Google Messages introduces two essential features that are much needed for group chats.

      Google Messages has introduced two significant quality-of-life improvements that address common issues faced in group chats.

      If you've ever sent a message in a bustling Google Messages group chat only to see it disappear without any acknowledgment, you're definitely not alone. In such cases, messages can get lost among others, including texts, reactions, or GIFs, leading to the need to resend your message.

      Fortunately, Google has responded to this issue. After several months of beta testing, Google Messages has officially implemented a highly useful feature for group chats: Mentions.

      ### How do ‘@’ Mentions work?

      As the name indicates, this feature allows you to tag someone in an RCS-enabled group chat using the '@' symbol. When you mention someone in a group, they receive a notification, irrespective of whether they've muted the conversation.

      You won’t have to deal with the typical “sorry, I missed that” line from the intended recipient anymore. Multiple individuals can be mentioned in a single message, and you can also edit the saved name of the recipient directly from the text field in real time.

      In addition to Mentions, Google Messages has introduced a new Trash folder that addresses the issue of accidentally deleting an entire conversation with a single tap. This new Trash feature replaces the immediate Delete action with an option to “Move to Trash.”

      The Trash folder also includes a quick Undo option, allowing you to restore mistakenly deleted messages. Threads in the Trash will be held for 30 days before permanent deletion, although on Android Go devices, the retention period is shortened to seven days to conserve storage.

      You can find the Trash folder under Archive in the top-right profile menu, offering a simple one-tap restoration option to bring conversations back to your inbox (complete with full message history). There is also an option for permanent deletion if you're certain you want to remove it completely.

      Despite the announcement, it seems these features aren't yet accessible to the wider public. If they’re not visible to you, your group chat issues will have to wait a bit longer.

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      In other tech news, Samsung's upcoming Galaxy foldable devices may experience an upgrade in charging speed.

      Recent leaks point toward changes in charging capabilities for the next generation of foldables. Certification listings, spotted by SammyGuru, indicate that devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and a new "Wide Fold" variant have appeared on China's 3C database, hinting at potential improvements. These listings generally provide early insights into wired charging specifications before launch, but the actual upgrades may not be as significant as anticipated.

      Apple is reportedly working on enhancing the camera capabilities of the iPhone 18 Pro with Halide-inspired features.

      The company has been exploring the acquisition of Lux Optics, the creator of the popular Halide camera app, to elevate the native camera experience on the iPhone. Discussions took place in 2025 but did not lead to a deal. Nonetheless, it’s evident that Apple aims to enhance its default Camera app to align more closely with professional-grade tools as hardware advancements continue.

      Furthermore, Google will still permit sideloading of apps, but with some new complexities introduced.

      Amid concerns over Google potentially making sideloading Android apps more difficult due to upcoming developer verification rules, the company asserts that this is not the case.