Android Messages Vs SMS Organizer: How Do They Diffe

Android Messages Vs SMS Organizer: How Do They Differ

Messaging gods will never forgive chat apps for ruining the traditional SMS. It is now rarely used as a personal communication tool. But the case is different for businesses since many still use it to communicate important details like bank transactions, flight PNRs, OTPs, and much more.

Just as chat apps revamp themselves to suit the changing needs of consumers, one expects the same from SMS apps. Sadly, that’s yet to happen. However, Microsoft's SMS Organizer app is changing things swiftly. The app understands the necessity to separate personal and other messages (which form the major part).

But does it have other essential features to compete with Google's native messaging app on Android? Let’s find out here we compare Android Messages and SMS Organizer.

App Size Is Important

Messages from Google weighs a whopping 25-30MB while the one from Microsoft goes just up to 12MB.

Download Messages

Download SMS Organizer

Availability and Price

The Messages app comes preinstalled on stock Android devices and is also available from the Play Store for the rest of the Android phones. SMS Organizer is also available for all Android phones but is currently limited to India only. Even if you manage to get the APK from anywhere, you'll need an Indian mobile number to activate it.

Both the apps are available for free without any in-app purchases.

Text from PC

Some of us enjoy using a big screen and a physical keyboard to send texts. If you also love it, we are happy to say that Google recently introduced the Messages web app that lets you send and receive messages on PC.

Sadly, SMS Organizer doesn’t offer the feature but don’t worry for you can use other services like Pushbullet, Mightytext, Join, etc. to text from PC.

Better Organization of Messages

The label Organizer in the SMS Organizer app lives up to its name. If you are familiar with Gmail, this app offers a similar categorization of messages.

You will find three main categories: Personal, Transactions, and Promotions. While the first one houses the messages sent to the contacts, the second one is home to various transactional messages and OTP’s. Promotions, as is obvious, holds promotional SMS usually considered as spam.

Messages from Google isn’t interested in categories for now.

Note: By default, promotional messages are silent. You can enable their notifications in the app settings.

The SMS Organizer app offers the capability to separate unread messages too. For that, enable the Unread only toggle at the top.

Also on Guiding Tech

Android Messages vs Textra: Comparison of SMS Giants

Read More

User-Friendly Messaging Interface

The Messages app comes with the usual design where all text messages are listed on a single screen. The new chat button exists at the bottom with search and other settings present at the top.

On the contrary, SMS Organizer offers a completely new and unique interface — thanks to its organization powers. At the top, you will find various productivity options such as Reminders, Finance, and Offers besides the actual messages. The bottom bar houses various SMS categories and the starred inbox.

Inside the message, the interface is quite similar for both the apps with typing area at the bottom and shortcuts at the top. SMS Organizer makes deleting the thread a one tap task for it offers the delete button right away. Another difference is with the image that is present at the top in SMS Organizer and sits right next to the received text in the case of Messages.

Add Media to Messages

Apart from sending contacts, the SMS Organizer app doesn’t let you attach any other type of media. The Messages app reigns this area for it supports a wide array of attachments ranging from GIFs to stickers and location.

Note: Adding rich media elements converts your typical SMS into an MMS.

Look for Old Messages

Sometimes finding the right message takes a quite lot of time. Thanks to fast search available in both the apps, now you can easily find specific texts. Android Messages goes a step deeper for it lets you search inside individual conversations too.

Link Preview and OTP

Even though both the apps let you copy OTP’s with one tap, the link preview feature is limited to the Messages app alone. You can restrict the web preview to download data on Wi-Fi only.

Interestingly, the Messages app is intelligent enough to know that when the sender doesn’t accept replies, it hides the reply box.

Themes: Dark Mode, You there?

The SMS Organizer app doesn’t limit you to its own color choice for it offers a few themes including the dark mode.

Had we been comparing the two apps a few months back, the Messages app would appear dull in front of SMS Organizer. That’s because it’s only been a couple of months since Google introduced the dark mode — the only theme for Messages.

Other than themes, both lack other customization settings as available in Textra and Pulse SMS.

