Two questions-
When you say OK GOOGLE to this phone does it make a tone sound before you start speaking?
Voice commands - will it not only send text messages but will it also read new ones to me when asked?
1) Yes it does. It makes a ding noise so that you know when to start speaking.
2) No I do not believe so. I have this phone and never used that feature. I can tell my phone to send a text using 'Hey Galaxy' or 'Hey Google'.