What Google Messages features are rolling out [August 2025]

Google Messages Rolls Out Redesigned Gallery & Camera with ‘Original Quality’ Media Sending

Mountain View, CA – June 5, 2025 – Google Messages is receiving a significant user interface overhaul, merging the camera viewfinder and gallery into a unified experience. This update, initially reported by 9to5Google, streamlines media sharing and introduces the option to send photos and videos in full, original resolution.

The previous image picker in Google Messages was designed for compactness, keeping users directly within the conversation flow. The new design prioritizes recent media, displaying 3-6 recent photos and videos directly within the chat interface. Users can access a broader selection by swiping up, with dedicated “folders” accessible at the bottom of the screen. A “Write a caption” field is also prominently featured before sending, encouraging more descriptive messaging.

A key addition is the ability to choose between two media quality settings when sending images and videos:

• “HD” Optimize for chat: This setting prioritizes faster sending speeds and reduced data usage by compressing media.
• “HD+” Original quality: This option sends media at its full, original resolution, preserving maximum detail.

The “Original quality” feature, which utilizes the standard RCS (Rich Dialog Services) protocol, allows for lossless image and video transfer, a notable advancement over conventional SMS/MMS limitations. This feature was first spotted in beta testing in November 2024 (version 2024.11.08.00.10) and is now being widely rolled out to Google Messages users globally, including those on Android 14 and later.

GoogleS move to enhance media quality aligns with its broader strategy to position Messages as a complete communication platform, competing with iMessage and WhatsApp. The update is currently available to users with RCS enabled, which requires carrier support and a compatible device. The rollout is staggered, and availability may vary by region and carrier.