I ditched Gboard for a keyboard with hexagons, and it minimize my typos in half
Gboard has been my go-to Android keyboard for years, however these days, I’ve discovered myself questioning whether or not I’m actually getting the very best typing expertise. Customization feels restricted, privateness could be a concern, and a few options I’d wish to have merely aren’t there. None of those points is a deal-breaker by itself, however collectively they made me interested in what else was accessible.
So, I made a decision to attempt 4 of the most well-liked Gboard options I might discover, starting from acquainted choices to extra unconventional selections. I used to be significantly fascinated with keyboards that supplied extra customization, higher privateness, or just a special method to typing. After spending time with each, I discovered that the keyboard I ended up maintaining wasn’t the one I anticipated.
FUTO Keyboard
Tons of customization choices
If you are in search of one thing as related as attainable to Gboard, then FUTO is the best way to go. It presents a variety of the identical performance as Gboard, however comes with fairly much more customization. One of the primary causes to go for FUTO over Gboard, although, is the fact that it is completely offline, which means that it is not accumulating your data. It even has a Whisper-based voice typing mannequin that’s dealt with regionally.
One of the issues I preferred most about FUTO was its elevated customization. You can change nearly all the things in regards to the keyboard in its settings. You can simply give your keyboard distinctive themes, change the scale of keys, allow swipe typing, and obtain further fashions for textual content prediction. It additionally has a a lot bigger clipboard, which might positively be helpful.
Samsung Keyboard
The most evident alternative when you’ve got a Galaxy gadget
My Android gadget is a Samsung Galaxy S24 FE. If you additionally use a Galaxy gadget, then you do not really want to go looking that tough for a Gboard different, as one comes preinstalled in your Samsung. While it is not as usually talked about as among the different choices on this checklist, as a result of it’s unique to Galaxy gadgets, it’s each bit nearly as good. I used it for a very long time earlier than switching to Gboard, and there have been fairly a couple of issues that it did higher.
In my opinion, Samsung presents higher customization than Gboard, with there being rather a lot which you could change out of your gadgets’ settings. You get much more customization choices in the event you set up the model’s Good Lock app and get Keys Cafe. The strongest purpose for sticking with Samsung Keyboard, although, is its integration with your Galaxy device, with it providing built-in Galaxy AI instruments in addition to it supporting distinctive inputs, resembling handwriting with a stylus.
Another actually helpful function is its integration with Samsung Pass. It lets you entry issues like addresses, notes, and log-in credentials simply.
Microsoft SwiftKey
The well-liked alternative
If you are in search of a Gboard different, essentially the most common recommendation you’ll likely get is Microsoft SwiftKey. It does all the things that Gboard can do, with somewhat additional performance in a few key areas. Like all the different keyboards on this checklist, one in all its core benefits is its customization. For occasion, it presents a variety of completely different layouts, and it lets you freely alter the width and peak of your keyboard.
Another purpose why SwiftKey is so well-liked is that it comes with CoPilot built-in. It acts as an assistant, checking issues like tone and grammar and providing strategies if you wish to rewrite your message. Microsoft’s keyboard additionally helps operating a number of languages directly, which is one thing that few different choices can do.
The factor that appealed to me most, although, is the truth that your clipboard can sync straight with Windows. As somebody who continuously works throughout each my telephone and PC, it’s tremendous helpful to have the identical clipboard accessible on each gadgets.
Typewise Custom Keyboard
A singular format meant to cut back typos
The big selling point of Typewise is its unique layout. Instead of the normal keyboard setup that almost all others use, Typewise is about up with every character in a hexagon. The thought is that this implies every letter has more room on the keyboard, so you will make fewer errors whereas typing.
It additionally options another fascinating options. Some hexagons include a number of characters. Tapping it inputs one icon, and you’ll faucet and swipe to entry the opposite icons or accents. You may delete complete sentences by holding your finger down on the keyboard and swiping to the left. Holding down and swiping to the precise restores the sentence. You may swipe as much as capitalize letters. It consists of some typing video games that aid you get used to its hexagonal format as effectively.
Another interesting side of Typewise is that it’s one hundred pc offline. This signifies that it does not acquire or promote any of your knowledge, one thing that may’t be mentioned about Gboard. All textual content predictions and corrections run regionally in your gadget.
Typewise is essentially the most fascinating option to me
The common individual in search of a Gboard different will possible be happiest with SwiftKey. It presents a variety of the identical performance with some additional customization and cross-device compatibility. However, as somebody with fats fingers who continuously hit the improper keys, Typewise’s hexagonal format really helped scale back typos by rather a lot in my expertise. The reality which you could obtain customized textual content prediction fashions is actually cool as effectively, and I like that it capabilities utterly offline. It could have been the keyboard I used to be most doubtful about, however it’s the one which I’ve ended up sticking with.
