Sending photos and videos between Android and iPhone has long been prone to quality loss because the two platforms historically relied on different messaging protocols, but this is now easily avoidable with a few settings adjustments. Apple's iOS 18 introduced support for Rich Communication Services (RCS), the standard already used by Android, largely closing the gap that previously caused compressed, lower-resolution media when sending across brands.

To ensure the best quality, iPhone users should confirm RCS is enabled via Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging, which is switched on by default in iOS 18. Android users sending through Google Messages should select "HD+ Original Quality" rather than "HD Optimized for Chat" before sending. For larger files or videos, which can still be compressed or blocked by RCS's 100MB attachment limit, alternatives such as Google Photos' "Send in Google Photos" option, Google Drive, or Android's Quick Share (which now supports AirDrop on compatible Pixel and Samsung phones, or a QR code as a backup) offer better results.