Apple created a mobile messenger app called iMessage which enables users to send text messages, images, videos, and files through Wi-Fi or a cellular network. This app has evolved significantly through Apple’s iOS updates, introducing new ways for users to communicate and interact with others. This critique focuses on the most recent version of iMessage.
Sending Messages
iMessage’s most basic feature, sending messages is designed to be straightforward and lets users get to their goals quickly, which makes it a human-centered design. Users type the message into the iMessage box. After typing they can press the blue button with the top arrow. Both of these typing boxes and arrow button is a clear signifier for typing and sending messages. Feedback is also strong, since it shows whether text was sent and sometimes indicates through the ‘Read’ sign based on their settings.
The whole process requires very little procedural memory with the basic process of typing and sending messages and doesn’t consciously think about the next steps.
There’s also a feature like replying to messages and scheduling the message. The discoverability of replying to messages could be challenging. The swipe-to-reply gesture is an affordance with no signifier. Nothing on screen indicates that a message can be swiped, which causes some gulf of execution, since the user’s goal is clear but the action is not. However, once discovered, it is easy to remember how to reply and requires minimal procedural memory going forward.
Scheduling text has the same problem, since there’s no indicator showing that it’s even possible. Overall, iMessage’s basic messaging is highly discoverable, but its secondary functions require more outside knowledge.
Special Effects
iMessage offers various special effects for more dynamic and interactive use. As shown in the picture, users can apply effects like big, shake, and ripple to text. This feature raises two issues. First, it is not easily discoverable, since nothing in the interface signals that text effects are possible. Users usually find out through word of mouth or social media instead of the app itself. Second, even once discovered, operating it relies on knowledge in the head rather than knowledge in the world: the icon that opens the effects doesn’t show what’s behind it. That said, feedback is strong once the effect is triggered, since the animation is immediate and clear.
This could also create errors, where users can accidentally trigger the animation which is a slip or not know how to cancel the effect which is a mistake.
Additional Features
Additional features like sending videos, images, voice messages, and drawings are very easy to discover. The plus sign next to the text box is a great signifier, using knowledge in the world to show users that more is possible beyond plain text. Once discovered, these features are easy to use, making the design highly learnable. They let users communicate in ways that go beyond words, reflecting how humans naturally communicate.
iOS 26
With the new iOS 26 update, background change and polls are the major changes in iMessage features.
Background settings let users change the background of the message, which makes the text more personalized and brings more positive and enjoyable experiences. Since it’s new, discoverability is lacking, as users are unsure of the existence or to change it, since it works differently with the iPhone background. However, once discovered, the conceptual model is very straightforward with options. Feedback is well-handled, since a new background updates instantly, giving users a real-time preview.
Polls are very easy to discover and use if the users already know the plus button. This is a great feature, since before users used the external app for the poll. Now, users can directly create or participate, which makes it a very human-centered design choice and reduces the gulf of execution by accomplishing the user’s goal with fewer steps. However, some constraints are: users with no recent updates have no access to the poll, causing limitations and inconvenience.
Conclusion
As Messages evolves to support new ways for people to communicate, Apple has to balance adding more functions with how much cognitive burden it puts on users. The core messaging experience is human-centered since it relies on familiar actions and clear feedback. However, secondary and newer features depend on users remembering hidden interactions, which increases the chance of user errors.