Bonus Messaging Features

Both the apps let you hide messages from the main view using the archive feature. However, SMS Organizer offers additional features such as message scheduling, starred messages, and signature.

With message scheduling you will never forget to wish your friends at 12 a.m. for you can create texts that will be sent later at a set time. While the starred messages let you quickly access your favorite messages, the last one adds a pre-written text with every sent message.

Also on Guiding Tech #messaging

Click here to see our messaging articles page

Control It with Gestures

Android Messages provide support for one gesture only — swiping on a message thread from either side will archive the message. This gesture isn’t customizable, unlike SMS Organizer where you can change the swipe action. You can also enable the swipe gesture to switch between tabs.

Mute Sender

Suppose you don’t want to receive message notifications from a particular person. On the Messages app, you will either have to block them or turn off notifications for everyone.

Thankfully, the developers of SMS Organizer app are a bit generous for they let us mute individual chat threads. Any incoming message from a muted thread will not generate any notification.

Restore Old Text Messages

The Messages app doesn’t let you create a backup so you will have to rely on third-party apps for that. Fortunately, the functionality is baked right inside SMS Organizer where the messages are saved to your Google Drive account and can be restored on any new device.

SMS Organizer: The Extra Features

These are some of the features that are exclusive to SMS Organizer.

Smart Assist and Reminders

Don't worry about missing any bill payments for the app will remind you about the due date. That’s not all. You can manually create reminders for other messages too. With smart assist cards, you can even check flight status and track other tasks.

View Bank Balance and Statements

The SMS Organizer app is more than a messaging service for it takes the pain to present information in a detailed and organized manner. Tapping the Finance tab shows various cards with their balance and credit/debit details. The information is populated from the SMS received on the phone.

Save Money with Offers

Who wouldn’t like to save a few bucks especially when the deal is delivered right to your inbox? The Offers tab was introduced recently, and it segregates the received coupons and deals in a separate view. And the best part, it works in collaboration with coupon sites so you can view deals from the web too.

Rules Are for Fools — Not Really

The life of OTP messages ranges from one minute to a maximum of twenty-four hours after which they just become a liability in our inbox. What if they were deleted automatically after a day or two? The exact same feature is present in the SMS Organizer under the pretext of rules. You can define time from three days to one year.

You can also define a rule to delete promotional and blocked messages automatically.

Also on Guiding Tech

Android Messages vs Pulse SMS: Which is the Right One?

Read More

An Affair to Remember

Compared to the SMS Organizer app, the Messages app from Google seems a simple, lackluster app without any segregation. But that’s how most SMS apps are. So if you don’t want categorization of your SMS, the Messages app is suitable for you.

But if you love to keep things organized, SMS Organizer will sweep you off your feet. I know many people who swear by the SMS Organizer app, and even my colleagues at GT love the app. The only drawback is that it’s currently restricted to India alone. If you are based in India, do give it a try. Who knows it might be the beginning of a new Bollywood love story?

Next up: Loved the SMS Organizer app? Check 12 tips and tricks to use it like a pro.

Last updated on 15 Feb, 2019

Phone Comparisons: HONOR View20 Vs Samsung Galaxy Note9

Introduction

The HONOR View20 is the latest and greatest smartphone HONOR has to offer, while the Galaxy Note9 is still Samsung’s most powerful handset, though that may change soon with the Galaxy S10 series right around the corner.

In today's comparison we'll take a look at how these smartphones stack up against each other as they’re both competing in the high-end segment of the market. The Galaxy Note9 is the more expensive option here, and we will try to find out whether the price difference is actually worth it. While also taking into consideration that the Galaxy Note9 is now quite a bit more affordable than it was back when it launched in Q3 last year.

Specifications

Design

These two phones are fairly similar in terms of the design. Both phones are made out of metal and glass, and you will get a similar premium feel while holding either. They both also have a similar footprint overall. However, there are quite a few differences to note. Firstly, the Galaxy Note9 is considerably heavier at 201 grams compared to the HONOR View20’s 180 grams. The Galaxy Note9 also comes with a curved display, while the View20 sports a flat panel.

