How Android Users Can Share Higher-Quality Photos and Videos With iPhones
Engadget outlines several ways to reduce compression when sending media between Android phones and iPhones, while noting RCS files remain capped at 100MB.
Sending photos and videos between Android phones and iPhones no longer has to mean accepting heavily reduced quality. Engadget has outlined several options, including RCS messaging, Google Photos, Google Drive and compatible Quick Share features.
iPhone users can check whether RCS is enabled by opening Settings, selecting Apps, then Messages, and confirming that RCS Messaging is switched on. RCS support arrived with iOS 18, improving media sharing between the two platforms.
Google Messages compresses media by default, according to Engadget. Android users can press the HD or HD+ button before sending and select “HD+ Original Quality” instead of “HD Optimised for Chat”.
That setting does not remove the RCS attachment limit, which remains 100MB. For larger photos and videos, Engadget points to Google Photos and Google Drive as alternatives for sharing files between devices.
Compatible Android phones can also use Quick Share with AirDrop support. The feature is available on Pixel phones from the 8a onwards and on a number of Samsung phones, including much of the Galaxy S family. On unsupported devices, Quick Share’s QR-code option allows an iPhone user to scan and access the shared content.
Actual results may vary depending on the device, settings, file size and receiving service. Engadget presents the methods as ways to preserve more media quality, rather than a guarantee of lossless transfer.
