Samsung’s Android skin has seen significant improvement over the years, but one aspect that remains notably poor is the Samsung Keyboard. It’s surprising how subpar it still is in 2024. This edition of the 9to5Google Weekender is part of the 9to5Google newsletter relaunch, delivering Google’s major news with extra commentary. Sign up for immediate inbox delivery! The Samsung Keyboard comes as the default keyboard on all Galaxy devices. It boasts various popular features like swipe typing, text-to-text, password manager autofill, and more. In addition, it also offers unique functionalities such as S Pen handwriting recognition and the new “Chat Assist” feature from the Galaxy AI suite. This prompted me to test the Samsung Keyboard while working on our Galaxy S24 Ultra review. However, I encountered a frustrating experience with the digital keyboard. The Samsung keyboard is visually appealing and beginner-friendly, with well-spaced keys and a convenient top toolbar. But using it is a challenge. The main issue is the autocorrect feature. Samsung’s autocorrect is overly assertive and yet ineffective at catching typos. When typing words not recognized in Samsung’s dictionary, the keyboard struggles to keep them spelled correctly. For instance, the name “Derrek” is a prime example where Samsung refuses to acknowledge that some people pronounce the name with two R’s rather than one, resulting in frequent automatic corrections. Similar behavior is observed across all text input, with the keyboard persistently reverting changes even after they have been corrected. While Apple’s keyboard on iOS exhibits similar behavior, Samsung deserves credit for maintaining the entered text after tapping “send” in an app, unlike Apple’s forced corrections even after sending. Google’s Gboard, on the other hand, handles this more effectively by allowing users to preview corrections before finalizing, withholding changes until confirmed. But despite the keyboard’s insistent intuition, it still overlooks occasional typos.
Another major letdown is the inconsistency in capitalization. The shift key functions reliably, switching to uppercase letters with a single tap; however, the caps lock feature is flawed. Unlike most keyboards that engage caps lock with a double tap, the Samsung Keyboard requires a quick double-click to switch back and forth, making it frustrating to access caps lock promptly. Engaging caps lock necessitates a transition to single capitalization and another tap to enable caps lock, but executing this quickly is challenging, often requiring multiple attempts. It is perplexing how Samsung overlooked this, as both Google’s Gboard and Apple’s keyboard handle this mechanism effectively. Furthermore, the keyboard lacks desirable features such as GIF embedding, a function readily available on Gboard and the iOS keyboard. (Update: GIF embedding is available on the Samsung keyboard under the emoji menu) Despite these drawbacks, there is a further issue—that of textual inaccuracy.
Notably, examples of this arose during conversations about my frustration with the Samsung Keyboard and were prevalent in my usage. Some of the worst instances include: “I hate Samsung’s voice,” which should have been “I hate Samsung’s voice.” “Why does the underdog broadcast?” was altered to “Why does the little one look black?” There was also a bewildering mixture of words and punctuation in a message sent to my wife while driving: “I just realized I forgot to pack it before I left. Amazon delivered the package to David’s house instead of hours, he. He left us on the balcony. Would you like to hold it?” The best/worst part was deciphering the message list. The text-to-text feature may function online, which is commendable, but its poor performance is worrisome, particularly considering the premium price tag of the device, often exceeding $2,000. This subpar experience is likely to leave a lasting impression, potentially leading users to seek alternative options. Laura Rosenberg of 9to5Mac echoed similar sentiments by sharing her father’s feedback. Gary recently switched from a Galaxy phone to an iPhone, highlighting his favorable aspects of Android but complaining about the malfunctioning swipe typing on the Samsung Keyboard. This emphasizes the advantage of Android, allowing users to substitute undesirable features without any hindrance. Using Gboard on a Galaxy device poses no issues and provides an improved experience. This Week’s Top Stories Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review Despite the shortcomings of the Samsung Keyboard, the Galaxy S24 Ultra stands out as a formidable device. Our review delves into the phone’s performance, battery life, high cost, and exceptional camera, positioning it as one of the top Android phones for 2024, albeit with a hefty price tag starting at $1,299. Recent Samsung news included a durability test, unveiling the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s robust “Gorilla Armor,” an update reinstating manual controls, and new Bixby enhancements resembling Siri. Smartwatches are obsolete Fossil’s shift away from smartwatches, regardless of Wear OS, was anticipated, and recent confirmation solidified this move. Despite this, attractive deals are available. ‘Gemini’ saga continues Google’s rebranding of Bard to “Gemini” is gaining traction, with signs pointing to an imminent update on February 7, accompanied by additional details from Android updates. Additionally, Google has introduced an image generator to Bard. Other Top Stories From 9to5 9to5Mac: Tim Cook justifies the $3,500 cost for Vision Pro as “tomorrow’s technology today” 9to5Toys: Review of COSORI’s new ceramic air fryer oven with easy clean Electrek: GM reevaluating EV strategy, envisaging plug-in hybrids and electric cars eligibility for rebates Follow Ben: Twitter/X, Threads, and Instagram FTC: We use affiliate links. More information.
