After introducing on the Pixel Tablet last year, Gboard’s Assistant voice typing toolbar is now available on Google phones.
Update: This toolbar is also available on non-Pixel phones, like Samsung devices, but it’s the regular voice typing experience instead of the “Assistant” version exclusive to Google devices.
Starting Assistant voice typing on Pixel phones will reveal a new “Toolbar” button (two downward arrows) next to the microphone. This will replace the full keyboard with a pill-shaped bar that lets you dictate text while seeing more of the screen.
The mic remains at the right with a delete key next to it. A hamburger button at the left lets you access:
- Settings
- Show voice commands
- Show clipboard
- Show translate
- Show emoji
- Switch to vertical toolbar
- Feedback
A button to bring back the keyboard and “Speak now” or “Paused” prompt rounds out this UI. You’re able to move this bar to the side of your screen as a vertical pill if you want more space.
Notably, this toolbar is persistent and remains active the next time you open a text field until you manually bring back the keyboard.
The Assistant voice typing toolbar started appearing for Pixel Tablet owners last January, with Google officially announcing it with the March 2024 Feature Drop: “…optimizing screen space and making multitasking easy.”
As of today (via Android Authority) with the latest Gboard beta (version 15.0), Pixel phone owners are now seeing the Assistant voice typing toolbar. This is not yet widely rolled out.
More on Gboard:
- Gboard for Android rolls out tweaked Dynamic Color theme
- Gboard now rolling out redesigned hand emoji
- Gboard starts rolling out ‘Undo’ button on Android
- Gboard now rolling out redesigned hand emoji
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