In spite of both phones sporting a thin bezel below the display, there are some considerable differences at the top. HONOR opted to include a display camera hole in the top-left corner of the View20’s display, while Samsung opted for a thin bezel with no obstructions in the form of a notch or a display hole.

If you flip the two phones around, you will notice that both have multiple cameras on the back, and horizontally-aligned. There's also a fingerprint scanner on the back of both phones. The HONOR View20’s fingerprint scanner is circular, while the Galaxy Note9's is oval-shaped. Both phones are curved on the back, and both are quite slippery. It is also worth noting that the View20’s back is easily recognizable due to V-shaped light reflections that can be found there. Compared to Samsung who opted to keep things a bit simpler with the Galaxy Note9.

So, which phone wins in this category? To be quite honest, it is not that easy to decide. They both offer similar build materials, and quite frankly feel quite similar in the hand despite the weight difference. If you hate notches / display holes, and you like curved displays, the Galaxy Note9 will be the better choice for you. If, on the other hand, you prefer thinner bezels no matter the cost, and like the reflection design on the back of the View20, the HONOR View20 is the phone for you.

Winner: Tie

Display

The HONOR View20 and Samsung Galaxy Note9 actually sport displays of the same size, even though their aspect ratios are slightly different due to the View20 having a slightly taller ratio. Both handsets feature 6.4-inch displays, though the Galaxy Note9’s display offers higher resolution (2960 x 1440 vs 2310 x 1080), and is an OLED panel compared to the LCD one included with the HONOR View20. To cut straight to the point - the Galaxy Note9 is the clear winner here. The 6.4-inch fullHD+ panel on the View20 is not bad, and it’s one of the better fullHD+ LCD panels out there, but it’s simply not up to par with the Galaxy Note9’s display - which is still among the best on the market, if not the very best.

The Galaxy Note9’s display is sharper, and thanks to the fact it’s an OLED panel, you’re getting those pure blacks, and a really nice contrast as well. Viewing angles on both displays are quite good, and you will not have any major issue with either of these two displays. If you prefer OLED displays, and really want one of the best displays out there, then the Galaxy Note9 is the phone for you. If you don’t care all that much and simply want a good display, both phones will serve you just fine.

One aspect that may play a factor for some is that the Galaxy Note9’s display is curved, while the View20’s is not.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Note9

Performance

Both of these phones are true powerhouses when it comes to performance. The Galaxy Note9 is fueled by the Exynos 9810 or Snapdragon 845, depending on the market, while the HONOR View20 comes with the Kirin 980 SoC. The Kirin 980 is a newer chip, but all three of these processors are still extremely powerful, and in combination with the software installed on the Galaxy Note9 and View20, the devices offer a very decent level of performance.

The Galaxy Note9 comes with Samsung’s Experience UX out of the box, and the One UI overlay comes to the device via the Android 9 Pie update.

Magic UI which comes installed on the HONOR View20 does feel smoother than EMUI, even though it’s basically an upgraded version of EMUI.

All in all, both of these devices offer great performance and both might prove subject to the occasional hiccups seen with pretty much every phone. Otherwise, there’s not much difference between the two devices in terms of sheer performance. So much so that we really could not decide on the winner in this category, so it’s a draw.

Winner: Tie

Battery Life

Both the HONOR View20 and Galaxy Note9 come with a 4,000 mAh capacity battery, and even though both devices are admirable in this department, the View20 has an edge here. The combination of the Kirin 980, a lower-res display, and HONOR’s software, results in the View20 becoming a real road warrior in terms of battery life.

HONOR included some aggressive battery-saving options in the device, but even if you leave everything as it is out of the box, the phone will be able to provide great battery life which trumps the Galaxy Note9. Back when we reviewed the Galaxy Note9, we were able to get 6+ hours of screen-on-time with the device before it shut down. The HONOR View20 goes above and beyond that.

We’re still testing the battery life in detail, but we have used the phone for a while now and it does offer well over seven-hours of screen on time in a day, with some juice left. The HONOR View20 also offers faster battery charging than the Galaxy Note9, even though it does not support wireless charging like the Note9 does.

