Like other Google apps, Messages for Android A/B tests many features. It can take the RCS/SMS client a rather long time to actually launch new functionality in stable. From various reports, Google announcements, and devices we’ve checked, this is the current state of Messages.
Update 1/9:
These are Messages features that Google announced or have been spotted in the wild by beta users.
Instead of a toolbar, long-pressing on an image or message opens a floating menu, with Google partially centering what you’re viewing. The background gets blurred, while you feel haptic feedback.
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When you long-press on an image, “Remix” in the bottom-left corner is smaller and no longer has the banana emoji. Similarly, the fullscreen viewer no longer overlays the button. Instead, it’s moved to the bottom of your screen.
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This lets you get a person’s attention in group conversations even “if their notifications are muted.”
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Universal Profile 3.0 adds support for the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) protocol that makes possible cross-platform (Android-iOS) RCS that is end-to-end encrypted (E2EE). 
You can check whether this is live for a conversation by long-pressing on a message and opening the redesigned Details page. The portion relevant to MLS is the “Encryption Protocol” section. Value “0” is the existing E2EE, while value “1” is the upcoming approach.
Following the last redesign in early 2023, another revamp places read receipts in a circle at the bottom-right corner of message bubbles (and images).You swipe left to see all timestamps and the end-to-end encryption status, while you swipe right to reply/quote a message. This started rolling out in August 2024, with more people receiving it in November.
In January 2025, Google tweaked the design to make the circular background white. In no longer matching the bubble color, the read receipts stand out a great deal more.
L-R: Current, redesign, latest
Google has reduced the height of the camera viewfinder, though it now extends into the status bar. This container features rounded corners. The gallery now shows two full image rows, while some users might see part of the next row.
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The Gemini FAB (floating action button) is now larger since Material 3 Expressive deprecated the small component size. It now matches the ‘Start chat” FAB when you’re scrolling.
Link previews, including YouTube, have a new design and taller cover image. The page title is larger with the domain accompanied by a favicon and more prominent background. However, Google has removed the article snippet in a downgrade to information density.
YouTube Picture-in-Picture is also back with this redesign, but you cannot open the full app immediately even if you disable Messages’ PiP system permission. You have to fullscreen the video in Messages and then tap the logo in the bottom-right corner.
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Google will let you quickly “Leave group” when you’re invited by an unknown number, with options to Block and Report. This alert card above the text field explains how “Unknown sender added you” with the number prominently listed followed by how many people are in the conversation. Messages will note if anybody you know is part of the thread. 
After first testing in June, Google has rolled out a redesign of the Messages image viewer. This fullscreen interface features a blurred background and the ability to swipe left/right. Your photo or video is at the center, with a tap opening the full size. Various options are in the top-right corner, while the bottom row shows comments and frequent emojis.
Google has also updated how images are grouped together in the conversation view.
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