Apple’s upcoming iOS 18.2 update promises a host of new features next week

Apple’s upcoming iOS 18.2 update, set to release next week, promises a host of new features, including the much-anticipated launch of Apple Intelligence tools.

However, the update’s biggest surprise may be the end of the dreaded “green bubbles” that have plagued iPhone users for years.

For many in the United States, the distinction between blue and green message bubbles on iPhones has become a symbol of platform loyalty and security.

Blue bubbles indicate messages sent via Apple’s secure iMessage service, while green bubbles denote messages sent via SMS, which lack end-to-end encryption.

While this may seem trivial, the green bubble has become a cultural identifier, especially in the US, where iMessage is a dominant communication platform.

The issue of green bubbles has been particularly prevalent in the US, where WhatsApp has struggled to gain a significant foothold, despite efforts by Meta and CEO Mark Zuckerberg to push the app into the mainstream.

WhatsApp recently celebrated reaching 100 million users in the US, but its rise has not been enough to eclipse the dominance of iMessage, particularly in social circles dominated by Apple devices.

The shift towards ending the green bubble distinction is not merely about social preferences—it has roots in security concerns.

The green bubbles symbolize a lack of encryption in SMS messaging, an issue that has drawn the attention of both Chinese and US authorities.