Winner: HONOR View20

Cameras

If it’s a great camera you’re looking for, well, the HONOR View20 and Galaxy Note9 are definitely both great choices. The HONOR View20 actually managed to surprise us with its camera quality as its 48-megapixel sensor on the back in combination with the 3D ToF camera works great, and even in low light. In fact, both of these phones can shoot great images in low light without you having to mess around with the setting or enable special modes. Just take out the phone, point and shoot, and as long as you’re not in pitch dark situations, you will be able to get decent shots with the two phones.

As far as daylight performance goes, the two devices are on the same level here as well. This has proved to be quite surprising, as we did not think that the HONOR View20 will be able to compete with the Galaxy Note9 in this respect. Both phones are capable of shooting images with great details and dynamic range, though do keep in mind that the HONOR View20 works best if the pixel binning tech is enabled, which means that the phone will create 12-megapixel images in the end. You can still shoot 48-megapixel images, but you will lose some dynamic range in the process, even though you will benefit in the detail department.

The Galaxy Note9 does have a telephoto lens, which is something the HONOR View20 lacks, but if you shoot in full-res, you will be able to crop the photo and get a great level of detail in the process.

The front cameras are more than capable on both phones, and both do well in the video capture department as well. Even though the Galaxy Note9 offers more in this regard with 4K video at 60FPS, but both devices offer really great stabilization in the process.

This is yet another category where these two phones are closely matched, and another category in which we’ve opted for a “draw.” If you’d like to know more, check out our camera comparison.

Winner: Tie

Conclusion

Before we get around to declaring the winner, it is worth noting some of the other differences between these two phones. Ones that did not fit in any of the categories above.

First and foremost, if you’re looking for great audio, the Galaxy Note9 is the phone for you. This handset not only offers stereo speakers, but is also able to provide you with 32-bit/384kHz audio, the HONOR View20 lacks in this department. Although both phones do offer a headphone jack.

If you require your phone to have expandable storage, the Galaxy Note9 wins again as it comes with microSD card support, unlike the Galaxy Note9. The Galaxy Note9 also comes with the S Pen stylus which opens a ton of possibilities for users, and if you need a feature like this then there’s no phone out there like the Galaxy Note9.

Considering everything we’ve mentioned in this article, it’s safe to say these two phones are closely matched, although there are a few advantages to of the Galaxy Note9 do come to light, which is why we’ll give it a win in this comparison. It is close, but the Galaxy Note9 is the winner.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Note9

Copyright ©2019 Android Headlines. All Rights Reserved

Best Android Phones 2019: The 10 Top Android Phones You Can Buy

We comprehensively review all the major Android handsets released in Australia here at Finder to help you compare what they have to offer.

Right now, the best Android phone you can buy for a combination of power, camera quality, battery life and value for money is the Huawei Mate 20 Pro. 2019 promises to reveal a host of competitors to its position, however.

Meet the authorAlex Kidman is a multi-award-winning consumer technology journalist and the Tech & Telco Editor at finder.com.au. He's been writing about consumer technology topics for more than two decades.

1. Huawei Mate 20 Pro

Updated February 18th, 2019

2. Samsung Galaxy S9+

It's a sign of just how good the Samsung Galaxy S9+ is that it's still this high in the rankings, given it's only a matter of weeks before the Galaxy S10 replaces it. It's got a crisp display screen, great camera and superb battery life, and it shows just how good Samsung phones can be.

Read full Galaxy S9+ review

Updated February 18th, 2019

3. Huawei Mate 20

The Mate 20 Pro's slightly cheaper sibling is still a great phone, with the same high-quality Kirin 980 processor running the whole show, and similar excellent battery performance. The camera isn't quite as sharp, but you do save a serious chunk of change in return. The choice, as always, is yours.

Read full Mate 20 Pro review

Updated February 18th, 2019

4. Google Pixel 3

Google's smaller Pixel is our pick if you want a "pure" Android handset. It's slightly held back by having only 4GB of RAM, but it makes the most of it with clean Android 9 ("Pie") onboard, a great camera (especially in low light) and the promise of future updates built in.

