iMessage for iOS 11 and iPhone 8, which can also be used on a variety of other Apple phone models, is iOS 11's iteration on its native messaging program. It adds some new features, such as new screen effects and message syncing with iCloud.

Simple but effective

iMessage for OS 11 adds a number of useful new features and quality of life improvements. The app drawer is now tucked away in an easy to access but unobtrusive spot, though power users of the app drawer will find that not many new apps have been added during this release. You can also hide message alerts and notifications from a given contact just by swiping left when messaging them.

A clean communications choice

Overall, iMessage for iOS 11 is a stellar product, but the biggest finds are in what the app doesn't do. For example, it has none of the font tools for handwritten messages that other apps have to make writing easier. Nevertheless, iMessage for iOS 11 does nothing worse than its predecessor, but does offer a number of improvements.