Google’s Gboard keyboard for iOS finally supports the Dutch language. Does this make it worth switching from the standard iPhone keyboard?
Gboard Dutch support added
Version 1.3.0 of Gboard is an important one for all Dutch users. The keyboard now also works in Dutch, although you still have to switch this on manually.
Activate Dutch Gboard, this is how you do it:
- Open the Gboard app;
- Go to Languages;
- Tap on ‘Add language’;
- Select Netherlands;
- Tap edit;
- Remove the English keyboard;
Now that the Dutch language is supported by the keyboard, it is a serious alternative to the standard iPhone keyboard. If you’re looking for a more comprehensive alternative to the keyboard you’ve probably used on iOS for years, then you should definitely give Gboard a try. Below we’ve listed five reasons to consider this step.
1. Dutch word proposals
Now if you use the Gboard keyboard, you will see Dutch words automatically suggested as you type. A function that the Apple keyboard has in countries such as America, but not yet in the Netherlands. By keeping an eye on the top bar of the keyboard, you can quickly compose a message.
2. Give your keyboard a different look
Via the Gboard app you can adjust the design of the keyboard. There is a white and black design, but you can also manually adjust the appearance by, for example, choosing a photo as the background. There are several examples of keyboard wallpapers in the Gboard app that you can start using right away.
3. Type faster by swiping
By holding your finger on the screen and swiping the letters, Gboard automatically composes the correct words. This is especially useful if you are only using one hand to type a message. That way you hold the iPhone firmly and you don’t have to adjust your grip every time. This is a great advantage, especially for owners of a Plus iPhone.
4. Send gifs from any app
Gboard’s emoji button does more than showcase its signature smileys. If you tap on the face, a gif button will also appear at the bottom of the screen. This allows you to search for a gif from the keyboard, which you can then share in any chat app. WhatsApp for example, but also Telegram or iMessage. Tap the microphone to voice type so you can dictate a message on the go.
Search Google from the keyboard
By tapping the Google logo in the top left corner of the keyboard, you open an additional menu. Here you can directly enter a google search without leaving the chat app. Handy if you want to know which restaurant is nearby, or if you want to quickly look up the answer to a question. If Google uses a special interactive Google Doodle that day (like the one on Valentine’s Day), you can also view it this way.