Read full Pixel 3 review

Updated February 18th, 2019

5. Samsung Galaxy Note9

Samsung's Galaxy Note9 sells itself on that unique S-Pen stylus, but it's not the only trick it has. The camera is great, the display is large and clear, and the battery life runs second only to the Huawei Mate 20 Pro. It would best out the S9+ as well, but Samsung's premium pricing may be a barrier to some, especially for that ultra-desirable 512GB model. Still, if you've been a fan of previous Note phones, this is a superb update that should be your next handset.Read full Galaxy Note9 review

Updated February 18th, 2019

6. Google Pixel 3XL

If you want pure Google Android and you like a larger phone, the Google Pixel 3XL is the phone for you. You'll get the latest Android updates as soon as they're available, an exceptional single lens camera with an almost magical night sight mode and good battery performance to boot.Read full Pixel 3XL review

Updated February 18th, 2019

7. Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact

Updated February 18th, 2019

8. HTC U12+

Much of what makes the Google Pixel phones great comes via HTC. That's partly because they've been the OEM of choice for Google for some time, but also because Google bought a whole host of HTC IP – as well as the services of many of its developers – in 2017. The HTC U12+ is effectively the Google Pixel with a more flexible interface, especially as it relates to the "Edge Sense" squeezable sides feature. Add in a unique design and some solid performance, and you've got a quality handset. One catch here is that it only sells outright in Australia, so there are no contract options on offer.

Read full U12+ review

Updated February 18th, 2019

9. Oppo Find X

Oppo traditionally plays in the mid-range space, offering near-premium value at lower price points. The Oppo Find X is the company's first premium flagship phone, with a unique "pop-up" camera module that allows it to have a full screen display. If you're after a genuinely different phone, you'll find it in the Oppo Find X.

Read full Oppo Find X review

Updated February 18th, 2019

10. LG G7 ThinQ

LG's AI-enhanced LG G7 ThinQ has some of the best speaker performance on any Android handset you can buy right now as well as a dual camera array that incorporates a wide-angle lens, making it a great choice for landscape photographers. Its Snapdragon 845 CPU gives it plenty of power, too.

Read full LG G7 ThinQ review

Updated February 18th, 2019

Compare best Android phone specifications

Google's Android operating system runs more phones than any other, having entirely seen off Windows Phone and taken significant market share from Apple's iOS. It's where we see the most innovation, year in and year out, whether it's in battery capacity, new camera features or consumer-friendly ways to make each Android device your own.

That means it's much more than just a game of comparing specifications, especially as the vast majority of premium phones run off the same OS and mostly the same core processors. Premium Android phones bring features such as improved camera optics, wireless charging, large high resolution displays and stylish finishes with robust glass.

Here at finder.com.au, we've reviewed all of the flagship smartphones that have launched in Australia, putting them through their paces to see which is best. We've argued long and hard to create this list of 2019's best smartphones, which we update constantly.

Glossary: Key Android phone terms to consider Display AMOLED displays don't need a backlight, screen pixels are actually turned off to produce blacks, which can save energy. Super AMOLED has improved visibility in direct sunlight. LCD displays use a backlight, which reduces contrast. An IPS LCD display has truer colour reproduction and looks better when you view the screen at an angle. RAM RAM is your phone's short-term memory. When you use an app, instead of writing data to your phone's internal storage or SD card (long-term memory), the data is stored in the device's RAM so it can be recalled quickly and easily when it's needed. The more RAM the better, and in the premium space that typically means 4GB or more. When the RAM reaches capacity on an Android phone, RAM is recycled through a memory heavy process called garbage collection. Megapixels MP is short for megapixels and is generally accepted as a guide for image quality. More megapixels doesn't mean a better-looking photo. Megapixels are about the maximum size of the image in relation to image quality. The more megapixels, the larger you can blow up your picture without it becoming distorted. Sensor size Too many megapixels for a small image sensor will ruin the image quality. Latest Mobile Phones news