Apple and Google Improve Emoji Reactions Between iPhone and Android

With iOS 18 updates, emoji reactions now display correctly in cross-platform texts using RCS messaging.

Apple's iOS 18.1 update allows emoji reactions to appear inline in messages between iPhones and Androids using RCS.
This improvement resolves prior issues where emoji reactions translated into text descriptions, enhancing user experience.
The update is part of Apple's gradual adoption of RCS, influenced by the EU's Digital Markets Act mandating device interoperability.
Despite these advancements, users still face occasional challenges with messages reverting to SMS, affecting seamless communication.
Neither Apple nor Google has publicly claimed responsibility for the update, though Google has previously advocated for RCS adoption.