If you’ve ever used a Google Pixel, chances are you’ve played around with Gboard – and honestly, it’s one of the reasons I prefer Android over iOS. Every time I set up a new Pixel, I immediately dive into Settings > System > Keyboard > On-screen keyboard > Gboard > Preferences and tweak a few things to make typing feel perfect:
- Number row – having the digits 1–0 visible at all times makes entering passwords and numbers lightning-fast.
- Emoji switch key – dedicated button for emojis? Yes, please.
- Long press for symbols – I can hold down any key to get symbols without flipping to another keyboard screen.
- Popup on keypress – lets me visually confirm I hit the key I intended.
- Show app icon – so I can open Gboard from my app drawer quickly.
- Sound and volume on keypress – I keep sound on and volume cranked to 100%. I like that tactile audio feedback when I type.
This setup makes typing quick, intuitive, and accurate for me. The iPhone’s keyboard, by comparison, feels like a hassle. You have to hit the number key just to access digits, and then some symbols (like the plus, pound, or equals sign) require yet another tap to get to. It’s slower, and to me, less efficient.
Now, not everyone agrees. Some iPhone fans claim they make fewer typing errors with the iOS keyboard. One Redditor said, “I always seem to hit the wrong key on Gboard, but with the iPhone keyboard, I make fewer mistakes.”
But others strongly disagree. A few comments I saw were pretty passionate: “Disagree. Google Keyboard on Pixel is FAR better.” Another added, “The iPhone keyboard is awful – constant mistakes and weird suggestions.” One person even switched to Android just to get away from iOS’s keyboard. “It drove me insane,” they wrote. “Gboard is light years ahead.”
For those who can’t stand either, there’s always SwiftKey, a third-party option that gets love from both Android and iOS users. I’ve tried it, but I keep coming back to Gboard. Still, it might work better for you depending on your typing style.
And here’s a tip – a lot of Pixel users don’t realize how much Gboard can do. Reddit threads are full of people complaining about missing features like autospace and auto-capitalization, not knowing they’re already built in. Just go to Gboard’s settings, tap Text correction, and enable Autospace after punctuation and Auto-capitalization. Simple as that.
Before switching keyboards, make sure you’re getting the most out of the one you already have.