go overboard with complex web-integrated features and extras.
Unlike Google Messages, Samsung Messages doesn't have a UI that looks almost like Gmail. It doesn't have an integrated Camera button for no apparent reason. It's not intertwined with your Google account. It doesn't need an understanding of Google's often annoyingly-obfuscated app ecosystem to get it to work as you want it to.
Which one is “bloatware?” The purpose-built app or the bloated one?
Samsung Messages is as straightforward and functional as it gets, even if it's missing all those fancy features Google Messages has. If Google Messages feels like a web app with SMS functionality attached to it, Samsung Messages is just a good old messaging app for your Galaxy phone. It has an option to create groups, it has a “Contacts” tab, and it has regular conversation threads.
Sometimes, simplicity is key. And even though Samsung seemingly keeps tweaking and improving its Messages app with every major One UI update, it doesn't feel like the company has an ulterior motive for pushing the simple SMS app (and its users) outside the comfort zone.
While some Android users who probably haven't used Galaxy phones in years would call Samsung Messages “bloatware,” it's the other way around. For many Galaxy device users who have made Samsung Messages app their default one, Google Messages feels like a bloated SMS solution designed to drag users more into the search engine giant's ecosystem.
You can't argue. that Samsung Messages isn't true to its name and origins. It's just a clever SMS app and doesn't need to be much more than that. And that's why many Galaxy device users love it the way it is.
