Apple has released the second developer beta of iOS 27, introducing a highly anticipated feature: the ability to reply to a specific message in RCS conversations with Android users. This brings feature parity with iMessage, where inline replies have been available for years. With the new beta, users can long-press a message and select the “Reply” option, and the system maintains native threading on both the iPhone and the Android device.
Improved tapback reactions and inline replies
Beyond reply threading, iOS 27 Beta 2 also improves tapback reactions. In iOS 26, when an Android user reacted to an image or video, the system displayed a text descriptor like “[x loved an image]” instead of the corresponding emoji. With iOS 27, the emoji appears directly on the media, just as it does in iMessage. This makes the experience much smoother and visually consistent across platforms.
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A journey of RCS improvements since iOS 18
Apple introduced RCS support with iOS 18, enabling richer communication between iPhone and Android, including longer texts, read receipts, and high-quality images. Since then, the company has continuously refined the protocol. iOS 26.5 added end-to-end encryption for RCS messages, a major security upgrade. Now, with the second beta of iOS 27, Apple closes another gap with inline replies and enhanced tapbacks.
Requirements and beta availability
For reply threading to work properly, both sender and recipient need a smartphone and carrier that support RCS. The beta is currently limited to developers. Apple plans to release a public beta in July 2026, with the official launch of iOS 27 expected in September, alongside new iPhones. Those eager to try the new features can sign up for the public beta program.
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This feature is another step toward integration between ecosystems. As Apple and Google continue to improve interoperability, users benefit from an increasingly uniform experience. To explore other iOS 27 features, such as the Mac-like recovery mode, check our dedicated article. For more on the RCS protocol, visit the Wikipedia page.
Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/06/22/ios-27-beta-2-inline-replies-rcs
