Google’s slow and steady march to improve Messages continues. This time, it’s rethinking one of the app’s most overlooked features. Thanks to a recent beta rollout, we’re getting our first real look at a revamped “View details” page that makes tracking message metadata a lot more intuitive. First spotted by Android Authority user Aniruddh and further explored via AssembleDebug APK teardown, the update hints at Google’s growing focus on making Messages not just functional, but genuinely useful — especially for power users navigating busy group threads (Source: Android Authority).
Know everything about your sent messages
More clarity is always good
Most beta users haven’t received the change just yet, but AssembleDebug was able to manually enable the refreshed UI, and the improvements are immediately obvious. Previously, long-pressing a message and selecting “View details” gave you a barebones list: sender/recipient numbers, timestamps, and whether the message was sent via SMS or RCS. Functional? Sure. Useful? Barely.
The new UI is a different story. The top half of the refreshed layout displays the actual message content, including emoji reactions — a smart touch that acknowledges how conversational nuance often lives in those little hearts and thumbs-ups. The bottom half now shows richer contact details, complete with profile pictures and display names where available. For group chats, it gets even better: you can now see exactly who received or read the message, bringing the experience more in line with modern messaging expectations.
The wealth of information and recipient access in the new Google Messages beta Show Details dialog. Screenshots courtesy of Android Authority.
And if you’re viewing a reply, the original message is now included in the view, cutting down on backtracking in convoluted threads. Google also added a handy shortcut row when you tap a contact’s avatar in this panel, offering quick options to call, text, or dive into their contact profile—features that feel obvious in hindsight, yet are just now making their way into the app.
In a year that’s already seen the introduction of Gemini AI integration and the ability to message yourself, this UI overhaul might seem minor. But anyone in an active group chat will appreciate how much easier it is to track who said what, and when. Plus, the collapsible contact list is a nice touch for conversations with a dozen people chiming in.
As always with teardowns, there’s no guarantee this version will roll out broadly. But considering the functionality is already appearing in beta (version messages.android_20250223_01_RC00.phone.openbeta_dynamic), it’s safe to assume a public release is on the horizon. Here’s hoping Google keeps the momentum going, as Messages is finally starting to feel like the iMessage competitor it was always meant to be.
