iOS 16 Includes Revamped Dictation System With Cleaner Interface, Smarter Punctuation, and Emojis

iOS 16 includes a revamped Dictation system that features a cleaner interface that makes it easier to switch between voice and typing, as well as automatic punctuation and support for emoji insertion.

ios 16 Dictation
The new Dictation experience, powered entirely by on-device intelligence, aims to make it easier for users to switch between voice input and typing.

Unlike on previous versions of iOS, the Dictation panel no longer replaces the iOS keyboard. With ‌iOS 16‌, the keyboard remains open and visible, letting users type if needed during dictation.

Dictation will now also automatically add punctuation to your text and has support for adding emojis by simply saying phrases like "mind blown emoji." Automatic punctuation and the improvements to Dictation in ‌iOS 16‌ are also coming to Siri.

Related Roundups: iOS 16, iPadOS 16
Related Forum: iOS 16

Top Rated Comments

GhostOS Avatar
13 months ago
Never mind dictation, I just wish they improved iOS's autocorrect. It used to be great but has been so awful.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
t0mbola Avatar
13 months ago
Does it have automatic language switching? That would be awesome for bilinguals.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarAnalogy Avatar
13 months ago

it has noticeably improved in ios 16
God I hope so, at this point they would have to try really hard to make it worse.

And third party keyboard support seems to have come and gone. Real Gboard is the one thing I still miss from Android daily. Gboard for iOS is very rarely updated and does not work well. No third party keyboard seems to be anywhere near as responsive as the built-in.

I’ve turned autocorrect off because it mangles what I’m trying to type every single time, with the most irrelevant and bizarre auto corrections, with no way to teach it.

I remember listening to an Android podcast years ago just before they re-launched the Android keyboard as Gboard, and their lead keyboard scientist was talking about all kinds of fascinating and useful research they’ve done, and it really shows.

Apple is a decade behind on this somehow. I guess all the scientists they hired were for working on the car and they have apparently all moved on now too.

Apple needs to refocus on basics. Ironic to say refocus since they seem to be obsessed with Focus Modes more than anything.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DanteHicks79 Avatar
13 months ago
Waiting on the day when I see an Influenster in the wild shouting at their phone "Crossed finger emoji, tongue sticking out with one eye winky emoji, champagne emoji, party favors emoji, red 100 emoji, cry laughing emoji!"
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
christian.terra Avatar
13 months ago

Never mind dictation, I just wish they improved iOS's autocorrect. It used to be great but has been so awful.
it has noticeably improved in ios 16
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mainemini Avatar
13 months ago
Have been frustrated with MacOS' native dictation at work so looking forward to testing these improvements in MacOS Ventura as well.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

gmailbeforeandafter

Gmail, Google Docs and Google Sheets Gain Support for 2018 iPad Pro Models

Monday February 4, 2019 1:51 pm PST by
Google today updated its Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Sheets apps for iOS devices, introducing support for the new 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models. The update brings an optimized form factor that no longer features distracting black bars at the top and bottom of the display in portrait mode or at the sides in landscape mode. Following the update, the Gmail app takes up the entirety of the...
macos monterey

Here Are All the Macs Compatible With macOS Monterey

Monday June 7, 2021 12:17 pm PDT by
macOS Monterey is compatible with many of the Macs that were able to run macOS Big Sur, but it drops support for some older MacBook Air and iMac models from 2013 and 2014. A full compatibility list is below: iMac - Late 2015 and later iMac Pro - 2017 and later MacBook Air - Early 2015 and later MacBook Pro - Early 2015 and later Mac Pro - Late 2013 and later Mac mini -...