Google Messages adds ultra HDR support for RCS chats on Pixel 8 and Android 14

Google Messages has added Ultra HDR support for RCS chats, enabling Pixel 8 users to send and view Ultra HDR images within the app, with the HDR gain map retained during transmission and viewing. The Ultra HDR image format, specifically designed for Android 14, improves the color and contrast of images on HDR displays and is also compatible with non-HDR displays.

The Ultra HDR format enhances the standard JPEG format, allowing non-HDR displays to render images normally, while HDR displays use the extra metadata to boost visual quality.

Google Messages' recent addition of Ultra HDR support is part of its ongoing feature development and its commitment to RCS, whose support, let's remember, was officially announced by Apple iMessage last week.