Google Messages reportedly added Ultra HDR image support in RCS chats

Google Messages has been gaining multiple features lately and there are still more to come. Now, a report from a reliable source claims that Google Messages RCS chats already support Ultra HDR, Google’s latest image format that takes full advantage of the quality of HDR displays.

We recently talked about the new Ultra HDR image format in a dedicated coverage, so you can check it out if you want to know more in-depth details. However, to briefly summarize, Ultra HDR is basically a technology that takes advantage of the additional color depth offered by modern HDR displays to improve the visual quality of photos, including additional metadata in the JPEG file.

That said, the format is quite new since it was released alongside the latest Google Pixel 8 series, so more services and brands are still pending to support it. Currently, Google Photos is the only gallery app that lets you see Ultra HDR photos in all their glory.

But, according to the report (by TheSpAndroid), the Google Messages app can show the enhanced images thanks to the Ultra HDR format, just like the Google Photos gallery does. It should be noted that, in apps that do not support Ultra HDR, only the original JPEG image is displayed, without the improvements of the new format since they are not capable of reading the additional metadata.

Also, messaging apps without Ultra HDR support could eliminate the additional metadata during the compression process, so not only would they not allow you to see the enhanced image from the app but also from a compatible gallery (Google Photos) after downloading it. This is backed by Android expert, Mishaal Rahman.

Of course, Google Messages supports Ultra HDR image format through the RCS standard, since it would be impossible to send these types of photos via MMS. Currently, Google Messages is the only app in its segment with support for that format (from Android 14 onwards), which could give it a competitive advantage over others.

Interestingly, Google Messages Ultra HDR support is not exactly new as was added to the app in September, before the launch of the Google Pixel 8 series. However, no one had noticed until now, and it is also intriguing that Google has not mentioned it to put its messaging app above others.

Adding to the intrigue, Ultra HDR images lack a distinct marker that identifies them as such, making it challenging for users to ascertain whether an image received was captured in this format.

The important thing is that, for now, only Google Messages allows you to send and view Ultra HDR images without problems. It will be interesting to see if other features on the way, such as animated message reactions, Markdown text formatting support, or the redesigned UI (among others) attract more users, stealing market share from others like WhatsApp, Snapchat, or Telegram.