Key Facts

• iMessage has always been end-to-end encrypted by default, meaning even Apple cannot read messages in transit, according to Apple's official announcement.
• Standard SMS is rated 'low security; easily spoofed' with no built-in verification, per First Orion's channel comparison.
• Apple and Google call encrypted RCS a cross-industry effort to replace traditional SMS with a more secure alternative, citing both companies.
• End-to-end encrypted RCS began rolling out in beta on May 11, 2026, requiring iOS 26.5 or the latest Google Messages, Apple confirmed.
• RCS business messaging traffic is forecast to exceed 200 billion messages globally by 2027, according to Juniper Research.
• SMS is limited to 160 characters of plain text, while encrypted RCS supports verified sender identity with brand names and logos, First Orion reports.
• Users can confirm a message is encrypted by checking for a lock icon on their device, per Apple's rollout guidance.