Google Trolls Apple in New Ad over RCS messaging

Google has launched the latest video in its ongoing #BestPhonesForever ad series. Once again, Google takes a playful dig at Apple, with its Pixel phone leading the charge. The light-hearted banter between the Pixel and iPhone is a central theme, as Google uses this series to mock Apple’s mobile devices in clever ways. The focus of the new ad is on RCS, a messaging tech that Apple has just adopted in its new iOS 18 update. RCS, short for Rich Communication Services, is a standard that allows phones to send high-quality photos and videos through text. For years, Google pushed Apple to use this tech, and now, with iOS 18, the change has finally happened.

This update is a huge win for phone users in the US, where texting is still the main way people keep in touch. Unlike most parts of the world that rely on apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, US users tend to stick with texting due to how texts were bundled into early phone plans.

The #BestPhonesForever series is all about humour, with the Pixel phone teasing the iPhone in a friendly but mocking way. The ad pokes fun at Apple’s slow move to adopt RCS messaging. Some people might find the video amusing, but others may feel it leans more towards cringe, depending on their view of the long-standing rivalry between iOS and Android.

The ad might come off as playful. However, it also highlights a real tech divide that has long existed between Apple and Google. With this move, iPhone and Android users can finally enjoy better image and video quality when they text each other, something that was not possible before without third-party apps.

The switch to RCS is a big shift for Apple users. They can now enjoy a more seamless experience when texting with Android users. Before this, messages between iPhones and Android devices were stuck with basic text features, making sharing media a challenge.

With RCS now available, the advertisement series could be seen as a victory lap for Google. The Pixel’s jabs at the iPhone may reflect the satisfaction Google feels in finally seeing this change come to life.

Google’s latest advertisement is yet another playful critique of Apple, focused on the much-anticipated introduction of RCS to iPhones. The humour may resonate differently depending on individual preferences. Nevertheless, the ongoing ad series manages to captivate audiences with its lighthearted portrayal of the enduring iOS vs. Android rivalry.