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Does the iPhone support RCS?

Last reviewed 1 min readReviewed by BroadNet engineering
Quick answer

Yes — the iPhone supports RCS. Apple added RCS Universal Profile support in iOS 18, released in September 2024, so any iPhone running iOS 18 or later can send and receive RCS in the native Messages app when the recipient and both carriers also support it. Before iOS 18, iPhones fell back to SMS and MMS for messages to non-iMessage users.

Plain-language definitionVendor-neutralReviewed September 30, 2026
The long answer

Everything worth knowing, nothing that isn't.

§01

What changed in iOS 18

Apple implemented the GSMA's RCS Universal Profile in iOS 18. On a supported carrier, messages between an iPhone and an Android phone can now use RCS instead of the old SMS/MMS fallback — bringing higher-resolution photos and video, typing indicators, read receipts, and better group chats to cross-platform conversations. iMessage (the blue-bubble Apple-to-Apple experience) is unchanged; RCS improves the green-bubble path to non-Apple devices.

  • iOS 18 (September 2024) added RCS Universal Profile.
  • Applies to iPhone-to-Android (green-bubble) messaging.
  • Adds hi-res media, typing indicators, read receipts, better groups.
  • iMessage between Apple devices is unchanged.
§02

What it can and can't do

RCS on iPhone requires a mobile-data or Wi-Fi connection and carrier enablement on both sides; where any of that is missing, Messages falls back to SMS/MMS automatically. At launch, RCS on iPhone did not include end-to-end encryption — Apple and the GSMA have publicly committed to adding cross-platform E2EE in a future Universal Profile update. For businesses, RCS Business Messaging (verified, branded senders) reaching iPhones depends on Apple and carrier rollout of the business channel, which is progressing market by market.

  • Needs data/Wi-Fi and carrier support on both ends.
  • Falls back to SMS/MMS when RCS isn't available.
  • No end-to-end encryption at launch; E2EE committed for a future profile.
  • RCS Business Messaging to iPhone is rolling out market by market.
§03

What it means for business messaging

For enterprises, the headline is reach: RCS Business Messaging can now, in principle, deliver verified branded messages into the default Messages app on both Android and modern iPhones — with automatic SMS fallback where RCS isn't available. That makes RCS a stronger single channel than before. The practical guidance is unchanged: design content that degrades gracefully to SMS, and keep SMS for anything that must always arrive instantly, such as OTPs.

  • Verified branded RCS can reach Android and iOS 18+ iPhones.
  • Always pair RCS with automatic SMS fallback.
  • Keep OTP and critical alerts on SMS for near-universal reach.
  • Design messages that still make sense as an SMS.

RCS vs SMS/MMS on an iPhone

RCS (iOS 18+)SMS / MMS fallback
Branded / verified sender—
High-resolution media—
Read receipts & typing—
Needs data / Wi-FiYesNo — works with no data
End-to-end encryptionNot at launch (planned)No
ReachiOS 18+, carrier-enabledEvery iPhone ever made
BNWritten by the BroadNet engineering team·Operating carrier-grade messaging since 2003, headquartered in Dubai·Editorial standards
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Which iPhones support RCS?
Any iPhone that can run iOS 18 or later, on a carrier that has enabled RCS. Older iOS versions do not support RCS and use SMS/MMS for non-iMessage chats.
Is RCS on iPhone end-to-end encrypted?
Not at launch. RCS on iPhone shipped in iOS 18 without cross-platform end-to-end encryption; Apple and the GSMA have said E2EE will come in a future RCS Universal Profile update.
Do I have to turn RCS on?
It depends on the carrier. On supported carriers RCS is available in Messages and can be toggled in settings; where the carrier hasn't enabled it, the iPhone keeps using SMS/MMS.
Can businesses send branded RCS to iPhones?
Increasingly yes. RCS Business Messaging can reach iOS 18+ iPhones as Apple and carriers roll out the business channel per market — with automatic SMS fallback where RCS isn't yet available.
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