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Comment by cageface | Hacker News Reader

iOS's keyboard is the worst thing about the entire platform IMO. The first thing I do on any new device is replace it with the Google Keyboard. Text entry is one area where Android really outshines iOS.

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This is clearly a matter of preference. After using the iOS keyboard for years, I hate typing on Android.

"on Android" is rather vague - which keyboard?

The input lag on all androids, and really all keyboards I've tried, is horrible and doesn't seem to exist on ios. I mean, it's probably not zero on ios either, but it's much less.

And "upgraded" androids are much worse : you select a textfield, takes seconds to place a cursor in it, and multiple seconds to reflow the screen and show the keyboard.

I get no lag at all on my Pixel XL. Typing on that phone is way more pleasant and ergonomic than it is on my iPhone and a lot of the features like autocomplete work better, especially in a multilingual setting.

Are you peck typing on Android? Sometimes that can be slow, but using Swype like typing is much faster even without lag.

I don't know which devices you have used, but that's simply not true in my experience.

Mind you, I have sworn off Samsung, since their TouchWiz has indeed been a laggy mess in the past. But in my experience over the years with HTC, Sony, Moto, or most recently Nokia, text input is fine. (And definitely less laggy than on my - admittedly old - iPad 3.)

Obviously it's a matter of preference, but I agree with the OP that the Google Keyboard (GBoard, it's on iOS) is far superior to the Apple keyboard. Unfortunately it's been a little unreliable since iOS 11 came out.

I regularly have issues with gboard where it won't accept the first 5-10 keypresses when I open it. It's especially bad within Google's own apps.

Speaking only from personal experience, the only thing about the stock Android keyboard that I prefer over the stock iOS keyboard is swipe typing. It's phenomenal. I've had plenty of issues just trying to get the actual key that I want to press on Android.

Again, personal experience only.

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