Latest Gboard Beta introduces lots of new features, including flick for symbols

Gboard is easily one of Google’s most ubiquitous applications, finding itself on countless Android devices and serving as the primary text input method for millions. Google is continually refining the experience of their first-party keyboard, adding features aimed at enhancing speed, convenience, and intelligence. The latest Gboard beta (v15.3.02) offers a glimpse into several potential upgrades, uncovered through an APK teardown from Android Authority, that could significantly alter how users interact with their keyboards.

Flick keys to enter symbols

One of the more intriguing additions is the potential for “flick keys to enter symbols.” Currently, accessing symbols typically involves a long-press on a corresponding letter key. While functional, this method can sometimes feel a bit slow. The new experimental feature, if implemented, would allow users to simply swipe down on a key to input the secondary symbol shown. This gesture mirrors the quick symbol access method found on iOS, which, while requiring a brief adjustment period, can feel notably faster than a long-press once mastered.

Password number row

Addressing screen real estate concerns, particularly on the growing number of compact Android devices, Gboard is also experimenting with a dynamic “Password number row.” Many users appreciate the option to have a persistent number row at the top of the keyboard, but on smaller screens, this can consume valuable space. The potential solution? A number row that automatically appears only when the keyboard detects a password field. This clever approach would provide quick access to numbers precisely when they’re most needed for secure logins, without sacrificing screen space during general typing.

More AI-powered writing tools

Google also appears poised to enhance the upcoming AI-powered writing tools feature. Previous teardowns revealed capabilities for proofreading and rephrasing text directly within Gboard. The latest beta builds upon this by adding the ability for users to “Enter a prompt.” This suggests a more interactive AI experience, potentially allowing users to guide the proofreading/rephrasing process more specifically or even generate entirely new text based on a custom prompt, all without leaving the keyboard interface.

A rounded keys option

Finally, following user feedback on earlier tests, Google seems to be making the recently spotted rounded key design optional. A previous beta introduced a more circular key aesthetic, which garnered mostly negative reactions. Wisely, it appears Google is listening, and the latest code suggests users will have the ability to choose their preferred key background shape, sticking with the traditional squared-off look if they prefer.

As with any features discovered in beta APK teardowns, there’s no guarantee that any of these new features will make it to the final public version of Gboard. However, their presence in the beta indicates Google is actively exploring ways to make one of its most essential Android apps even more efficient and user-friendly. We’ll keep a close eye on Gboard’s development and report back as these features evolve.