Google Messages testing RCS read receipts redesign [U]

Abner Li | Nov 1 2024 - 8:49 am PT

Following the last redesign in early 2023, Google Messages is testing a new look for read receipts in RCS conversations.

Update 11/1: Google is more widely testing this redesign of RCS Sending, Sent, Delivered, and Read receipts in beta. As of the past few days, we’re seeing it on more device in a sign that Google Messages might be proceeding with this look.

You can swipe left to see message timestamps.

Original 8/1: At the moment, read receipts appear underneath a message between the time/date and the RCS encryption lock. There are four states, with these icons replacing the previous word-based approach.

Timer: Your message is being sent.
Single check: Your message has been sent.
Double check: Your message has been delivered.
Color-filled double check: Your message has been read.

Google is now testing a redesign that places the checkmarks inside the message bubble. They appear at the right and are housed in a circle that is slightly lighter than the background. For images, they are overlaid in the bottom-right corner.

Current vs. redesign

The read receipts still leverage checkmarks, but there’s a slightly different system in place:

Elipsis	Sending
Single check with ring	Sent
Double check with ring	Delivered
Double check solid circle	Read

Top comment by Warren Skipper

Liked by 61 people

The word-based read receipts were ideal. It was easy to understand at a glance without having to think about it. The checkmarks are a step down but still tolerable. Adding the checkmarks to each message is completely unnecessary and will clutter the entire thread.

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Google’s redesign allows read receipts to — always — appear on all previous messages instead of just the latest one. This aspect makes the read status a bit more explicit, but is unnecessary in the grand scheme.

We’ve so far received one report of this new design, with the current system in place for about 17 months.