You should only disable iMessage if you're switching to Android (to get texts from iPhone users) or want to stop cross-device syncing and data usage, otherwise, keeping it on provides features like encryption, high-res media, and syncing across Apple devices; disabling it defaults to basic, less-featured SMS/MMS for all messages. The main reason to turn it off is to ensure texts from iPhones arrive as SMS on your new non-Apple phone, preventing them from getting stuck in the iMessage system.
What happens when I turn off iMessage? Your messages will be sent as SMS instead of iMessages. You'll no longer see the blue message bubbles—just green ones.
iMessage is exclusively limited to Apple's ecosystem, restricting communication to iPhone, iPad, and Mac users only, meaning that you can't send it to Android users.
The recipient isn't using an Apple phone
People using Android-based smartphones (or any other type of non-Apple phone) don't have access to iMessage. Any texts sent to non-Apple smartphones automatically appear green.
Switching on iMessage on your iPhone device is very simple and fast, and this provides you with a powerful messaging platform that links you with other Apple device users at no cost. iMessage makes texting more fun when you are texting with friends or sending media-centered messages or even syncing across your devices.
Messages automatically uses the following screen effects for specific text strings:
You can send text messages several different ways in the Messages app : Over Wi-Fi or cellular service, using iMessage with others who also use iMessage. Your iMessage texts appear in blue bubbles. Over cellular service with SMS, MMS, or RCS messages, which appear in green bubbles.
Check the Bubble Color
For example, if you send me a message and I receive it with a green bubble, this means that the message was sent through SMS rather than iMessage. If you don't see a blue bubble on your end, then it's likely that they've blocked you on iMessage.
iMessage is a secure messaging service that you can use to send and receive text messages in the Messages app on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro.
SMS offers a much greater reach than iMessages because SMS can reach all mobile phones (and other text-enabled devices), irrespective of whether the operating system is Android or iOS. That's why SMS is used as the fallback channel when iMessages fail to deliver over WiFi or mobile data.
For Android Users
1) Respond like a ninja
If you're in a rush you can respond to a message in seconds with a pre-loaded response. Simply tap and hold the message you received and you'll see the option to react with a heart, thumbs up or down, the phrase "ha ha," exclamation marks or a question mark.
You may need to turn off iMessage if you are now using a non-Apple phone and cannot get SMS or text messages someone sends you from an iPhone.
It relies on a data connection.
You'll need either Wi-Fi or mobile data access to send iMessages. Otherwise, your iPhone will fall back on SMS (or in some cases, RCS messaging if your carrier supports it).
iMessage is end-to-end encrypted. The phone number or email address you use is shown to the people you contact, and you can choose to share your name and photo. Apple retains limited information about the use of iMessage, such as whether your device is eligible to use iMessage, for up to 30 days.
The following is what will occur with varying messaging apps if someone's phone is off or dead: Apple iMessage: iMessage will be sent but it won't show "Delivered" as usual. Google Messages: You can send the messages to the phone that is off, but you won't get delivered checkmarks.