Google Messages Adds Feature That Made the iPhone Stand Out

In the era of instant connectivity, texting has become an indispensable part of daily life. With just one click, your message can reach the recipient in the blink of an eye, regardless of geographical distance. But that speed can sometimes turn into a “double-edged sword”. A mistyped word, a message sent to the wrong person, or an impulsive emotion expressed too soon… all can lead to both funny and sad situations.

iPhone users have had a solution to this problem for quite a while: the “Undo Send” feature on iMessage, which allows you to recall a message you have just sent. It is like a lifebuoy, helping users “put out the fire” in time before mistakes. Meanwhile, the Android community has to accept the truth: once a message has been sent, there is no way to turn back time.

However, after many years of waiting and many calls, Google has finally brought good news. The feature to recall messages is about to appear on Google Messages, the default messaging application of the Android operating system. This is considered a big step forward, helping Android catch up with iOS in one of the features considered "gold" in the messaging experience.

1. The “waiting” journey of Android users

For years, the Android community has been “jealous” of iOS users when Apple equipped iMessage with the ability to recall messages. This has become a huge advantage in terms of experience, giving the iPhone an extra point in the eyes of those who regularly communicate via messages.

Meanwhile, Android, despite its powerful customization capabilities and diverse ecosystem, does not have a similar feature in the default Messages app. Android users can only rely on third-party messaging apps such as Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber. However, not everyone wants or has the habit of installing new apps, especially when traditional SMS/MMS messaging is still a popular choice in many countries.

The lack of a message recall feature makes Android “disadvantaged” in the eyes of a segment of users, especially young people who value flexibility and the ability to correct mistakes in digital communication. On many technology forums, topics related to the desire to have this feature on Android always attract thousands of comments. Obviously, this is not just a small demand but has become a common expectation.

2. iMessage and “Undo Send”

To understand why the undo message feature is considered “gold”, we need to look back at how Apple implemented iMessage. When iOS introduced “Undo Send”, iPhone users immediately had a tool that gave them more control over the content of their communications.

With just a few simple steps, the message you just sent can disappear from the conversation, minimizing the risk of misunderstanding or embarrassment. However, Apple also sets a limit: users only have 2 minutes to recall the message. This is a very short period of time, requiring quick reflexes and constant attention.

This limit is a balance: it protects users from accidental errors, but also prevents the feature from being abused to change chat history after a long time. Although there are many opinions on this, there is no denying that iMessage has defined a “new standard” for the messaging experience.

3. Google Messages enters the game

As discovered by Android Authority , Google is widely rolling out the unsend feature in Google Messages, after a period of beta testing. This is a sign that Android is finally catching up to iOS in an extremely essential feature.

What has the tech community particularly interested is the time limit. Instead of only allowing a 2-minute recall like Apple, Google could extend the time frame to 1 hour . If this number is officially applied, Android will not only catch up with iOS but also surpass it in terms of experience.

Imagine this: you accidentally send an important message, only to realize it a few minutes later. With iMessage, the window of opportunity is closed. But with Google Messages, you still have a chance to correct the mistake. Clearly, this is a competitive advantage that Android can exploit to assert its dominance.

4. Limits that cannot be ignored

Despite the excitement, this feature still has certain limitations.

No guarantee that the message hasn't been read: If the recipient has opened the message before you can recall it, deleting it doesn't make much sense.

App version dependent: If the recipient is using an older version of Google Messages, the message won't be deleted on their end.

Doesn't work with SMS/MMS: The biggest limitation is that this feature only works in RCS (Rich Communication Services) chats on Google Messages. With traditional SMS/MMS, messages are still "dead on arrival".

This poses a challenge: how do users distinguish when they can revoke and when they can't? Google will need to optimize its interface design to communicate this clearly and avoid confusion.

From a UX Design perspective, message recall provides three important values:

Feeling of security: Users have an extra “layer of protection” when communicating, reducing psychological stress due to fear of making mistakes.

Control: Digital experiences are not just about delivering content, but also about giving users control over the process.

Trend synchronization: When leading messaging platforms like iMessage, Messenger or WhatsApp all have “Undo Send”, Android adding this feature is a natural step to not fall behind.

In a competitive environment, a seemingly small detail can make a big difference in user satisfaction and loyalty.

More broadly, the emergence of the unsend feature reflects how technology is reshaping the culture of communication. Humans are inherently imperfect, and in a fast-paced world, we are more prone to error. The ability to “fix” not only helps avoid conflict, but also fosters flexibility in relationships.

Imagine a student accidentally sending a private message to a class group, or an employee hastily texting their boss in a moment of stress. An “Undo” button could save them from unnecessary embarrassment. Technology, here, becomes a tool to help people maintain social relationships.

However, the downside is also worth considering: when messages can disappear, the value of “digital evidence” in communication can be affected. Message deletion can be abused to deny responsibility. Therefore, feature design must be in the context of balancing personal control and transparency in communication.

5. Android and strategic moves in competing with iOS

There’s no denying that iOS has always been the benchmark for user experience, while Android is known for its openness and diversity. Google’s move to add “Undo Send” to Messages is not just a feature addition, but a strategic move to retain users in the face of increasingly fierce competition.

For years, one of the reasons people chose iPhones over Androids was iMessage and Apple’s proprietary features. By closing this gap, Google is reducing Apple’s “walled garden” appeal while strengthening the Android ecosystem.

In particular, when Samsung uses Google Messages as default, the impact of this feature will spread even more strongly.

The arrival of “Undo Send” is just the beginning. In the future, we can expect Android to continue to improve the messaging experience with features like:

Edit sent messages: Allows editing of content instead of just deleting.

Conversation Notes: Make it easy for users to track changes when messages are edited or recalled.

AI-powered edit suggestions: Thanks to AI, Google Messages can warn you when it detects sensitive content before sending.

If Google continues down this path, the messaging experience on Android could very well be on par with, or even surpass, iOS.

6. Conclusion
After years of waiting, Android is finally getting the unsend feature, a lifesaver that made iMessage so popular. While it’s still limited, the ability to unsend a message by mistake will certainly improve the experience for millions of users. This isn’t just a feature story, it’s a testament to how technology is moving closer to real human needs. In a world where messages can be sent in the blink of an eye, the right to correction is the humanity that technology needs to bring. Android was late, but not too late. And this time, they’re not only catching up, but they might even surpass it by giving users more time to correct their mistakes. It’s a small victory, but it’s a sign of a more secure, flexible, and friendly era of messaging.