Skip to main content

Google’s new Messenger app lands in Play Store with Material Design

If messaging via Hangouts fails to float your boat, or you’ve simply chosen to steer clear of Google’s communications app for reasons you’d rather not share, then the Web giant is hoping to tempt you with its overhauled standalone messaging app, which landed on the Play Store on Wednesday.

Google Messenger incorporates the Mountain View company’s new Material Design aesthetic, though beyond that the app does what you’d expect with any half-decent SMS/MMS offering.

Recommended Videos

According to its Play Store listing, Google Messenger lets you select pictures and videos – or take new ones – from directly within the app for fast and simple sharing. If your fingers are done for the day, you can also fire off audio messages to contacts with a couple of taps.

The search function on the new app allows you to quickly find your way through contacts and conversation threads to find what you’re after, and for those who like to add a bit of color to their messages, emoji support is also included.

Users can block senders if a friend turns into a foe – or if you simply don’t want to be disturbed by a particular person at a certain time – and a simple procedure let’s you unblock if you so wish.

If you thought Google would’ve preferred to concentrate on getting everyone into Hangouts, which offers a number of features besides just messaging, then the launch of its Messenger app appears to suggest otherwise.

Coming pre-installed on Android 5.0 Lollipop devices, Google Messenger also works on devices running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and up and can be grabbed at the Play Store now by hitting this link.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Google Messages might finally fix this frequent annoyance
The Google Messages app on the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Though most text messages you typically send might be just a few words long, occasionally you need to draft out a longer message -- and that can be annoying on an Android device. Google Messages has an infamously small compose box, which has been a source of annoyance for many users. Now, though, that looks set to change, with a new feature spotted in the latest beta version of the Messages app of an expandable compose box.

The change was spotted in an APK teardown of the latest Android beta by Android Authority, which suggests that a change to the way the Google Messages app functions is in the works. Getting at the new compose box took some "tinkering," according to the site, but they were able to unlock a version of the compose box which can be expanded to 12 lines of text rather than the currently available four lines.

Read more
Google Messages may receive features you never knew were missing
The Google Messages app on the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Google may be upgrading Google Messages with the ability for users to mention other people in group chats and send links and QR codes.

According to a report from 9to5Google, a recent APK teardown for the latest beta for the Android messaging app, version 20250331_02_RC00, suggests it's planning to implement support for the aforementioned features that not everyone noticed was missing from their group chats before. You'll be able to mention someone in the group chat to get their attention when you need to directly ask or tell them something related to a topic being discussed, and enable notifications for when someone mentions you. You will also have the option to snooze notifications in increments of one, eight and 24 hours, as well as "Always." However, you may not be able to snooze notifications for certain group chats.

Read more
Five reasons I’m excited for the new Google Pixel 9a
Person holds Pixel 9a in hand while sitting in a car.

Google has consistently ranked among the best smartphones for its affordable devices over the past six years, particularly with its Pixel A series. The Pixel 3a set the trend for major phone manufacturers to provide a compelling experience at half the price of flagship models, intensifying competition in this segment.

In the last three months, we’ve seen Samsung introduce the Galaxy A56 and Galaxy A36, which deliver features from the Galaxy S25 series at a significantly lower price point. Then there’s Apple, which entered the market with the iPhone 16e, priced considerably higher than its rivals. Additionally, Nothing offers the Nothing Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro, arguably the best phones available at $379 and $459, respectively.

Read more